Ed panel hears about need for Diné Big Brothers

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Education Committee heard several reports from organizations such as the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program in McKinley County and the Navajo Language Academy on Friday, but one committee member stressed that the reports should be presented to the Navajo Nation’s Board of Education.

“A lot of what’s being presented before us, it should go to the Board of Education,” committee member Willie Tracey, Ganado/Kinlichee, said. In Navajo, he added that the job of the committee is to make laws. “It’s not really our job. It’s the Board of Education’s job to design where it’s incorporated to overhaul the Navajo Nation education system.”

The committee still heard the reports. Committee member Elmer Milford, Fort Defiance , said that he would not otherwise get to hear the reports.

Sarah Luginbuhl and Leonard Joe presented on the services offered by Big Brothers, Big Sisters for McKinley County. Luginbuhl said that the new program currently has 10 matches, and while most of the children are Native American, most of the big brothers and sisters are white or Hispanic. The mentors are positive role models who spend time with the children every month.

“One of the things we would like to have in our program is more Native American mentors,” Luginbuhl said.

The two were presenting, she said, because the program is so new to the area. It has only been in operation since April.

The program serves McKinley County , which Joe said is a huge, sparse area where a lot of communities are isolated.

“We’re trying to get as close to the Navajo Nation itself too. The doors will be open, of course. This is a new thing where a lot of people don’t know and we are expanding,” Joe said.

It’s all about the children, he added.

The children who are currently a part of the program are ages 5 to 15.

“I talked to many of them and they are very excited. They have their own personal big brother or big sister and they look forward to spending time with them,” Luginbuhl said.
Though many of the children are from single parent and low-income households, that is not a requirement, she said.

“This is for any child that needs a mentor,” she said.
Mentors should be at least 18 years old and must go through an extensive background check because they will be working with children.

“This program is not set for one culture. It’s for all cultures,” Luginbuhl added. “This program can be expanded throughout the reservation and to all of the Native American population.”

Dr. Ellavina Perkins presented to the committee about the Navajo Language Academy, which does Navajo linguistic workshops for language teachers.

Education Committee member Ida Nelson, Red Rock, wanted to know if the academy has been working with the Department of Diné Education for its program. Dr. Kalvin White, of DODE, said that the academy was not working with the program

“Any type of cultural curriculum development needs to come through the Department of Education. The Department of Education serves as a clearinghouse for what the Board of Education releases out to schools,” he said. He said that a number of vendors are developing curriculum without working with DODE.

Committee Chairman Andy Ayze, Chinle, told Perkins that the proper procedure would be for the academy to work with the Board of Education, but the committee heard a short report from the academy.

The academy is a non-profit that works with several universities to conduct Navajo linguist workshops. Usually a three week workshop is held in the middle of summer, Perkins said.

She said the academy wants to stabilize funding and will work with any university or college that has the funding to do so.

“We’re hoping the Education Committee will come onboard with us ... because we all have the same interest. We’re working toward preserving the Navajo language for our future. We want to keep our language alive,” she said.

Wednesday
November 19, 2008
Selected Stories:

No place like home:
Life on the streets a challenge for Care 66 residents

No place like home:
Photo page

Who will police the new Fire Rock Casino?

Ed panel hears about need for Diné Big Brothers

Ganado officials not ousted

Zuni drum group featured in PBS documentary

More bullets, more lockdowns

Deaths

Area in Brief

Native American
— PDF Page —

| Home | Daily News | Archive | Subscribe |