Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 12, 1 December 2007 — Conferences spotlight Native Education [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Conferences spotlight Native Education

By KWŪ Staff More than 3,000 Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian teachers and scholars gathered in October at the Hawai'i Convention Center to discuss ways to increase educational opportunities for students from indigenous backgrounds. The participants in the 38th annual convention of the Nahonal Indian Education Association (NIEA) tackled a range of issues, including classroom revival of indigenous language, reforming No Child Left Behind Federal policies and the need to train more teachers in cultural sensitivity. Attendees also addressed the eomplex factors in the relationship between indigenous cultural identity, eeonomie poverty and poor educational outcomes. Several workshops highlighted programs that aim to improve low test scores and high drop-out rates, whieh plague schools with mainly native populations. Speaking at the conference, OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona underscored the need for culture-based education as

"critical in restoring native cultural identity, academic success and healthy communities and nations." Apoliona also added that many Native Hawaiian educators have made strides in raising the bar for Kanaka Maoli students. In praising the efforts of Hawaiian charter schools and the islandwide cultural enrichment programs of Nā Pua No'eau, she cited research showing that children who are educated in these settings will likely be better equipped to "contribute to the State of Hawai'i and the Hawaiian nation." With an eye toward solving inequities in native education, Apoliona urged the audience to beware of ideological movements that seek to dismantle native entitlements under the guise of delivering homogenized or multi-racial education. "The time is now for aboriginal, indigenous natives of this land to unify for our collective survival and for the reconciliation of the needs of all native people," Apoliona said. The commonalities of indigenous people were openly eelebrated at the NIEA convention. The weeklong event, whieh was sponsored with funding from the

Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Kamehameha Schools, began with Hawaiian and Navajo blessings and oli. Representatives of dozens of Indian tribes put on a powwow - the first event of this type to be held inside the convention center. WINHEC Conference The NIEA was the second major indigenous education conference that OHA helped to stage within a single week. A few days prior, Chaminade University convened more than 200 college tribal presidents and Native Hawaiian education experts for an annual meeting of the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC). OHA Education Hale Director Hau'oli Akaka and OHA Education Hale Advocate Peter Hanohano participated in planning the Chaminade conference. Hanohano said there was ' 'ehieken skin" connectivity from the moment WINHEC opened with a gathering at Mauna 'Ala where Native Hawaiian educators welcomed their indigenous counterparts from around the Pacific and the U.S. continent with a special oh. See EDUCATION on page 13

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Native Americans share dance and music in ū powwow at the NIEA - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

EDUCAĪIDN

Cūntinued frum page 12 "You could feel that people (at WINHEC) shared the idea that a deep sense of spirituality belongs in education, but is often missing in schools," said Hanohano. OHA's Education Hale put in many hours to facilitate the week of indigenous education events. But the work was well worth it,

Hanohano said, adding: "For one week, Hawai'i was enriched by the presence of so many indigenous educators and scholars eoming together to share and learn from one another." For more information on either of the conferences that eame and went during October, go to the OHA website or eheek out the websites of the various indigenous education organizations: www. win-hec.org or www.niea.org. ^

Kūhu Kamuela Chun chants Oli Komo at the entrance to Mauna AIū, joined by WINHEC coordinutor Dr. Claire Pruett, (left) of Chaimnade Universify, event coordinator Bob Worthington, (right) and CUH Hawaiian Civic Club members bearing ho'okupu. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom