Walking in Two Worlds

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Walking in Two Worlds

• Lance Tallmadge
• Native American Student Services Coordinator
• Wisconsin Dells School District

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Our schools have failed to nurture the
intellectual development and academicperformance
of many Native children, as is evident from their
high dropout rates andnegative attitudes towards
school. (Indian Nations at Risk Task Force
Report 1995)
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What are some of the factors that have
contributed to low Native American student
achievement?
Boarding school experience
Assimilation into public schools
Divorce, single parent household , abuse,
addictions
Peer pressure, the Crab Syndrome
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Schools that respect and support a students
language and culture are significantly more
successful in educating those students. (Indian
Nations at Risk Task Force Report 1995)
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As education professionals teachers, counselors,
principals, administrators and school boards, how
can we support and respect Native American
students culture?
Develop an understanding of Native American
education history.
Reach out to the Native American community either
through liaisons, counselors or other
professionals.
Be compassionate, kind, listen, validate feelings
and respectful.
Increase parental involvement.
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What learning characteristics should we recognize
in Native American students?
Learning style is more hands on. (Show me let
me do.)
Oral tradition taught to be good listeners not
note takers.
Native American culture values cooperation and
compromise not the competitive nature of the
dominate society.
Spiritual people spirituality cannot be removed
from any aspect of life, including learning.
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What in the Dells is going on?
Liaison position funded through Title VII
Ho-Chunk Language classes offered at the HS with
support from the Ho-Chunk Nation.
Continually working to infuse Native American
culture across the curriculum.
(4th gr Native People of WI curriculum added)
Increase staff awareness through Book Club
(The Seventh Generation Native Students Speak
About Finding the Good Path)
New district policy to include extended family
members to participate in students education.
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Let us put our minds together and see what life
we can make for our children.
Sitting Bull Hunkpapa Sioux (1831-1890)
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Information
The Seventh Generation Native Students Speak
About Finding the Good Path Amy Berstrom- Anish
inaabeg (Red Lake Nation) Thomas Peacock- Ojibw
e (Fond du Lac Band) Linda Cleary- UM/Dulut
h English Professor
Oyate 2702 Mathews St. Berkley, CA 94702 (510)
848-6700 [phone] Fax oyate_at_oyate.org www
.oyate.org