Can Settler Society’s Legal System Support Native Interests and Educational Justice? The Jury Is Still Out

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This session will examine the similar foundations—the resistance of educational inequities, truncated academic opportunities, and the demand for educational excellence—argued in the two court cases, -- Sinajini v. Board of Education of San Juan District and Yazzie/Martinez v. State of New Mexico. The objectives of the first paper are centered on the implementation of the Yazzie/Martinez case. The second paper offers lessons learned from Sinajini case and how advocates for Native students in the Yazzie case and other cases such as Yellow Kidney et. al v. Montana Office of Public Instruction. The cases address centuries of settler colonialism in education that targets Native Peoples. We argue that Native Nations and communities have remedies to address their needs.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Indigenous Peoples of the Americas

Chair

• Donna L. Deyhle, University of Utah

Papers

• The Yazzie Case: Settler Colonialism, Imperialist Agendas and Violation of Native American Linguistic Rights - Glenabah M. Martinez, University of New Mexico; Christine P. Sims, University of New Mexico

• Sinajini et al. v. San Juan School District: The Defense Continues to Rest - Cynthia Benally, University of Utah; Donna L. Deyhle, University of Utah

• Yazzie/Martinez AND the State of New Mexico - Melissa Candelaria, New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty

Discussant

• Cynthia Benally, University of Utah