Legislating Visibility: An Examination of the Indian Education for All Policy in Montana as a Model

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 29
  In Roundtable Session: Addressing Systemic Issues Within Education for Indigenous Students Through Culturally Relevant Curriculum, Policy, and Pedagogy

Abstract

Over the past twenty years, state legislatures have passed multiple pieces of legislation mandating or recommending that school districts adopt Native American curriculum. While over half the states have adopted these polices, Montana’s Indian Education for All serves as the best example of the development and implementation of Native American curricula. As states continue to pass legislation and Native American people demand accountability for previously adopted policies the lessons learned from Montana’s efforts can serve as a blue print for other states. This paper examines the development and implementation of Indian Education for All, while including a discussion of the aspects of the process that have resulted in successes and continued challenges.

Author

• persephone Day Lewis, University of San Diego