The NDNAEU Project: Lessons Learned with Lucy Fredericks

[Music] sluicey Frederick’s and I am the director of Indian multicultural education for the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and I have been in this position for six years and I enjoy working with the department and the work that we’re doing for our Native American students in [Music] this is a great work that we’re doing we started the actual development of the essential understandings back in the spring of 2015 and how it came about was our was our first annual North Dakota Indian education summit four years are actually four years ago right and in sponsorship with the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission one of our first summits keynote speaker was dr.Denise Juneau and at that time she was a state superintendent for Montana and she presented on their Indian education for all program that they have in Montana and the work that they’re doing with that was very interesting to myself and to Superintendent Kirsten Baesler and so after the presentation superintendent Rees ler said that we need to start some kind of work like that in North Dakota so either mirroring what they’re doing with the Indian education for all in Montana or just kind of taking some of the components of what they’re doing of course there’s a lot more extensive at that time it was and so we thought we would start with the North with the essential understandings part of it and so with that we reached out to Ty and to Scott and Charla and asked them since they have vast experience in working with the wou Lakota project and you know South Dakota being right next door and so similar demographics you know with the Native American population and just you know this probably you know with the Lakota and Dakota and so reaching out to you guys and contracting with you and the started the development and the work of the essential understandings and so phase one was the beginning and so a lot of planning and in bringing elders together from the different tribes in North Dakota so there’s five tribes and so we had three gatherings and we brought the elders together and just basically listen to them listen to their knowledge their wisdom their storytelling their language and just really understanding what they would like students to know about Native Americans in North Dakota and also the different tribes and how similar and different they are even though you know they’re all from North Dakota and they’re all from you know different tribes but yet they’re all unique in their own way and so bringing them together and listening to them and then also having them develop you know the essential understandings and I think that’s real important work because it’s coming from the elders so it’s it’s authentic it’s something that is not out of a text book or you know I think it’s real important that we listen and hear their voices and learn from them and so I think it was real important that we started that way which I really appreciated and so that was thus the development of these seven essential understandings and then the next phase and then the development of the resource document itself that was phase one and then phase two was the actual development of lesson plans that were aligned to the resource document to the seven essential understandings so we have three gatherings here in Bismarck and just pretty much opened it up to all educators throughout the state that were willing to come and participate and you know develop these lesson plans k12 in all content areas lesson plans that align to the resource document and so again those lesson plans are also from North Dakota educators and so having those available for teachers to use in the classrooms and it’s all available to them it’s free and great resources for them you know they’re always looking for additional you know culturally responsive and curriculum and instruction and how can we incorporate these into our lessons and you know embed them into what they’re already doing and not just in one content area which a lot of times I think happens with like social studies but you know we want these to be you know throughout every content area throughout every grade level and it’s just something that should just be embedded and included you know within the classroom so that was phase two and then phase three is what we’re in now and that is the rollout and the implementation and so now we would like to get it out to all the schools in North Dakota it’s available but offering on-site professional development training coaching whatever fits the needs of the schools that’s what we would like to come and provide to them and so superintendent means learn you know that’s her goal is to have it you know available but also how do we get it out into the schools and have teachers start really implementing it within the classrooms and then what kind of you know impact will that have you know with our not only our Native American students but I think all students you know and so these essential understandings and you know we’ve mentioned this before is it’s not just for Native American students it’s for all students you know and I think it’s real important that we keep that in mind it’s not a curriculum it’s it’s more of you know exemplar lessons or units they have connections to our North Dakota State standards but it’s it’s something that I think teachers once they realize that it’s not something extra or something more I think they’re more willing to you know to implement them in their classrooms a lot of times teachers feel a little bit maybe uncomfortable teaching about Native American culture and history because they’re just not sure but you know that’s the elder interviews that are there and available for them to utilize and so let the elder be the teacher and then they can continue on with their lessons and include you know additional things you know within the units and the lesson plans so I think it’s just you know that awareness and then just you know being available for them for training and professional development and so that’s where we’re at with the Phase three we hope to continue the work and just continue to get this VC central understandings out into to all schools and throughout the state I think you know to me it seems like the phase three that implementation is probably a little bit more challenging because of the fact that you know we have such a there’s you know so many schools and it’s it’s just a and with you know with everything going on in education now you know with the new SL ah and you know teachers I think they’re feeling a little overwhelmed and I think they’re you know they’re just thinking oh it’s just one more thing to add you know but just getting them to understand that it isn’t you know that’s not our intent is to add anything more they’re already doing lesson plans in the classroom they’re already teaching content but you know this can be included and embedded into what they’re doing and so I think we just need to really you know encourage them and be available and to support them in any way that we can to help them implement these you know the resource document the ongoing Elder interviews those are all like to me and the additional lesson plans are all on boy those can always be continued and can always be added to but I think now we really need to start getting it out into the into the schools and into the classrooms and you know looking at maybe pilot projects you know and things like that so I think um so to me it’s taking a little more time and I think it is going to with anything you know in education I think it takes time and so but we’re very committed to it and I know superintendent baesler’s committed to it so we’ll make it continue and work and so that’s our goal that’s one of our goals not only for my program in education but for dpi also I think you know I think how we started with bringing the elders together I think that’s that’s real important that and getting as many as you can you know from the different tribes or you know different tribal nations or within their states and I think really being understanding being respectful really listening to them because you know their knowledge is so important I think and our students really need to look at that as being you know a part of having those connections I guess you know with the elders and listening to them and then also the lessons that come out of those you know what the elders are saying so I think that’s real important so I think starting in and again you have to have the support you know from wherever you work if it’s you know the superintendent or you know and I think it’s so important that the schools also have that support with their leadership you know because if they’re on board then it’s more likely going to work you know with within the school with the teachers and the staff and making sure that they’re all kind of on the same page and and for them to realize the importance of having this you know in their schools and so I think that’s and again starting you know I know like I’d mentioned the Indian education for all and that was a vast it’s it’s a lot more than what we have but I think starting with something like the essential understandings starting with that first and then maybe expanding I think is a is a good way to start you know our website you know has all the resources on there and then we’re always adding to it and always making it available and just getting the word out and the awareness and that this is available for teachers to use and so I think that’s that’s how I would start I mean if we were do it over again that I would do the same the same way and then bringing that second group together committee you know with the development of the lesson plans and getting their input because you know we had all kinds of educators involved you know from administrators to principals to teachers to culture teachers to language teachers so I think just really getting that you know about those stakeholders from various you know positions and network and schools and them just learning from each other I think it was so important that they were able to work together to collaborate and just learn from each other I think that was really powerful so I think so that’s what I would recommend definitely getting this support of your state agency you know I know like even if it’s through just endorsing it or you know I know Montana has it in their Constitution you know and then once you get to that point and they see that it’s working and realizing that you know this is making a difference you know an impact then I think you could maybe take it further and look at like your legislation or maybe you know bringing it to the legislature and getting additional funding you know on things like that but yeah we need to prove to them that you know this is this is working and this is how it’s working and this is how it’s impacting our students and especially with our Native American population you know in North Dakota so that’s how I would start it I think that was you know and even if you could do additional gathering you know gatherings like we did I know we did three but I think just continuing that ongoing process I think it’s important and I think that has worked really well [Music]