An Observation on Congress and Tribal Government

• House Bill 1495: Aimed to improve Indian education and address various challenges.

• Initial Conception: 2003, signed into law in 2005.

• Revisions and Delays: Major revisions and delays in implementation.

• Senate Bill 5433: Mandated some Indian studies curriculum in 2015.

• Stakeholders: Included tribes, McCoy, tribal leaders, Board of Education, and WSSDA.

• Implementation: Now underway despite hesitations and delays.

House Bill 1495 was a law fashioned to “improve Indian education…[designed to address] teacher preparation, lack of reservation-based housing in remote Tribal communities, lack of appropriate textbooks and curriculum materials, a dearth of school construction funds, unfunded mandates, racism in the schools, and large class sizes,” (Hurtado, Leigh 2016:3) proposed by Washington State Representative John McCoy and tribal leaders from around the State.  Originally conceived in 2003, the bill was signed into law in 2005, and was submitted for final approval to the State Board of Education in the summer of 2006.  “It had taken a very long time from McCoy’s perspective, but a member of the Board of Education quipped that they had done it in record time, saying changes of this sort often take 30-40 years.” (10) The bill had undergone major revisions by this time, rolling back the mandates to suggestions, and removing funding for curriculum.  Even though data from tribes where similar work had been completed showed improved engagement and educational results from students, and even though students personally attended the hearings that shaped this bill, the Board of Education, rather than approve the final implantation of the bill, sent it into committee.  “This may take a little longer,” yawned Chair Mary Jean Ryan (12).

In fact, by 2012 the suggested changes had only been partially implemented, and it wasn’t until 2015 that the Senate adopted laws that mandated some of the Indian studies curriculum initially proposed.  The bill specifically instructed districts to take the following actions:

·         when reviewing or adopting social studies curriculum, incorporate curricula about tribal history, culture, and government of the nearest federally recognized tribe and work with tribes to develop such materials;

·         collaborate with tribes to create materials, programs, and cultural exchanges;

·         and collaborate with OSPI on curricular areas of tribal government and history that are statewide in nature. (Mielke 2015:2)

The bill, now called Senate Bill 5433, passed and was signed into law the same year.  The stakeholders included the tribes represented by the First Peoples Committee, McCoy, and other interested parties such as tribal leaders and Indian students, the Board of Education, the Board of Education subcommittee, and the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA), which acts as a liaison between (tribal) government and districts.  The Board and WSSDA, especially, were hesitant to adopt the new curricula, fearing that teachers were unprepared, that there was not enough material available for tribes, and for some practical reasons – such as that in a district like Seattle, there are many Indians from all over the nation and providing individualized curriculum for every one of those tribes represented was not feasible.  In response, these agencies were slow to act, and used the subcommittee to re-review and delay implementation.  Nevertheless, implementation is now underway.  Do you have a job where you can finish your work in 30-40 years, time permitting?

References

Hurtado, Denny, and Barabara Leigh. "Enduring Legacies Native Case Studies." Enduring Legacies Native Cases: Waiting Patiently 500 Years–Washington Legislature Considers Requiring Tribal History in School Curriculum. Evergreen State College, 16 Feb. 2016. Web. 27 Apr. 2016. <http://nativecases.evergreen.edu/collection/cases/waiting-patiently-500-years.html>.

Mielke, Susan. SENATE BILL REPORT SB 5433 (n.d.): n. pag. Wa.gov. Washington State, 30 Jan. 2015. Web. 27 Apr. 2016. <http://app.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2015-16/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5433%20SBA%20EDU%2015.pdf>.