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June 26, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels April 8, 2004 Indian education discussed at SOU Educators and American Indian officials are at Southern Oregon University this week to discuss American Indian education issues. This is the first time the annual Oregon Indian Education Association Conference, in its 28th year, is being held at SOU. More than 150 people are expected to attend the conference, which ends on Friday. It also coincides with SOU's Native American Student Union's 12th annual Spring Powwow this weekend and the Government to Government Education clusters attended by the nine Oregon tribes that was held on Tuesday and Wednesday. "It's a wonderful opportunity for our campus," said David West, program coordinator for Native American Studies at SOU. "It's a tremendous show of support educationally and administratively because the association is made up of Indian educators throughout the state. It demonstrates institutional integrity by the administration and to show support for not only Indian education, but for the Indian students who come for education here on campus." SOU is the only public university in the state to offer a minor in Native American Studies, West said. Ellen Hansen, president of the OIEA, said the conference is a good way to get those in education who work with American Indian students and officials from American Indian tribes throughout Oregon to discuss issues that are vital to educating American Indians in the state. "What we hope to achieve with this is to teach people who are involved in educating our Indian children things that are important to us, such as culture, identity and how to deal with the diversity issues they face everyday going to school," she said. The conference will have workshops on available services, how to serve American Indian students better and how students from kindergarten through 12th grade are doing in school, which is not at the level it should be, Hansen said. "We know they're not doing that well across the state because we know we have a higher-than-40-percent drop-out rate for high school students," she said. There will be speakers from organizations and groups such the Office of Indian Education and Northwest Indian College. Dr. Susan Castillo Superintendent of the Oregon Department of Education spoke at the conference this morning and addressed American Indian education issues. This is the second year she has been a speaker at the conference. "In the past, Indian issues have kind of fallen off the table," Hansen said. "It's important for her to see we're strong in numbers and we care about our kids." Hansen said she is ecstatic the conference will coincide with the powwow. She hopes many of those who attend the conference will stay for the powwow. "I can't imagine anything better," she said. "I hope that at least 50 percent will stay. It's a great combination. It's really nice when your host has something in conjunction with the conference." The powwow will be at McNeal Hall on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call the Native American Student Union at 552-6463. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams