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What is a Tribal Education Advocate?

The Tribal Education Advocate (TEA) attends each Indian Education Committee (IEC) meeting. Within these parent-ran committees, the TEA assists the IEC in parent rights and responsibilities of guiding and running the IEC. The TEA also keep parents informed of issues facing Indian families in the local schools along with referencing resources to parents. Any parent who has children attending the schools are always encouraged to be involved and join the IEC meetings. If you have any questions regarding the IEC's, please contact the Tribal Education Department at (406) 675-2700. 

Parent and Student Advocacy

The TEA also works as an advocate for families when there are educational issues that arise. The TEA combines their advocacy role and works as a liaison between the parents, students and the school. The TEA can attend any meetings with the school upon parental request. These meetings can include IEP’s (Individualized Education Plans), 504 Plans regarding a child's disability as identified by the law, the discussion and implementation of a Behavior Plan, expulsion hearings, or any other meetings with the school and parent that may occur.

Staff Contact:

Alfred DeRoche works with the Arlee, Nkwusm and St. Ignatius communities/schools. Phone: (406)675-2700 ext. 1070     Email: Alfred.DeRoche@cskt.org 

Sarah BigSam works with the Charlo, Dixon Early Childhood Services/Head Start and Ronan communities/schools. Phone: (406)675-2700 ext. 1072     Email: Sarah.BigSam@cskt.org

Karissa Trahan will work with the Dayton, Hot Springs, Polson and Valley View communities/schools. Phone: (046)675-2700 ext. 1405     Email: Karissa.Trahan@cskt.org 

All three advocates support with advocacy at Two Eagle River School. 

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Education Department

Annual PIR Day Agenda

September 16, 2019

Salish Kootenai College Campus

 

Time Activity
8:00 – 8:40 AM Flag Song, Welcome & Instructions
8:40 – 9:10 AM Walk to Sessions- Coffee & Refreshments will be located in the buildings
9:15 – 12:00 PM Morning Sessions
12:00 – 1:00 PM LUNCH
1:00 – 3:00 PM  Afternoon Session
3:15 – 4:00 PM Closing with Donnie Wetzel Jr. & Honor Song 


Teachers will sign up for only ONE session and have the opportunity to explore a subject in depth. You will be in the same classroom all day with the presenter(s), which have been scheduled either a full day or half day session. Sessions will be capped according to the room capacity! Once a session is full, teachers will no longer be able to register for that specific session and you will need to select another session.

Register for a Session!


Session Descriptions

Sessions

Description

Presenter(s)

1. How do children become literate, and how can I help?

 

Evelyn Stevenson Building
Room 120

(30 Participants)

 

Resulting from a rollicking conversation with professional educators from nearly every Flathead Reservation school last August, Manda and Tammy will invite any interested teacher to explore how children learn to read and write.  What happens in the reading brain? What routines do I currently use that support or thwart the young –or struggling, reader?  How can I create early “wins” that lead to literacy success and instill a love of reading and writing?  What practices and approaches build independence and stamina on the part of the early reader? 

Tammy Elser &

Manda Davis

Full Day

2. These 6 Things: How to Focus Your Teaching on What Matters Most

 

Robert DePoe III (RDIII) Building
Room 142

(40 Participants)

 

This session will focus on training in student motivation and related topics including the five key beliefs, including awareness of local cultures.

Dave Stuart Jr.

Full Day

3. Words, Images and Kindness

 

Michel Building
Room 115

(25 Participants)

David J. Spear and Jennifer Finley will jointly conduct a workshop for Flathead Reservation teachers during PIR day about the power of images, words and kindness in the classroom.  Spear and Finley will present information about previous projects that they've done together throughout the years as well as hands on activities and practical tools teachers can use to incorporate more images, words and kindness into their curriculum. 

Jennifer Finley &

David Spear

Full Day

4. Rehumanizing Mathematics: Innovative Teaching Techniques for Math Retention and Understanding

 

Beaverhead (PQLAW) Building
Room 115

(25 Participants)

What does “teaching for tomorrow” look like? As math educators we have accepted the proposed ideology shifts about effective practice but the blueprint for day-to-day instruction still feels imprecise. We like the idea of productive discourse but fear mismanaged student discussion. We want students to feel free to conjecture but what if their ideas are off base? We try to use context to help students conceptualize but despite our best efforts they become lost in the aesthetic. We try to make connections but students simply do not see them. Rehumanizing mathematics is an approach to teaching that provides answers to these authentic challenges.

Runninghorse Livingston

Full Day

5. Family and Community Impacts on the Drug Abuse Epidemic

 

Robert DePoe III Building
Room 143

(40 Participants)

Melanie Smith, Community Strong DEC Coordinator, will talk about strengths, benefits, and importance and challenges within Tribes and their disciplines in setting up alliances. She will also provide a demonstration and activity to provide teachers a different perspective of what substance abuse is like for a caretaker and how it impacts the child victim.

Melanie Smith

9:15 AM – 12:00 PM

Tribal Investigators, Vern Fisher Sr. and Will Mesteth, will cover drug awareness that will include the various drugs that the task force routinely encounters on the Flathead Reservation and surrounding counties.  The presentation will highlight the physical, behavioral, and psychological signs of drug use.  The presentation will show photos of drug paraphernalia and photos of actual houses, and vehicles searched by the Agents. 

Vern Fisher Sr. &

Will Mesteth

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

6. A Time Journey Through God's Country: Homeland of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

 

Johnny Arlee Victor Charlo Theater

(50 Participants)

Presentation is a historical journey of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes from traditional homeland to the establishment of the Flathead Indian Reservation.  Discussion will include Reservation history with the adoption of the present day government including significant dates and events.  A conversation of Tribal people fulfilling their responsibility to future generations and protection of their permanent homeland.

Dan Decker

Full Day

7. Technology Tools to Transform Teaching and Learning

 

D'Arcy McNickle Library

(25 Participants)

 

*Teachers will be encouraged to bring their own laptop/ Chromebook

There is certainly no shortage of tech-based tools to use in the classroom. Google’s GSuite tools are specifically designed for encouraging, enhancing, and managing learning and teachers are always looking for ways to pique student interest, from engaging experiments to unique learning methods. If you want to add fresh elements to your classroom and encourage your students to be creative, collaborative, good communicators, and critical thinkers check out these tools. They might offer the tech solutions you need to engage your students throughout the learning process.

Jeff Crews &

Dean Phillips

Full Day

8. Traditional Art In the Classroom

 

Three Woodcocks Art Building
Room 104

(20 Participants)

Corky will provide a session will be an open discussion and dialogue on the importance of arts in the classroom, and using art as a vehicle to explore cultural identity and place.

Corky Clairmont

Full Day

9. Integration of Traditional Knowledge

 

Michel Building
Room 116

(25 Participants)

Aspen Decker will discuss an importance of yearly traditional Salish events and Tribal values and how to implement into your classroom curriculum. She will also work with teachers on creating a vocabulary game using Tribal events, by incorporating vocabulary, which teachers can bring back to their classrooms and communities.

Aspen Decker

Full Day

10. Using Contemporary Native American Literature in Every Classroom

Beaverhead (PQLAW) Building
Room 102

(25 Participants)

In this daylong session we will look at literacy strategies for reading and writing using contemporary Native American authors. We will work with how to teach, using these strategies, with a high interest Native American novel. We will also learn how to lead classroom discussion for maximum critical thinking.

Linda Jones

Full Day

11. Ledger Art & Tool Making

 

Three Woodcocks Art Building

Room 105

(20 Participants)

Frank Finley will demonstrate twine/net making and tools in the morning; a demonstration of making twine from dogbane/spec'n and net making with an overview of tools made and used locally. In the afternoon, he will be demonstrating Ledger art and Biographical stories. Frank will be showing some conventions and historical ledgers and how to use it in a contemporary setting.  Highlighting the use by the Salish Tribe during the time Father Desmet was in the Bitterroot. 

Frank Finley

Full Day

12. Knowing the Difference

Beaverhead (PQLAW) Building
Room 118

(25 participants)

Understanding the different histories of both the Salish/ Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai Tribes. General description of aboriginal Kootenai territories and the timeline of events (historic and contemporary) will be covered.

Jordan Stasso

9:15 AM – 12:00 PM

Museum as Megaphone

In this session, teachers will learn about MAM’s new distance learning platform along with their mission and collection with regards to Indigenous art and artists. This session will target middle school teachers.

Missoula Art Museum

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

13. Cultural Connection with Wildlife

Beaverhead (PQLAW) Building
Room 117

(35 Participants)

Stephanie Gillin, Natural Resources new Information & Education Program Manager, will present on the cultural connection with wildlife on the Flathead Indian Reservation and the importance of reconnecting youth.

Stephanie Gillin,

Dale Becker

9:15 AM – 12:00 PM

Reintroduction of the

Trumpeter Swan

Dale Becker will show a Powerpoint presentation on the Tribes’ Trumpeter Swan Restoration Project, discussing Trumpeter Swan ecology, the project and its status. 

Mimicry, Migration and Mammals….Oh My!!!

Kari Eneas, NRD Wildlife Management Program, will be presenting on various wildlife topics including a brief overview of the CSKT Wildlife Program and its common local wildlife species. This will target elementary grade teachers.

Kari Eneas

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

14.  Cultural Resource Protection Compliance

 

Beaverhead (PQLAW)
Room 108

(30 Participants)

The Tribal Preservation Department staff, Kyle Felsman and Katie McDonald, will discuss the Tribes value of our cultural sites and the importance of protecting them. Mike Durglo will also cover the impacts that affect these resources through the changing climate.

Mike Durglo, Kyle Felsman & Katie McDonald

Full Day

Protecting Cultural Sites

Climate Impacts to Cultural Resources

15. Coming Together For Our Youth & Future

 

Michel Building
Room 113/ 114

(40 Participants)

Ron Canuel will review the specific challenges that were identified on the Flathead Reservation and the suggested proposals to fit the needs of teachers. He wants this workshop to be highly relevant to the needs of the schools that currently serve native students. He will include topics on increasing native parental engagement, reducing student absenteeism and programming options for staff. Definitely a must attend!!

Ron Canuel

9:15 AM – 12:00 PM

In the second half of this strand, Donnie Wetzel Jr. will discuss the importance of relationships by celebrating the uniqueness of us all and the importance of inclusive communicative channels and the development of Youth Voice. He will also cover examples and lessons learned on building support systems using the strengths of each other for the benefit of our children.

Donnie Wetzel Jr. (OPI)

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

16. School Administrators

 

Late Louie Caye Building

 

This sectional is for school administrators ONLY

Brandie Buckless will cover the data collection information, purpose and outcomes of this data. Your School Data spreadsheet will be reviewed.

Brandie Buckless

9:15 AM – 11:00 AM

BREAK

Leigh Estvold, Public Health Nurse, will cover solutions for schools to address the suicide epidemic in our county by describing the SOS (Sources of Strength) Program.  

Leigh Estvold

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

Ron Canuel will discuss his insights into increasing native student engagement, focusing on challenges that our principals have identified. He will provide practical approaches in creating enabling learning and teaching environments that will enhance native student success. He will stress the pragmatics and less on the “feel good” approaches.

Ron Canuel

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Johnson O’Malley (JOM) Parent Survey

JOM students are at least 1/4 or more combined Native American blood from a Federally recognized tribe. Please be sure to select which school your JOM student attends. You will be asked to list the names of your students to ensure our files are accurate. 

 

Your Indian Education Committee (IEC) will be dedicated to meeting the priorities suggested in this survey. The IEC is composed of volunteer parents/guardians of their JOM child(ren)s school district.

 

Contact Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribal Education Department staff if you have any questions. Tribal Education Advocates: Sarah BigSam, (406)675-2700 ext. 1072, Sarah.BigSam@cskt.org or Alfred DeRoche, (406)675-2700 ext. 1070, Alfred.DeRoche@cskt.org

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