UNM-Gallup hosting bilingual conference

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — Bilingual educators and other participants will have a chance to develop multimedia material to teach Native languages during the sixth annual Regional Indigenous Bilingual Education Conference at the University of New Mexico-Gallup branch Dec. 4-6.

With a focus on helping indigenous teachers develop Native alphabets with professional stories, scoreboards and computer animation, the theme of the conference is “The ABCs of Learning Native Languages Using Technology.”

During the conference, Native language institutes, immersion programs and bilingual experts will share up-to-date instructional strategies to focus on oral Native language development, organizer Gloria Begay said.

Ethel Manuelito, Tohatchi High School principal, said RIBEC recognizes that Indian education “needs to move with the times.”

The purpose of the annual conference is to help promote and preserve Native languages, Begay said. Through her experience with RIBEC, Begay said she learned there is a need for instructional material for Native languages to be developed.

“Teachers — they have to start making their materials, lesson plans from scratch so if we can help them build resources, everyone accesses and shares lesson plans, that is what is most helpful when these teachers get together,” Begay said.

“Indigenous animation: If it can be imagined it can be animated” — the highlight of this year’s conference — will feature California producers and instructors Dave Master and John Ramirez of ACME Animation Network.

The first day, participants will take part in a group effort to create material on Native alphabets. On the next two days, the participants will have break out sessions.

Workshops scheduled include 13 steps to create cultural stories, Native research in Library of Congress, latest in bilingual strategies, use technology to develop materials, radio broadcasting student curriculum, Navajo astronomy star stories, and develop affordable school media budget.

Up to 600 people from many tribes, including high school students, have attended conferences in the past and response has been good in the years it has been held, Begay said. This year, UNM-G and Gallup High School students will participate.

People who should attend, according to Begay, are bilingual, English, history, and digital education teachers, teacher trainers, mentors, teacher assistants, parents, graphic designers and individuals interested in media and art.

“We’re trying to help them now produce multimedia instructional materials ... so that it’s interactive stories or lessons that the kids can enjoy learning,” Begay said.
Kids have more fun when drawings and music are used, for example, she said.

Other events during the conference will include an organizational meeting to establish a Navajo Education Association, a recognition luncheon for artists and writers, and a Navajo star party.

The luncheon will recognize UNM-G animation instructor Robin Lasiloo, ACME instructors/producers Master and Ramirez and artists Irving Toddy and Baje Whitethorne.
The fee for three days of the conference is $95 or $55 for one day. Parents and students pay $20 per day.
Information: (505) 409-3320 or www.ribec6.navajo.org