Page 3 - April 2014

Continued from page 1... those negative values on to his or More of our tribal leaders must we lose to a life of low-paying tribal governance and economic her children. How many of us know commit to education reform with jobs or unemployment, increased development. Isn’t it time we ask, someone who has told a child, “I meaningful action. We must chances of alcohol, drug abuse, “How responsible are we?” Why, have an 8th grade education and I’m break our old habits of accepting and domestic violence, creating given all of our advancements, do fne?” mediocrity in our education another generation of parents who we still have the largest achievement programs and apathy and indecision will not value education. Whether gap of any minority? Why haven’t Rather than looking ahead seven from our tribal leaders. We must on the front lines as an educator or a we as a people done better by our generations, we look back seven stop flling our bellies with that most parent, we all grasp the problems in children? generations when we consider unpalatable government commodity: education. It’s time we start asking education reform. In our experience, European-style education. As the most important question in What if the greatest educational a tribe’s passion for education is opportunities and resources for our education: “Why?” challenge facing our students is our indicative of its experience with tribes have increased, so too has own apathy, anxiety, victimhood, education. But why, with the our responsibility for our academic Jerad Koepp and Jason Medina are and historical trauma? Teaching increased wealth and sovereignty achievement gap. certifed teachers in Washington our students effectively should be of our tribes, do we still expect our State. Medina is a career and one of the easiest things for us to students to assimilate and succeed Everyday throughout Indian technical education teacher and accomplish. We have been teaching in a European-style education when Country, Native educators advocate Koepp is a middle and high school our children as communities for we no longer have to? For 100 for our children. The stiffest social studies and history teacher. thousands of years and with that years education has been something resistance they encounter often Both have committed their careers educational style we have built some that has been done to us. It is little are their own governments. They to Indian education. of the most complex societies in the wonder so many of us struggle to understand that education is not world. Unfortunately, educational understand how modern education a business investment that can be Read more at http//indiancountry trauma seems generational in Indian works and how to apply it. We need deferred without consequence. They todaymedianetwork.com/2014/ Country. If a parent was over- to remember education is about are passionate because each year we 03/03new-questions-old-problem- looked, under-educated, and pushed empowerment. It’s time we earn our content ourselves with mediocrity indian-education153745 out of school he or she will pass power back. is another generation of students Help Give Community Input to Develop Safety Strategies When: Thursday May 1 at 5:00 PM Where: The Gathering Room at the Community Center By Jenee Penn, Grant Writer What: We need your help to identify safety In 2013, the Chehalis Tribe was one of only 14 tribes to be awarded a Department needs in the community. of Justice grant. This grant funding will allow the Tribe to develop a 10 year strategic plan to address community safety. The plan will address safety concerns We will be serving dinner. and discuss programs that are needed to prevent or reduce criminal activity. We need your input to shape this plan. What does community safety mean to you? If you have questions please call Janet or Jenee at 360-273-5911 A public meeting will be held on Thursday, May 1 at 5:00 PM. Dinner will be served. Anyone is welcome to attend. If you have concerns or ideas about safety in our community please attend this event. If you are unable to attend the public meeting, but would like to provide comments related to community safety please stop by the Planning Offce anytime between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM before May 1. Please call Janet Stegall at 360-709-1622 or Jenee Penn at 360-709-1620 with any questions. chehalistribe.org  greatwolfodge.com  luckyeagle.com  eagleslandinghotel.net Page 3