Indigenous Roots Teacher Education

Dr. Victoria Smith
Indigenous Roots Teacher Education Program
December 2005 Graduation Reception Keynote Address

Traditional Indian                                                            West Education

* No age	* Age
* No curriculum	* Levels of curriculum
No time constraints	* Structured time
* Any settings	* Isolated settings
* No failures	* Standards to measure progress
* Group/individual learning	* Group learning
* Everyone teachers/learner	* Hired instructors

Methods of Traditional Education

Examples, application, imitation, storytelling, advice/counsel.
W ed. methods—memorization of required texts
History of Indian Education-Colonial

1.Jesuit –1611—end of 1700s—Fr—Great Lakes and Tributaries: Huron Iroquois, Ottawa, Louisiana 1650—Charter of Harvard for Education of Indians 4 decades=6 students

2. King James—VA—ordered the chartering of William and Mary College for education of Indians—opened in 1691.

3. Massaschusetts—John Eliot—1632—est. a school and system of bringing Indians together in towns—in 30 years had est. 14 “praying towns” = 497 people

4. One of John Eliot’s successors was Eleanor Wheelock—1769—founded Dartmouth College for education of Indians—1769-1893 58 Indians = 11graduates

5. After Revolution education of Indians shifted to vocational training

6. By 1830s Cherokee and Choctau have own education systems

7. Civil War era marks turning point: 1) increased resp. by fed for Indian Education = off-reservation boarding school—1st established at Carlisle Penn—1879

8. 1882—legislation passed to convert old army forts to Indian schools

9. By 1932 = 385 Indians in college and 52 graduates

10.1950 = 2000 Indians in college

11. 1965 = 7000 Indians in college

12. 1979—BIA financing 1400 undergraduates and 700 graduates—1639 received degrees and 434 graduate degrees

13. 1978—Tribally Controlled Assistance Act—to perpetuate tribal culture and needs of Indian communities

1st—1968—Navajo Community College—Tsaile, AX
Today—24 reservation based colleges

Non-tradition students, mostly women, 29-30 years—must have GED rather than high school diploma—98% qualify for financial aid—travel great distances to go—120 miles round trip

Today—6% native population have degrees compared to 23% of whites

topic:    I.Indians in Higher Ed
            II.Tribally Controlled Colleges           
            III.Current Issues

I. HIGHER ED:

            * Some of the most prestigious institutions began with a charge to serve Indians.
           
            * Caleb Cheeshateaumuck (Algonquian) graduate from Harvard in 1665.  Met academic demands but did not escape dangers of life in alien environment.  He died from a disease which had no immunity to within months of his graduation. He was amongst the first in many Indians who have attended higher ed in the last three centuries.  He represents the challenge and the triumph as well as the failure and tragedy that characterize the history of American Indian higher ed.

            *Euro-Americans have sought to civilize and assimilate in the image of the white man.  Indians have resisted.

            *Colonial efforts:  Christianize and civilize.

            *1617; King James I launched initial design.  Charitable funds were collected for “the erecting of some churches and schools for ye children of barbarian.”  1000 acres set aside in Henrico, VA for a “College for children of infidels.”  Natives resisted and a rebellion in 1622 ended the scheme.

            *1650  (In New England) the charter of Harvard College stated “education of English and Indian Youth of this country in knowledge.:  Charitable funds from England were used to build Indian College building in 1656.  In four decades no more than six students lived there.  used for English students and the college printing press.

            *In Virginia in 1693, the charter of the College of William and Mary stated  “that the Christian may be propagated amongst the western Indians.”  Robert Boyle willed a bequest that was used to build Brafferton building in 1773 to house Indians.  Only 5 or 6 Indians lived there.  American Revolution stopped charity from England.

            *Darthmouth College was founded by Eleazar Wheelock in 1769.  “The education and instruction of youth of the Indian Tribes in this land in reading,  wrighting (sic) and all parts of Learning which shall appear necessary and expedient for civilizing and Christianizing children of pagan…..and also of English Youth.”  Charitable funds collected by

Samson Occum,  an Indian scholar and convert of Wheelock.  Wheelock waned in favor of education English youth----Darthmouth became inaccessible to potential Indian converts.  58 Indians attended between 1769 to 1893.  Three graduated in 18th century and eight in 19th century.

*College of New Jersey (Princeton U) had no specific mission toward Indians but did admit three students.  Charitable funds supported their studies.  American Revolution ended this.

*Birth of new nation.  Indian ed became increasing a matter of federal policy.  George Washington shifted policy from higher learning to vocational training.

*Cherokees and Choctaws embraced higher learning.  In 1830s they had their own system of education. Treaty of dancing Rabbit Creek set aside $10,000 for ed of Choctaw youth.  Funds became available in 1841 when tribe authorized Indian boys ed at Ohio U,, Jefferson College and Indiana U.

            *Ottawas were promised an Indian U.  Did not materialize, they were removed to Oklahoma in 1873.  Promised in 1862.

            *Bacone College:  Founded in 1880 by Baptist.  C reek tribe gave them a grant of land.  Trained clergy.  Opened to three students.  Five years later had 56.

            *Indians who attended universities and colleges in 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries on the most part studied the same subjects as whites.

            *Federal government began to dominate Indian ed in late 19th century.

                        - De-emphasis on higher learning.  Vocational
                        - 1870 Congress appropriated $100,000 for industrial schools.  Carlisle was first.
                        - Students taken from home and tribal influences
                        - Strict military discipline; protestant work ethnic
                        - Emphasis on agriculture, industrial and domestic arts
                        - Remake Indians into white men
                        - 1882 more appropriations.  25 more schools (Santa Fe and Haskell)
                        - Few Indians in colleges.  Charles A. Eastman
                        - 1932:  385 in college;  52 graduates

            *            New Deal bought reforms:  1934 Indian reorganization Act authorized $250,000 in loans for Indians

                        - 1953 – 515 Indians in college
                        - BIA grant program began in 1948
                        - Indians were eligible for GI bill

                        -1950 – 2000 Indians in college
                        -1965 – 7000 Indians in college
                        -1979 – BIA was financing 14,000 undergrads and 700 grads.  1639 received degrees and 434 grad degrees

 

II.TRIBAL COLLEGES

            *A new development in Indian higher ed with help from the Indian Self-Determination and Ed Assistance Act and Tribally Controlled College Assistance Act of 1978

            *Movement began in mid60s as desire for Indian Self Determination grew.  These colleges perpetuated tribal culture and focused on needs of Indian communities…..which were often neglected in other higher ed institutions

                        - 24 reservation-based postsecondary institutions
                        - 1968 NCC chartered by Navajo Nation…the first
                        - They seek to rebuild Indian communities and reassert identify
                        - Incorporate tribal values, attitudes, and perspectives
                        - First colleges had two similarities:  1.  Chartered by tribal councils  2.  each have own native governing board.

            *AIHEC:

                        - Local control premise over tribal college movement
                        - Similar problems
                        - In 1972, 6 college presidents formed the American Indian Higher Ed Consortium
                        - 24 tribal controlled institutions and two affiliate members
                        - Work together on 1. accreditation 2. fundraising 3. legislative advocacy

            *Students in Tribal Colleges:

                        - Non-traditional
                        - Women predominate (2/3 to 3/4 females)
                        - Median age is 20 to 30 years old
                        - Large numbers do not have diplomas
                        - 98% qualify for need-based financial aid
                        - Many students drive 120 miles or more a day to classes

*Colleges participate in their communities:  Provide ed services such as libraries and holding community activities.

*Decision-making is open to community observation

*Maintain close contact with individual students

*Colleges vary from each other on 1 curriculum 2ed philosophy and 3teaching styles Emerges from the commitment to serve the ed needs of local communities

*Indian studies and language depts. generally form the central part of the intellectual and spiritual life at the colleges

* Many colleges have had to prepare own texts and materials

*Vocational programs are offered

*What is cost of effective influences curriculum

*A study of six tribal colleges between 1983-89 reported:
                        - 1575 graduates; employed in areas that experienced 54 to 85% unemployment
                        - Many women have gotten off federal assistance
                        - Many go on and receive four-year degrees

*Federal funds have been inadequate; hasn’t kept pace with growth or basic need; full-time faculty salaries average $19,000 compared to $30,000 at neighboring colleges; physical plans need attention. Findings of 1989 Carnegie Foundation report “Tribal College: Shaping the Future of Native Americans.”

III.Concerns/Issues

            *6% of native population have college degrees compared to 23% of whites

            *Barriers 1. inadequate academic preparations, 2. insufficient financial support, 3. few role models, and 4. unsupportive campus climate.