by Dr. Chris Fried, Teacher Education Instructor and Juliana Taken Alive, Early Childhood Instructor, SBC
Ihduwiyayapi: Advancing Indigenous Early Childhood Education and Wounspekiya Unspewicakiyapi Native Teacher Education Grant Programs
Sitting Bull College (SBC) is hosting a speaker series with both local and regional teachers and authors to inspire and influence people to become teachers and support current SBC students with strategies and resources.
In part one of the two-part ‘Sakhíb naúŋžiŋpi’ Speaker Series guest speakers discuss instruction, children’s books, and other important topics with students and community members. The second part of the series is a podcast with former teachers, current teachers, and SBC teacher education alumni.
Three speakers have inspired our students and community members as of May. Andrew Hays shared the importance of bringing culture into the classroom, even when you may not know everything about a culture. He provided great insight for our students through his experience as a non-Native teacher on a variety of reservation schools and in his current position in the Rapid City School District, where he is incorporates Native American culture into the classroom in a good way.
Jessie Rencountre Taken Alive shared her knowledge with our students and committee members on using her books in their classrooms and strategies that teachers can use. The first 20 participants at the event were able to take home a set of her five books to use in their classrooms. Jessie has inspired our students and community members with her books, as she is a local author from Standing Rock.
Jessie visits with attendees about using her books in classrooms.
Rebecca Clarren was the third speaker who wrote the book, “The Cost of Free Land,” a story about the entangled history of her Jewish ancestors’ land in South Dakota and the Lakota, who were forced off that land by the U.S. government. She was able to share her experience with this and the lessons she learned through her research. The students received a copy of her book.
Author Rebecca Clarren visits with the crowd about her book.
In the second part of the speaker series, SBC is working with Grey Willow Studios to create podcasts with local teachers, administrators, and SBC teacher education alumni. Grey Willow studios is an amazing local music production company that has been nominated for Emmy awards in “outstanding music direction” and has done work for ESPN, Disney, and many other artists. When completed, the podcasts will be available on the SBC website and will also be aired on KLND, the local Standing Rock radio station.
Juliana Taken Alive visits with SBC President Tomi Kay Phillips.
These opportunities to showcase teachers, authors, and speakers have been made possible because of grants from the American Indian College fund. Hearing from alumni, local authors, and others in a variety of positions has motivated our students to continue striving towards their goal of completing their degree. Hosting these speakers allows us to reach more students and community members rather than sending a few of our students to conferences.
