Students may learn Indian languages

Boise _ Legislation to allow the state and tribes to cooperate on the teaching of Indian languages in Idaho schools was introduced in the Senate on Friday.

"I think it's just a small piece of what we can do to work together for the state and for the tribes," said Rep. Hilde Kellogg, R-Post Falls, a co-sponsor.

The bill was developed in the Indian Affairs Council, a committee whose membership includes state lawmakers and officials of Idaho's Indian tribes. It allows tribes to designate people who are qualified to teach their native language and allows a school district to have those individuals teach a class. The language teachers could not teach any other subject unless they obtained regular teaching certifications.

David Kerrick, lobbyist for the Nez Perce Tribe, told the Senate Education Committee, "We want to make a clear statement ... that as a state, we recognize that these languages are part of our heritage."

Sen. Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, also a co-sponsor, said the bill is needed because experts in tribal languages may not be otherwise qualified to teach in Idaho schools under current laws. Under the bill, which will be assigned a bill number and get a full hearing in the coming weeks, the state Board of Education would make rules covering the details of the program.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2002

Answers

David,

I have a question for you. Do you know how much blood a person has to have to be put on the Scrolls? I have some on my side, and my husband had a lot more on his side. My son is about 1/8th Cherokee, and asked me the other day about it. Oklahoma is good to our Native Americans. I want him to be proud of his heritage, even though he doesn't look anything like a Native American.

Since he has sparked interest, I'm planning on taking him around to some of the tribal areas this summer. I hope that he continues with this thought and doesn't change it by summer time.

apoc

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2002

apoc, ask Git to put you and me into direct contact.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2002

Making me a go-between, huh? Well, I've been worse.

I honestly did like the Native American part of the Olympics opening thingies the best. The eagle skaters were wonderful, although not NAs. But best of all was when the chiefs/elders of the tribes welcomed and gave good wishes and blessings in their own languages to the Olympics reps. And for once, the awful NBC camera work caught something spectacular--an elder whose eyes were glistening with pride. Ought to be an Olympics poster.

You know, when I first came to this country I went to West Texas (after a month in New Orleans) and was shocked to find that although there were plenty of cowboys, there were no Indians. It was years before I met any Native Americans--and one of the first was the old guy with the tear from the pollution commercials back in the early 70s. Cherokee, I think.

Sweetie is definitely part NA but we don't know much about his heritage. I think it was his paternal great-grandmother. And you kow what, David, Sweetie's paternal grandfather ran a nursery in Fort Worth! Don't know if it was just trees or all kinds of plants. I bought some books on Native Americans years ago and found a picture of a Kiowa woman who could easily be Sweetie's twin sister. Or maybe it's Comanche, don't know. Ironically, we have some genealogical stuff, showing a great-great-great uncle on his mother's side was a freight-driver killed by Indians!

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2002

Only She Who Possesses A Hair of The Mule could be entrusted with such an important go-betweening.

(Pleeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzz?)

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2002

Poccy???

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

If "Poccy?" is Brit for "you mean, when you sent me a hair o' the mule, it obligated me in some unforeseen way?" --- then, "Poccy!"

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002