Our School Library and Indian Education for All

Working with the MandatePresented to the Board of Trustees of the Big City School

District

Big City, Montana

April 14, 2014

School districts in Montana are constitutionally bound to implement IEFA in their classrooms

The Montana State Constitution (Article X), state law and court decisions have helped shape the direction of Indian Education efforts.

Source: Montana OPI Social Studies Model Lesson Plan

From the 1972 Montana Constitution – Article X

Section 1. Educational goals and duties. (1) It is the goal of the people to establish a system of

education which will develop the full educational potential of each person. Equality of educational opportunity is guaranteed to each person of the state.

(2) The state recognizes the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians and is committed in its educational goals to the preservation of their cultural integrity.

Legal Challenges to Article X The amendment has been debated and tied to school funding

issues. See Columbia Falls School Dist. v. State (2004) – School Funding Lawsuit (Columbia Falls lost)

Montana Code Annotated Sec. 20-9-309 now focuses on the school district’s mission and IEFA:

A "basic system of free quality public elementary and secondary schools" means:

(c) educational programs to implement the provisions of Article

X, section 1(2), of the Montana constitution and Title 20, chapter 1, part 5, through development of curricula designed to integrate the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians into the curricula, with particular emphasis on Montana Indians.

Source: Montana OPI Social Studies Model Lesson Plan

It should be the intent of the Big City Schools library not only to comply with the letter of the law, but to implement the spirit of the law.

Fact: There were 100 delegates in the 1972 Constitutional Convention. 19 of these delegates were women.

Montana’s Native American Tribes (7 separate reservations host 12 distinct nations)

Note: The Little Shell Chippewa Tribe does not have any land allocation in Montana, therefore it is not shown on this map.

Montana Tribal Nation Seals

IEFA Resources available to our library

Books / eBooksAudio-visual sources: DVDs, CDs, VHS, MP3 filesMaps and atlasesA current list of online resources for Montana tribesLoose leaf and spiral bound materials and

pamphletsTribal newspapers

Great Sources for our Montana

Tribes Collection

Montana OPI – great resources, well researched and documented

Continuing search for authentic fiction / non-fiction by Native authors (books, DVDs, audio)

Continuing search for Montana Tribe related materials

Scholarly works for reference materialsMaintain a current list of electronic online resources

from trusted sources (e.g., www.montanatribes.org)Maintain current list of Montana Tribe Websites

Montana OPI and

IEFA

OPI is a major and highly reliable resource offering many educational materials and help for teachers and schools Background resources: Publications, videos, and Web

links Various resources for early childhood education Curriculum resources Professional development resources and opportunities Montana Content Standards and Assessments information Specific curriculum and cross-curriculum resources

OPI also offers grants to school district for approved projects ($1,000 to $15,000)

Arranging and Cataloging

our IEFA Collection

Cataloging American Indian materials Traditional Dewey Classification is 970.XX Alternative: Reclassify materials based on secondary topic for

Dewey and then mark “IEFA” on Destiny sub-location

Shelving and displaying the collection The only way the IEFA collection will get attention is to

PROMINATELY DISPLAY IT There should be separate bookcases in the library to house the

collection with signs indicating Montana Tribes Information

National History Day

National History Day is a nationwide competition for primary and secondary school students.

Students must choose a historical topic and do authentic primary and secondary source research on it

Students will present their findings in any number of formats: papers, exhibits, documentaries, Websites, or performances

Competitions are held at the local, state, and national levels

The final competition is held in June of each year at the University of Maryland

What is it all about?

Our Montana Tribes Collection and National History Day

The library will set up poster displays highlighting many of the accomplishments of Native Americans

A biography section will list famous Native Americans in a poster display researched by students

A map will show contact points between Montana tribes and homesteaders and traders through recorded history

Library classes will be encouraged to write and produce a short (5 to 10 minutes) documentary or drama about some aspect of a Montana Tribe

Books about Montana Tribes and the time period will be displayed in all the showcases throughout the school

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month November has been designated as Native American

Heritage month nationwide Activities

One day each week should be designated as a Native American Heritage Day

Activities will include wearing clothing and costumes, making Native food dishes, visits from Tribal elders in the area

Library will feature Native American stories read aloud Special assembly with dancers and mini pow wow for

students and parents

Involving our Community in the Library

Marketing the Library A Public Relations campaign is critically important

Specific Activities Have a “senior library day” for the community each week Open the collection to community use / borrowing Get a column in the local newspaper discussing the library

and specifically the Montana Tribes collection Be willing to host small groups within the library before or

after school hours Support the community and it will support you

The Library’s MontanaTribes Collection and the Budget

Library Budget A certain percentage of the budget should be allocated to

expanding the IEFA collection This will help demonstrate fiscal compliance with the

Article X mandate Fundraising ideas to support the collection

Donated books for used book and white elephant sale Ask Chamber of Commerce for support of Native

American Heritage activities Have library classes compete in selling candy or other

goodies Apply for OPI grant

Submit a practical and unique IEFA project proposal

Thank you for your time and attention!

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

― Dr. Seuss from the book,

I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

Now the boring stuff: References Title page painting: http://www.ccophoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/1260069xklein.jpg   Montana Tribes Map: http://www.visitmt.com/places_to_go/indian_nations/images/Reservations_MAP_base.gif   Montana Tribe Seals and Flags: http://www.fortpecktribes.org/images/header-image-bg.jpg   https://www.plaingreenloans.com/ExternalContent/Images/aboutus/PG_tribe_seal_image.jpg   http://www.littleshelltribe.us/council/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Little-Shell-Tribe-Emblem_Small.jpg   http://tribalnations.mt.gov/images/sevenlodges_170.jpg   http://www.bigskywords.com/uploads/1/2/8/0/12804055/9399618.png   http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ptNxMaX51Yk/Sw3cOI_LdVI/AAAAAAAAAOI/CENeJpDLvSs/s1600/crow+emblem.jpg   http://www.cheyennenation.com/images/greatseal.gif   http://cms.lc-triballegacy.org/userScripts/img/flags/Blackfeet_Nation.jpg   http://www.worldstatesmen.org/xa-assnbgv.gif   http://ftp.geoinfo.msl.mt.gov/Documents/Maps/Individual/20010118_570_2001_MTCounties.gif     Photo of Montana constitution: http://www.missoulademocrats.org/content/images/postThumbs/post_74_montana2-fs.jpg   OPI quote source:

http://opi.mt.gov/PDF/IndianEd/Search/Social%20Studies/HS%20Montana%20Constitution%20Article%20X%20and%20IEFA.pdf

More boring stuff . . . Montana Constitution Article X passage: http://www.montanahistory.net/state/constitution1972X.htm   Photo of women in the 1972 constitutional convention: http://mhs.mt.gov/research/library/exhibits/constitution.html   Library resource page photo: http://www.mineralcountylibrary.org/mineral_county_public_library_montana019003.jpg   Montana OPI and IEFA sources: http://opi.mt.gov/Programs/IndianEd/   Cataloging and shelving:

http://exploringprisonlibrarianship.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/american-indian-movement-2.jpg?w=500&h=465   National History Day logo and sources: http://www.nhd.org/About.htm   Library involvement in National History Day: http://reslife.web.unc.edu/files/2012/07/students_studying.jpg   Native American Heritage month: http://simmons.libguides.com/nativeamericanheritagemonth   http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/images/native_american.gif   http://www.mccneb.edu/publicaffairs/images/native_american_month_2011.jpg   Library budget: http://www.niutoday.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/money-ruler.jpg   Library and the community: http://www.placemakingchicago.com/cmsimages/bloomingdale-trail-group.jpg   Thank you slide: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/reading   http://nathaliefoy.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/aa_i_can_read_with_my_eyes_shut.jpg