Native American community feels disrespected over proposed restructuring of educational program

On Wednesday, April 19, 2017, community members who support the Native American Education Program of the Grand Rapids Public Schools held a public hearing to discuss its future.

The meeting began with traditional welcome songs and event updates. Attendees were then surprised to learn no top administrator from the Grand Rapids Public Schools had shown up or sent a representative. Amy Westcott, Student Parent Coordinator for grades 6-12 explained that Carolyn Evans, Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Learning was unable to make it.

She, Cheryl Lopez Hernandez, Student Parent Coordinator for K-5 and Kristine Sandborne, Assistant Coordinator led the meeting.

Frustration over the lack of top administrative staff from GRPS and news that the staff of the NAEP had been asked to restructure the program without any knowledge as to why they were asked to restructure it drew a lot of concern from the crowd and changed the conversation from one of future plans to worrying about how to keep the existing program.

“Through the eight years I was here I’ve certainly seen how this program has impacted Native families. I can walk in a pow wow and stop every five steps with kids I’ve worked with who thank me for my acceptance. They tell me, “I’m so glad you were there...you inspired me to be a better parent. How do we translate that into the data? To say we’re making an impact in our children, but there were generations that didn’t get parenting skills because they were removed or sent off into the foster care system. But now because of the program over the generation, we have leadership that’s moved forward to inspire the next generation,” said Jonathan Rinehart, a local leader in the Native community.

Native American community members repeatedly expressed that they were hurt and upset about being asked to restructure the NAEP program without even knowing why and without any input from the Native community itself.

Kristal Boda, a parent who desires to send her daughter to the program because she benefitted from it herself said, “I was really having trouble in high school and I was a pregnant teen. Knowing I belonged and that it was for me and I was a part of the community- I would actually look forward to coming here to learn about my culture when I was skipping class at Union. That I could come here and study in peace. That helped me graduate.”

Lopez Hernandez said, “We have an afterschool program Tuesdays and Wednesday night throughout the school year. We also have been involved with Blandford Nature Center and the Anishinaabe program and we went out there and did presentations to support that program. We also organize events throughout the year like the pow wows coming up, and community events where parents and kids can come and work together and be in community. Our programs start at age five and go through their senior year.”

Westcott added, “We do Blandford, we do the Grand Rapids Public Museum, we’re all over the place. Whenever we are called, we try to show up.”

There was repeated mentions of when previous Superintendent Bernard Taylor shut down the Bimaadiziwin school without any input from the Native community and fears that this was happening again with the NAEP program.

Stacy Stout, a parent with daughters in the program said, “The Native program is critically important to both Native and non-native families. Being indigenous is not a month celebration, nor a curriculum component. It is through this program and only this program that Native children see themselves reflected in the staff and lessons throughout the year. It is a way of being, it is our culture and GRPS needs to celebrate  and support this program for the work they do for all children in Grand Rapids. It is an asset we in the community should invest in.”

The meeting ended with reassurances to the teachers of the program that the community’s frustration was not directed at them or their good work. Several people noted the need to take these concerns to the administration of GRPS and there were calls to action such as more meetings and attending the GRPS board meetings in order to make sure the Native voice was heard.

“There was a time where our culture was removed from us or we were removed from that culture,” noted Rinehart. “Sometimes as the Native people we find ourselves as the minority of the minorities and we have a small voice. Things like having our own library helps our kids get excited about reading. Having someone advocating for our child’s rights uplifts them."

A search on GRPS' website, grps.org resulted in no additional information about the program under the searches "Native American Education Program" or "Straight School," the building where program is held.