ISD 196 American Indian Education

We are excited to start this new school year with you all and continue our strong partnerships with schools as we work to meet the unique cultural and academic needs of our students. We will continue to provide monthly newsletters with our goal to develop Intercultural awareness among pupils, parents, and staff.

Please outreach to our program staff if you would like support in the following areas:

• Student and Parent/Guardian Advocacy
• Increasing Parent Involvement
• Building Strong Student-Family Connections with School
• American Indian Resources for students & families
  
• Curriculum & Lesson Planning Support
• Classroom Presentations - Windows & Mirrors Representation

AIE Programming Updates:

• Lisa Turgeon is the American Indian Education Coordinator.
• Joseph Mousseau (CFA) resigned this summer and we currently have an active CFA posting to fill this position.
• AIE Program has moved from the Secondary Education Department to the Equity Department.

Our CFA team work exclusively with students who are STATE coded "01: North American Indian or Alaskan Native" on Infinite Campus and/or have a Title VI/506 Form on file with the Indian Education program. Our staff also support equity work through the Achievement & Integration Plan and special education/Indian Home School Liaison advocacy.

If you are curious what some of the supports our team can offer your school and students, please click on the Supports List above.

This summer, our American Indian Education students were able to learn about the Dakota & Ojibwe Seven Teachings as they cared for our Sun'ka Wakan (horse) relatives at the Four Directions Equine Summer Camp in Prior Lake.

Four Directions is a culturally based equine support facility for Native youth to develop self-confidence and self-discovery in a safe and hands on learning environment. Students participated in a unique experience which incorporates Dakota values and traditions with equine therapy.

It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the death of our District 196 colleague and friend, Clarine Packineau, who passed away on Saturday, August 31, 2024. Clarine was a retired district-wide employee who worked for 19 years supporting the American Indian students and families through the Indian Education Program. Clarine coordinated the District 196 American Indian Education Post-Secondary Program, provided support for Special Education and was responsible for grant and report writing.

Clarine believed the importance of math and communicated it by using frybread as an example. She would tell her students, if you do not learn your math then you will not know how to measure the ingredients for frybread. We are so appreciative of the many years of service. Her legacy will continue in the hearts and minds of her students and families that she encouraged and supported.

Clarine was a proud member of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan Hidatsa & Arikira) of North Dakota. Please see Clarine’s Obituary for information regarding her services.

Indigenous Peoples Day (Minnesota Statutes, Section 120A.42.) (Conduct of School on Certain Holidays)

On Indigenous Peoples Day, at least one hour of the school program must be devoted to observance of the day. As part of its observance of Indigenous Peoples Day, a district may provide professional development to teachers and staff, or instruction to students, on the following topics:

• The history of treaties between the United States and Indigenous peoples
• The history of federal boarding schools for Indigenous children
• Indigenous languages
• Indigenous traditional medicines and cultural or spiritual practices
• The sovereignty of Tribal nations
• The contributions of Indigenous people to American culture, literature, and society
• Current issues affecting Indigenous communities