Pilot Program in Washington State Aims to Save Native American Languages

The First Peoples' Language/Culture Teacher Certification Pilot Program was approved by the Washington State Board of Education in January of 2003 and will operate until the end of the 2005-2006 school year. Although it has been running for less than a year, it has already created quite a buzz. "We've heard from Alaska to Maine," said Pat Eirish, Manager of the Research and Assistance Program.

The program's goal is "to contribute to the prevention, recovery, revitalization, and promotion of First Peoples' language and provide the opportunity for tribal children to learn their language while at school" ^[1].

This goal is being accomplished primarily through state certification of teachers who in the past had only been able to teach on Native American reservations. After verification from individual tribes of completion of tribal teacher preparation programs, and background checks by the state, teachers are issued First Peoples' Language/Culture certificates. These allow them to teach in any Washington state public school, just as any other certified teacher can. After teachers receive their certification in First Peoples' Language/Culture, they can be hired by a local district. From initial responses Eirish has heard, local districts are very excited. "It is still so new that we are trying to get the word out," said Eirish.

Although tribal languages and culture are already taught on many reservations, Native American curriculum is not usually offered in public schools. In fact, from what Eirish has seen, this is the first program offered for Native Americans in public schools. This is in spite of the fact that Washington state law states: "The state board of education shall establish high school graduation requirements or equivalencies for students. Any course in Washington state history and government used to fulfill high school graduation requirements is encouraged to include information on the culture, history, and government of the American Indian peoples who were the first inhabitants of the state" ^[2].

There has been an ongoing problem of a large percentage of Native American students dropping out of school, which emphasizes the importance of this pilot program. Part of the rule for this program states: "(a) Teaching first peoples' languages can be a critical factor in successful educational experiences and promoting cultural sensitivity for all students. The effect is particularly strong for Native American students. (b) First peoples' languages are falling silent. Despite tribal efforts, first peoples' languages are not fully incorporated into the school systems. This is a loss to the cultural heritage of the affected tribes and to the cultural resources of Washington state" ^[3].

While the ways school districts may actually use these teachers is still unclear, the program clearly has "united a lot of the tribes in communicating with each other. .. they are just thrilled to have a common goal to promote and retain their language and culture," said Eirish. In addition, an important bridge has been built between tribal governments and the State Board of Education. These agreements between governments offer legitimacy to the teaching of Native American language and culture in public schools and raise awareness that the shared heritage of people in Washington state is important to preserve. Tribes desiring to participate in the pilot program have been entering into formal, written government-to-government agreements between the State Board and individual tribes.

At the end of the pilot period, Eirish hopes the data about impact on student learning will lead the Board to continue and expand the program, allowing even more First Peoples' teachers to become state certified.

So far, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Cowlitz Tribe, the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, the Makah Tribe, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, the Tulalip Tribes, the Skokomish Tribes, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians are participating in the program.

^{[1] Washington State Board of Education. (2003). First Peoples' Language/Culture Teacher Certification Pilot Program. Available at: http://www.sbe.wa.gov/FirstPeoples/people1.htm .}

^{[2] Washington State Legislature. (n.d.) RCW 28A.230.090. Available at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/rcw/index.cfm?fuseaction=section&section=28A.230.090.}

^{[3] Washington State Legislature. (n.d.) WAC 180-78A-700. Available at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/wac/index.cfm?fuseaction=Section&Section=180-78A-700.}