Empowerment vs. Victimization #3

The legacy of Indian Education did not start out very well.  In the early years of Indian Education, more energy was put into stripping the students of their identity instead of educating them.  Most of the time students were punished for speaking their language and rejecting the "white way."  They were brain washed into thinking their traditional life was wrong and that they were lucky to be saved.  The assimilation process would eventually cripple future generations from knowing their true identity and that was apart of the mission.

Over the years, Indian Education has become better at recognizing the students tribal background in the school or class.  Boarding schools, such as Santa Fe Indian School, allows students to bring their cultural knowledge with them.  Even if a student doesn't know their tribal background they can still learn from their peers and cultural support.  NACA is another example of where students can excel in academics and learn more about their culture.  Our vision is to make sure the students are secure in their identity and  healthy in all aspects of life-- physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

In most tribal communities, members are encouraged to go out and get a college education.  One of the biggest reasons is because most of the higher positions, when is comes to economic development- natural resources- and gaming, are held by non-natives.  Tribes would like to see some of their own people take over the responsibility, but few people are willing to take the challenge.  Slowly but surely native people are making progress-- tribal sovereignty has motivated the movement of change in Indian country.  Unlike the western view of the "individual,"  Native American people are taught to keep the "people" in mind. 

In my class I often state how lucky the students are to be at a school like NACA.  To some students, NACA is just another school where they have to stay all day and learn the same old things.  To others NACA is a refuge for a safe and unique education.  I use examples of how things used to be when young Native kids were prohibited from having long hair, using their native language, and stripped away from their families.  They have a chance to make a difference in their communities and in the world through education.  They might not see the big picture right away, but as long as we are encouraging them to do great things they will find their path.