Imaginary proposal for implementing Montana's IEFA in a school library.

1. Our School Library and
Indian Education for All
Working with the Mandate
Presented to the Board of Trustees of the Big City School
District
Big City, Montana
April 14, 2014

2. School districts in Montana are
constitutionally bound to implement
IEFA in their classrooms
The Montana State
Constitution (Article X),
state law and court
decisions have helped
shape the direction of
Indian Education efforts.
Source: Montana OPI Social
Studies Model Lesson Plan

3. From the 1972 Montana
Constitution – Article X
Section 1. Educational goals and duties.
(1) It is the goal of the people to establish a system of
education which will develop the full educational
potential of each person. Equality of educational
opportunity is guaranteed to each person of the state.
 (2) The state recognizes the distinct and unique
cultural heritage of American Indians and is committed
in its educational goals to the preservation of their
cultural integrity.

4. Legal Challenges to Article X
 The amendment has been debated and tied to school funding
issues. See Columbia Falls School Dist. v. State (2004) –
School Funding Lawsuit (Columbia Falls lost)
 Montana Code Annotated Sec. 20-9-309 now focuses on the
school district’s mission and IEFA:
 A "basic system of free quality public elementary and
secondary schools" means:
 (c) educational programs to implement the provisions of
Article X, section 1(2), of the Montana constitution and Title
20, chapter 1, part 5, through development of curricula
designed to integrate the distinct and unique cultural heritage
of American Indians into the curricula, with particular
emphasis on Montana Indians.
 Source: Montana OPI Social Studies Model Lesson Plan

5. It should be the intent of the Big City
Schools library not only to comply
with the letter of the law, but to
implement the spirit of the law.
Fact: There were 100 delegates in the 1972 Constitutional Convention.
19 of these delegates were women.

6. Montana’s Native American Tribes
(7 separate reservations host 12 distinct nations)
Note: The Little Shell Chippewa Tribe does not have any land
allocation in Montana, therefore it is not shown on this map.

7. Montana Tribal Nation Seals

8. IEFA Resources
available to our library
Books / eBooks
Audio-visual sources: DVDs, CDs, VHS, MP3 files
Maps and atlases
A current list of online resources for Montana tribes
Loose leaf and spiral bound materials and
pamphlets
Tribal newspapers

9. Great Sources
for our Montana
Tribes Collection
Montana OPI – great resources, well researched and
documented
Continuing search for authentic fiction / non-fiction by
Native authors (books, DVDs, audio)
Continuing search for Montana Tribe related
materials
Scholarly works for reference materials
Maintain a current list of electronic online resources
from trusted sources (e.g., www.montanatribes.org)
Maintain current list of Montana Tribe Websites

10. Montana
OPI and
IEFA
 OPI is a major and highly reliable resource offering many
educational materials and help for teachers and schools
 Background resources: Publications, videos, and Web
links
 Various resources for early childhood education
 Curriculum resources
 Professional development resources and opportunities
 Montana Content Standards and Assessments information
 Specific curriculum and cross-curriculum resources
 OPI also offers grants to school district for approved
projects ($1,000 to $15,000)

11. Arranging and
Cataloging
our
IEFA Collection
 Cataloging American Indian materials
 Traditional Dewey Classification is 970.XX
 Alternative: Reclassify materials based on secondary topic for
Dewey and then mark “IEFA” on Destiny sub-location
 Shelving and displaying the collection
 The only way the IEFA collection will get attention is to
PROMINATELY DISPLAY IT
 There should be separate bookcases in the library to house the
collection with signs indicating Montana Tribes Information

12. National History
Day
 National History Day is a nationwide competition for
primary and secondary school students.
 Students must choose a historical topic and do
authentic primary and secondary source research on it
 Students will present their findings in any number of
formats: papers, exhibits, documentaries, Websites, or
performances
 Competitions are held at the local, state, and national
levels
 The final competition is held in June of each year at the
University of Maryland
What is it all about?

13. Our Montana Tribes
Collection and
National History Day
 The library will set up poster displays highlighting many
of the accomplishments of Native Americans
 A biography section will list famous Native Americans in
a poster display researched by students
 A map will show contact points between Montana tribes
and homesteaders and traders through recorded
history
 Library classes will be encouraged to write and produce
a short (5 to 10 minutes) documentary or drama about
some aspect of a Montana Tribe
 Books about Montana Tribes and the time period will be
displayed in all the showcases throughout the school

14. Celebrating
Native American
Heritage Month
 Native American Heritage Month
 November has been designated as Native American
Heritage month nationwide
 Activities
 One day each week should be designated as a Native
American Heritage Day
 Activities will include wearing clothing and costumes,
making Native food dishes, visits from Tribal elders in the
area
 Library will feature Native American stories read aloud
 Special assembly with dancers and mini pow wow for
students and parents

15. Involving our
Community
in the Library
 Marketing the Library
 A Public Relations campaign is critically important
 Specific Activities
 Have a “senior library day” for the community each week
 Open the collection to community use / borrowing
 Get a column in the local newspaper discussing the library
and specifically the Montana Tribes collection
 Be willing to host small groups within the library before or
after school hours
 Support the community and it will support you

16. The Library’s Montana
Tribes Collection
and the Budget
 Library Budget
 A certain percentage of the budget should be
allocated to expanding the IEFA collection
 This will help demonstrate fiscal compliance with the
Article X mandate
 Fundraising ideas to support the collection
 Donated books for used book and white elephant
sale
 Ask Chamber of Commerce for support of Native
American Heritage activities
 Have library classes compete in selling candy or
other goodies
 Apply for OPI grant
 Submit a practical and unique IEFA project proposal

17. Thank you for your time
and attention!
“The more that you read, the more things
you will know. The more that you learn, the
more places you'll go.”
― Dr. Seuss from the book,
I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

18. Now the boring stuff:
References
 Title page painting: http://www.ccophoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/1260069xklein.jpg

 Montana Tribes Map: http://www.visitmt.com/places_to_go/indian_nations/images/Reservations_MAP_base.gif

 Montana Tribe Seals and Flags:
 http://www.fortpecktribes.org/images/header-image-bg.jpg

 https://www.plaingreenloans.com/ExternalContent/Images/aboutus/PG_tribe_seal_image.jpg

 http://www.littleshelltribe.us/council/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Little-Shell-Tribe-Emblem_Small.jpg

 http://tribalnations.mt.gov/images/sevenlodges_170.jpg

 http://www.bigskywords.com/uploads/1/2/8/0/12804055/9399618.png

 http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ptNxMaX51Yk/Sw3cOI_LdVI/AAAAAAAAAOI/CENeJpDLvSs/s1600/crow+emblem.jpg

 http://www.cheyennenation.com/images/greatseal.gif

 http://cms.lc-triballegacy.org/userScripts/img/flags/Blackfeet_Nation.jpg

 http://www.worldstatesmen.org/xa-assnbgv.gif

 http://ftp.geoinfo.msl.mt.gov/Documents/Maps/Individual/20010118_570_2001_MTCounties.gif


 Photo of Montana constitution: http://www.missoulademocrats.org/content/images/postThumbs/post_74_montana2-fs.jpg

 OPI quote source:
http://opi.mt.gov/PDF/IndianEd/Search/Social%20Studies/HS%20Montana%20Constitution%20Article%20X%20and%20IE
FA.pdf

19. More boring stuff . . .
 Montana Constitution Article X passage: http://www.montanahistory.net/state/constitution1972X.htm

 Photo of women in the 1972 constitutional convention: http://mhs.mt.gov/research/library/exhibits/constitution.html

 Library resource page photo: http://www.mineralcountylibrary.org/mineral_county_public_library_montana019003.jpg

 Montana OPI and IEFA sources: http://opi.mt.gov/Programs/IndianEd/

 Cataloging and shelving: http://exploringprisonlibrarianship.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/american-indian-movement-
2.jpg?w=500&h=465

 National History Day logo and sources: http://www.nhd.org/About.htm

 Library involvement in National History Day: http://reslife.web.unc.edu/files/2012/07/students_studying.jpg

 Native American Heritage month: http://simmons.libguides.com/nativeamericanheritagemonth

 http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/images/native_american.gif

 http://www.mccneb.edu/publicaffairs/images/native_american_month_2011.jpg

 Library budget: http://www.niutoday.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/money-ruler.jpg

 Library and the community: http://www.placemakingchicago.com/cmsimages/bloomingdale-trail-group.jpg

 Thank you slide: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/reading

 http://nathaliefoy.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/aa_i_can_read_with_my_eyes_shut.jpg