_________ Joint Resolution No. _______

Introduced By _______________________________________________________________________________

A Joint Resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the state of Montana encouraging the teacher training institutions in the state to integrate Montana American Indian educational issues into their courses of study.

WHEREAS, the Montana Constitution commits the educational policy of the state to the preservation of the cultural integrity of the American Indian; and

WHEREAS, the American Indian has been fundamental in the formation and history of the state of Montana; and

WHEREAS, the American Indian is the product of a unique history that is understood only by people who have either experienced or studied history from the viewpoint of the American Indian; and

WHEREAS, the Indian Studies Law enacted in 1973 requiring American Indian studies for all certified personnel employed in school districts on or near Indian reservations was eventually amended to make the American Indian studies requirement optional on the part of local school districts; and

WHEREAS, in a recent survey of 153 school districts in Montana, less than 5% of the districts required their certified personnel to receive instruction in American Indian studies; and

WHEREAS, the history of Montana cannot be adequately understood apart from an understanding of the history and contributions of the American Indian.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

That the Board of Regents of Higher Education be encouraged to:

(1) require that the teacher training programs in the Montana University System integrate Montana American Indian educational issues into their courses of study;

(2) provide the teacher training programs with adequate resources to implement this requirement; and

(3) provide a means by which Montana American Indian people are utilized in the preparation of the information to be presented in the courses.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the governing authorities of the private institutions of higher education in Montana be encouraged to implement the provisions of this resolution.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send copies of this resolution to the Board of Regents of Higher Education, to the schools or departments of education at the units of the Montana University System, to the governing authorities of the private institutions of higher education in the state, to the Board of Public Education, to the Office of Public Instruction, to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, to the Blackfeet Tribe, to the Chippewa-Cree Tribe, to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, to the Crow Tribe, to the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes, to the Little Shell Band of Chippewa, to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, and to each tribal college located on the seven Montana reservations.

-END-