U & D

There appears to be a somewhat warm and fuzzy understanding of what drives environmental sovereignty among the Wabanaki and other Nations and tribes. I understand that this vision goes back to the essential balance between the traditional Native community and the environment, a balance necessary for subsistence. However, it pains me that some teachers would [...]

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We non-Native teachers know, and tell other teachers, that the best way to respond to LD 291 is to let the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet and Mi’kmaq educators and individuals speak for themselves. Unfortunately, until a “speakers’ bureau” or a digital video resource becomes reality, this is almost impossible for most schools.
So when I had to [...]

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Opportunity knocks! If you do not know about the inexpensive, articulate, wonderfully planned, fully researched, hands-on programs offered by Old Fort Western (museum, Historic Landmark, education center in Augusta), you need to rush to their website and download the Programs brochure (or just click my link – it is a .pdf file). There [...]

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Immediately following Pres. Obama’s speech I had these thoughts:

I need a copy (quickly found on NPR) – isn’t the Internet great?
What will be the ramifications of the allusion to Washington crossing the Delaware?

You should know that I, in another job and almost 25 years ago, brought a group of Long Island middle schoolers to the [...]

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So much has happened in the last two months, it’s hard to know where and how to begin. Right now, the Inauguration is on my mind. First, let’s see what “inauguration” means (language is very important – it is rarely wholly ours). The word is from Latin, “inauguare” which in turn comes from the root [...]

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LD291 – Or more correctly:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4706
CHAPTER 403
H.P. 255 – L.D. 291

An Act to Require Teaching of Maine Native American History and Culture in Maine’s Schools

Enacted without funding, mandating but not requiring, not evaluated by a data collection tool, not tested, only indirectly addressed in the new state standards: Parameters for Essential [...]

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Today begins a 2-day session in Augusta led by Jana Boody, Maine’s Social Studies Specialist. We, a coalition of educators and tribal leaders, will be looking at LD 291 from a pragmatic point of view. Can we unify and produce a k-12 curricular design that will be functional in today’s classrooms; that will, in fact, [...]

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If you are not aware of Indigenous Voices, a monthly talk radio show focused on Maine Native topics, check it out today. On 8/19/08, the show dialogued with Penobscot Nation Tribal Chief Kirk Francis. This interview contains a terrific overview of tribal government and its process. Chief Francis discusses the Penobscot sovereign status, a [...]

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Because this is an election year, I decided to begin the year with Consensus, a word that appears large on our Word Wall (see the link at the top of this page). We will be reading a Native-themed novel called The Heart of a Chief (Joseph Bruchac) later this fall. The concept of consensus plays [...]

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In case you missed it, Canada is offering reparations for boarding schooling and other abuses of the Native populations. Lucky for us, NPR was right on top of it. You can listen to the story, download a podcast, and post a Comment at their website: Marketplace: How far can money go toward healing?
That’s an interesting [...]

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