NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES PRESENTED AT SCHOOL BOARD.

NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES PRESENTED AT SCHOOL BOARD

Beginning Sept, 1, 1991, Wisconsin schools were required by law to
incorporate Native American Studies into their curriculums. Funds were
allocated in 1989 to start these programs.
These funds were used to hire staff to implement these new
requirements, develop curriculum, classroom, and resource material,
proviede training for teachers and conduct conferences to aid school
districts through the startof teaching th new curriculum.
Sam Rivers of the Native American Studies program at the Unity School
District presented to the school borard information on Act 31, which
requires Wisconsin schools to teach Wisconsin Indian history, culture
and tribal sovereignty.
The Ojibwe of Wisconsin signed three major land cession treaties in
1837, 1842, and 1857. These treaties included the ceding of their
homeland to the United States, but in return establishing four
reservations in the state while retaining their right to hunt, fish,
and gather on ceded land.
In 1983, the United States Federal Court became involved and
ultimately decided to uphold the laws allowing the Ojibwe's their
right to hunt.
In 1987, the Culture Education Board drafted a resolution for Native
American studies in Wisonsin Schools. As a result of escalting
tensions between Native Americans and non-Native American communties
over treaty rights, the Native American studies program was created.
Rivers brought to the board 58 new books, all with relations to Native
Americans and their lives.
"Our goal was to revamp our resources for use," Rivers stated.
The books include sports, documentaries, speeches, weapons, plays,
poetry, short stories and many others demonstrating Native American
experiences.
The 2008 Native American week is Nov. 17-21.

That took almost 20 years to accomplish.