Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Indian Education Classes Sought By Tribe

American History is taught in schools.

Black History is taught in schools.

World History is taught in schools.

However, the history of the American Indian is not taught in schools, and the Manataka Indian Council has begun working to correct this oversight.

In a historic first, representatives from all of the Native American organizations in Arkansas came together in one place Saturday, April 7, to address this issue.

As Lee Standing Bear Moore said, "It is time for the gathering again."

It is important, he said, for the groups to cooperate with one another and find a common ground to bind them together.

"In schools today," Moore said, "children are not taught the Indian ways and history, or other areas of knowledge we need to teach our children."

The concept of the Arkansas  American Indian Educational Task Force is to have the history of the American Indian taught in public schools, not just in Arkansas, but across the nation, eventually.

As it stands, the information passed about the Indian in schools is primarily about the uprisings and their battles with the white man, as told from the white man's perspective.

In movies, Indians are stereotyped as being ignorant and violent, when exactly the opposite is true.

As Moore said, Indians know science through their eyes (observation). He pointed out the most accurate calendar ever developed was created by the Mayans through their observations of the heavens and their knowledge of math.

Indians, he continued, also have a philosophy to impart to others on how they view the world and each other.

In schools today, Moore said, there is a lack of teaching ethics and values.

The task force will be approaching the challenge of having Indian History taught in schools in a logical manner.

Those on hand broke into groups, with each group to research five different areas. The research areas include: text books; films/videos; computer information; teaching tools; and existing curriculums.

Once this information is gathered and has been studied, it will then be evaluated by the entire task force to determine which path should be taken.

After a path has been chosen, the task force will put together a curriculum and syllabus for school districts to use.

The next step will be to find test schools to be used as pilot sites for the program.

If this proves successful, the task force will then work to find funding and have Indian History taught in all schools in the state, and, hopefully, the nation.

But, as Moore said, the teaching of Indian History and the way of the red path isn't just for those of Indian descent, but for all children.

At the pilot schools, he said, the evaluation of the program will be examined on both the academic and personal lives of the students, as it's not just about grades.

In addition to teaching children, the task force will be working to educate the teachers and parents so they, too, will be involved.

"This is a workable program," Moore said. "We don't know how well it will work or be accepted. There may come a time when we will be opposed and we must be ready for it."

When this time comes, he said, the task force will respond quietly and without attacking. "We will never attack. We will only offer what we have to offer honorably and honestly."

The teaching of Indian History and the ways of the red path will be done in a manner to give the students, teachers and parents something they can carry with them all their lives.

Once the information is gathered and evaluated, the curriculum and syllabi will be developed for each grade level, making sure the material offered is appropriate for the ages of the children being taught.

Moore pointed out the largest increase in population in Arkansas next to Hispanic was Native American, as more and more people are laying claim to their Indian heritage. He said there is an estimated 652,000 Indians in Arkansas.