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Anchor: Antonia Gonzales
Rapid City’s Lakota immersion program appears to have folded for the coming school year.
South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s C.J. Keene has more.
Rapid City school board members heard concerns at a Tuesday meeting about whether the district can sustain an existing Lakota immersion program. The board took no official vote, however a lack of qualified teaching candidates for open positions appears to mean an end to the program – for now.
Nicole Swigart is the interim CEO for Rapid City Area Schools. She says there are two options.
“If we were going to be able to move forward with the program, or if we would need to shutter it for one year and work hard to reset and determine where we were falling flat on the recruiting process.”
Some parents involved with the program disagree. Val Big Eagle is the chair of a local parent advisory committee.
“I know there were qualified candidates that applied, and for whatever reason, they’re unable to get on.”
Another member of the parent advisory committee is Amy Sazue. She says there is a lack of trust.
“I don’t know about the new school board, but I do not trust Rapid City’s administration to do the work that’s needed to make this happen again, or to sustain it. I do not trust them. I’m happy to see the additions to the school board and hope they jump in fast and learn the history this district has had with Title VI, with parents, with Indigenous people, and that they educate themselves on that and why this is important.”
During the meeting some, but not all school board members offered a commitment to keep the district’s Lakota immersion program.
The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) is celebrating 100 years of its Santa Fe Indian Market. People from all over the world are traveling to Santa Fe, NM for the event.
SWAIA Executive Director Kimberly Peone looks back on how the Indian market has grown.
“I can always reflect back to the 60s and 70s when my parents were participating in market and how small the footprint was and intimate it was and that’s a vast difference from this event we put on now. It’s over 650 booths and there’s lots of different people and it really is a big event and so you have to make an effort to meet everybody and to have that opportunity to say I touched you, but I think that to me is one of the things I’m in awe of just how big Indian market is.”
Artists are featuring their latest creative works and competing in best of show.
There are also Indigenous fashion shows, cultural performances and much more to see at the much anticipated event.
“Looking at what SWAIA is doing in reference to Indian art, it really has been one that artists come to that with living culture and really share who they are and where they come from and expresses that. Also, I think that the art that we’re seeing really reflects on the times that we’re at. We’re known to record history through art and you can definitely see that occurring and of course the competition people just really excelling at their best and competing against one another in a very healthy way. So, I think there’s lots of opportunities.”
The Santa Fe Indian Market takes place Saturday and Sunday in downtown Santa Fe.
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If there are indeed viable educators for the program the parents need to find out who they are along with the new board members so that the program can be reinstated and moved forward. The young people in the program do not need anymore interruptions in their education. Also could this be done online?