<strong>16</strong>THURSDAY, MAY <strong>16</strong>, <strong>2013</strong> cherokee one feather/na tsalagi soquo ugidahliAfternoon snackSCOTT MCKIE B.P./<strong>One</strong> <strong>Feather</strong>SCC’s EMS pinningSCC photoThis elk, caught in between bites of munching on leaves, was part of a small herd ofaround seven that were seen in the woods and in a field just past the Oconaluftee VisitorsCenter in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Sunday, <strong>May</strong> 12.Christopher McCoy, of <strong>Cherokee</strong>, was one of SCC’s Emergency Medical Science Classof <strong>2013</strong> that was pinned during a ceremony on the Jackson Campus on Friday, <strong>May</strong> 3.SCC EMS program coordinators Eric Hester and Tony Belcher presented pins.
cherokee one feather/na tsalagi soquo ugidahliTHURSDAY, MAY <strong>16</strong>, <strong>2013</strong>17Dept. of Education holds Tribal Consultation at USETNIAGARA FALLS, NY - <strong>The</strong> U.S.epartment of Education (ED) held aribal Consultation and Listeningession on Monday, <strong>May</strong> 13 leadingp to the United South and Easternribes, Incorporated (USET) Seminnualmeeting. <strong>The</strong> meeting helpedrovide an overview of American InianEducation in the USET regionnd included comments from Tribaleadership in attendance, a reportrom the USET Education Commitee,and public comments.Support for Native language,ultural activities, and Tribal historyas the opening theme for educatorsho are taking the opportunity topeak during the consultation.“<strong>The</strong> concept here is that ourribes need help with teaching theative languages and cultural activty,”said Seneca Nation of Indiansirector of education for the AlleanyTerritory Chanda Grey. “It ishown that students show greatigns of improvement when theyearn about their culture, history,nd know their language and imrovetheir self-esteem.”Poarch Band of Creek Indiansice-Chair Stephanie Bryan built onrey’s comments by saying, “In ourschools we allow Spanish and otherforeign languages to be taught andcount as credit for foreign languages.But, we need to show more effort tosupport the language that is spokenby our Tribes. Statistic show thatUSET President Brian Patterson gives the opening prayer at Monday’s listening session.USET photos<strong>Cherokee</strong> School Board chairperson Lori Blankenship attends a Tribal Consultation andListening Session with the Department of Education on Monday, <strong>May</strong> 13.when we have cultural activities,teach the language, and our historythe dropout rate declines. Speakingof bricks and mortar, new buildingsare nice things to have. But, it’s notwhat the building looks like; it’swhat’s in the building.”Speaking to the session, USETPresident Brian Patterson left thecomments, “I thank you for comingto the ancient homeland of theSeneca Nation of Indians. Sometimesour people are left out of theprocesses. Even though it’s a smallgroup, yet we speak of an Americanvalue. America honored its veteransand low income. So to should ithonor the American value of itstrust responsibility to Indian Country?Our children are still being leftbehind.”<strong>One</strong>ida Indian Nation’s KandiceWatson noted some of the strugglesUSET Tribes have are the effects ofhaving a poor relationship with thestate government. “We have a hightruancy and dropout rate in <strong>One</strong>ida(Indian Nation- New York). I thinkwith us and a few other Tribes, it’sthe states’ unwillingness to recognizethe sovereignty of our nations.In most areas through the USET regionit has been difficult to get anywherewith the states where theyreside.”Poarch Band of Creek Indian’sMegan Young added to Watson’sstatement saying, “States don’t realizethat American Indians make uponly one percent of the United Statespopulation. In that perspective weare national treasure. States don’tsee any value in bolstering our valuesand our educational systems. Iwant to propose an initiative to educateour state and state educators.We have to educate those who areeducating our Indian students.”Also in attendance areWampanoag Tribe of Gay Head(Aquinnah) Vice Chair Richard Randolph,Eastern Band of <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indianschool board member LoriBlankenship, St. Regis Mohawk’sRoderick Cook, and Seneca IndianNation’s Jeff Brown.Office of Indian Education DirectorJoyce Silverthorne gave anoverview of how the listening sessionand consultation was takingplace. Director Silverthorne statedthe Indian Education budget wouldnot suffer from the federal sequestrationfor the current year (<strong>2013</strong>).However, if there are no changes tothe current legislation regarding federalsequestration, Silverthorne saysthere will be a five percent reductionto the Indian Education 2014budget.OIE listening and consultationsessions are conducted by DirectorSilverthorne (Salish) and WhiteHouse Initiative on American Indianand Alaska Native Education AssociateDirector Sedelta oosahwee (Mandan,Arikara, Hidatsa, <strong>Cherokee</strong>).<strong>The</strong> next listening session and consultationis expected to be held inAugust in Northern California.- USET
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