Huntley Project School District

This state's constitutionally declared policy is to recognize the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians and to be committed, in its educational goals, to preserving that heritage. Background In the 1972 Constitution (Article X, Section 1(2)) the State of Montana recognized the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians and committed to provide education preserving the cultural integrity of each Montana tribe. Twenty-seven years later, in 1999, the Legislature passed House Bill 528 into the law we now call Indian Education for All (MCA 20-1-501.) In part, the law reads as follows. “Every Montanan … whether Indian or non-Indian, be encouraged to learn about the distinct and unique heritage of American Indians in a culturally responsive manner… All school personnel should have an understanding and awareness of Indian tribes to help them relate effectively with Indian students and parents. ... Every educational agency and all educational personnel will work cooperatively with Montana tribes … when providing instruction and implementing an educational goal.” In 2005, the Legislature provided the first funding to support the efforts of Montana schools in fulfillment of this long-standing promise. Today, in schools and classrooms across the state, teachers, curriculum directors, administrators, and community members are working to implement both the letter and the spirit of Indian Education for All (IEFA). For some non-Indian educators, it is the first time they have been exposed to cultural and historical information regarding their tribal neighbors. Others approach this task more prepared, having developed background knowledge, often resulting from teaching experiences on or near one of the seven reservations in Montana or having learned cultural information from American Indian students, their parents, and American Indian teaching colleagues. Whether novice or proficient in their knowledge of Montana tribes, teachers face unique challenges and opportunities and may experience both self-doubt and triumph in their efforts to implement MCA 20-1-501.