ASU help sought in implementing Diné sovereignty

By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation Council’s Education Committee is scheduled to meet with Arizona State University officials on Wednesday.

The committee will be asking for the university’s assistance in the Navajo Nation’s attempt to implement the Diné Sovereignty in Education Act of 2005. The Department of Education presented topics to discuss with ASU during the meeting.

“Initially, what the committee can do is give ASU an idea of what we need help with,” Eddie Biakeddy, acting superintendent of DOE, said.

Specifically, ASU could assist with standards development, educational research, collaboration on grants, and providing advanced on-campus and on-site coursework for Department of Education and school staff.
Navajo education officials said that ASU is in a unique position to provide assistance because of its leadership and commitment to building Indian-related programs in education and Native American Studies.

In the topic paper provided to the committee, department officials state that there is a need for capacity building for staffers, and ASU could work with the Nation in the development of relevant courses. They stated that there is potential to establish a training center for staff in Window Rock.

In addition to providing training for staff, the university could provide courses for individuals who are involved in Navajo education, particular for those with tribally controlled schools. The department states that there is no coursework available anywhere in the country for Bureau of Indian Education-funded school administrators.

The Navajo Nation is seeking help with producing an education research agenda and establishing a research journal so information could be available for professionals in the field.

According to the department, academic standards were developed by the committee in the early 1990s but there is a need to revisit those standards due to changing concepts and new laws that call for the establishment of instructional content and achievement standards. ASU could provide technical assistance to the Navajo Nation or an expert from the university could serve on a working task force as the department takes on the task.

The department is also seeking specific projects for inclusion in a memorandum of understanding between the Nation and the university, including encouraging teacher-education students to do student teaching on Navajo, expanding the matching funding program that currently only applies to law students to include all graduate students, and providing periodic technology training to Department of Education staff.

Tuesday
January 22, 2008
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ASU help sought in implementing Diné sovereignty

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