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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MIEA STATEWIDE INDIAN PARENT FORUM
BILLINGS HOLIDAY INN
October 24-25,2003
MONTANA INDIAN EDUCATION-LAWS AND LEGAL ISSUES
GREAT FALLS HERITAGE INN
NOVEMBER 9-10, 2003
Contact Carol Juneau, 338-5689 or Patty LaPlant, 728-5615.
MIEA ANNUAL CONVENTION
MISSOULA HOLIDAY INN PARKSIDE
APRIL 1-4, 2004
Contact Patty LaPlant or Carol Juneau.

Blackfeet Working on Blackfeet Language and Cultural Education Standards for All
The importance of maintaining and preserving the Blackfeet Language and the culture of the Blackfeet Tribe has been the driving force behind a group working on developing standards for the educational systems serving the Blackfeet Nation. Standards for the Blackfeet tribal language, their history and culture are in draft stages through the action of the Blackfeet Community College Rural Systemic Change Initiative (RSI) Program.
Helen Augare and Diana Burd are leading the effort through RSI. Draft standards have been developed, a mission statement drafted and a community forum is in the planning to share the progress of this effort. The committee includes school officials, tribal leaders, teachers, community college representatives and community members. A sample of the proposed standards include: “Culturally knowledgeable students are well grounded in the cultural heritage and traditions of the community; Culturally responsive educators use the local environment and community resources on a regular basis to link what they are teaching to the everyday lives of the student.”

MELODY MCCOY TO SPEAK A EDUCATION LAWS AND LEGAL ISSUES FORUM
Melody McCoy, staff attorney for the Native American Rights Fund of Boulder, Colorado, will provide the Sunday evening keynote address at the MIEA Indian Education Laws and Legal Issues Forum in Great Falls, November 9-10,2003. Her presentation is entitled “Legal Perspectives on Indian Education.” Other presenters at the forum include attorneys Andrew Huff with the American Indian Law Resource Center, Maylinn Smith of the U of M Indian Law Clinic, and Pat Smith and Cathy Warhank of OPI. Indian educators Joyce Silverthorne, Denise Juneau and Cal Gilbert will also present.
The Legal Issues Forum will be held at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls and will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss legal perspectives of many issues facing Indian Education in Montana (reservation and urban). Discussion will emphasize Article X, 1(2) of the Montana Constitution, now called Indian Education for All. It has been 31 years since the constitutional language was approved by Montana. The Forum will focus on the progress made by the state educational institutions to implement the constitutional language and open discussion regarding legal rights and responsibilities of all involved in and responsible for Indian Education in the State of Montana.

Opposition to Assessment Makes Little Impact on Regents
“The proposed new admission requirements to the 4-year units of the University System for Math Proficiency Assessment passed the Board of Regents unanimously at their July 10th meeting in Kalispell despite the opposition of MIEA,” reported Carol Juneau. Juneau presented the Resolution from MIEA opposing both the writing and math proficiency assessments to the Board of Regents and asked that they not be approved, as they are a barrier to admission to the University system for American Indian students. Dr. Joyce Scott of OCHE, who presented the unanimously approved Math Proficiency assessment, stated that there were some revisions that address some of the concerns raised by MACIE. The alternative will allow students to present a “rigorous high school core of 4 years of math” versus the present 3-year college prep requirement.

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