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We’ve come a long way from government-controlled boarding schools. Many tribes are now assuming control of their own education systems. But the transition from the federal to tribal control remains complicated and controversial. For example, teachers at Bureau of Indian Education schools on the Navajo Nation worry they might lose money, benefits, or even their jobs. School officials say the plan is not a done deal, but the goal of educational self-determination is paramount.
Guests:
Sue Parton (Kiowa) – president of the Federation of Indian Service Employees Union
Dr. Tommy Lewis (Diné) – superintendent of schools for Navajo Nation Department of Diné Education
Anne Marie Bledsoe Downes (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska) – Acting Director of the Bureau of Indian Education and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
Willeen Benally (Diné) – First grade teacher at Sanostee Day School
Break Music: Happy Sundance (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album)
