Educate the Indian, Save the world

Band members are encouraged to get involved in the Parent Advisory Committee of their local schools

By Mashkodebizhikigahbaw, Benji Sam Doctor of Physical Therapy

In the state of Minnesota, since 1972 under the Indian Education Act, any school district that enrolls 10 or more American Indian children is required to have an established Parent or Advisory Committee.

I had the fortunate blessing to be able to have had two parents who believed in education and grassroot movements to improving the experience of all the people who make their walk after them. I watched a school district make the shift before my eyes from initial learning about all the challenges that faced Native students in the Onamia school district to creating a district that works with and understands how to help families become more successful. American Indian Parent Advisory Committees (AIPAC) across the state are designed to help put processes in place to meet the needs of all students who are enrolled or descendent of tribes across the country. Through many years of dedication and commitment to the processes within school walls, the positive ramifications can be felt for years to come.

As we embark on the days our own child entered a school district as a kindergartener, we made the choice to attend our first parent committee meeting before the first semester was over. We were surprised to find a district with a lot of successes and hard work from people who came before us, and yet only three other parents were in attendance. Even in a district with nearly 30% higher graduation rates of American Indian students compared to the statewide average in Minnesota, there were just a few voices in place from parents on the side-line. Sadly, this is not entirely unique to this school district, and despite the amazing graduation success rate, the high amount of staff coordination and cooperation, getting families and parents involved into these successes remains a challenge like it does across all of Indian Country.

Some of this lack of engagement probably stems all the way back to the time of the boarding school era, which still affects our families today from generational distrust of education. The very same history that wasn't written into history books until the early 2000s led to an intentional cover up of the rugged, genocidal, assimilative nature of the U.S. Government from the moment it set foot on this continent. And with the boarding school's history on this soil remaining so fresh in so many family's minds, how could we learn to trust our schools to teach our children right?

I asked myself that same question and wound up getting involved in the future of American Indian education and holding our school district, board members, administration, teachers, liaisons, advocates, parents, children, and each other accountable for the future for my child and children like her. And although I have just scraped the surface of my involvement in this Parent Committee, I have already realized that getting involved in my local school district is one of the most impactful ways to help support all our children to help them receive all the tools they need to be successful every day in our schools. Sometimes, simply just showing up is the hardest part - caring and having passion to give our children education is the easy part.

This grassroot style involvement is what has made programs successful across all Indian Country, when people show up — our voices are heard. The most dangerous thing we can do is to sit on the sideline and let life happen to us. The most powerful tool we have is our voice, our concerns brought as an equal part of the table discussion. If our voices weren't so powerful, they wouldn't have tried so hard these last 250+ years to stop us from speaking. The only way to be heard is to simply show up, get involved, and before long all our children can feel the same support they all deserve. With all our involvement, maybe all our children will feel the same support we all once needed. That's equity in education. That is powerful. That is Anishinaabe.

Captain Pratt, founder of the Carlisle Indian School, once said, "Educate the Indian, Save the man." But I say, "Educate the Indian, Save the World," Benji Sam.