Indigenous Languages & Education Conference 
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA, June 2-4, 2013 


Northern Arizona University's College of Education invites you to the 20th annual Stabilizing Indigenous Languages Symposium and the 4th American Indian / Indigenous Teacher Education Conference on June 2-4, 2013 at its High Country Conference Center. This combined conference is for community, preschool, K-12, college, and university educators and language activists through panels, workshops, and papers to share ideas for improving the lives and education of Indigenous children. Drs. Joseph Martin and W. Sakiestewa Gilbert, who have been long involved in working to improve Indian education, are co-chairing the conference. Northern Arizona University's College of Education has worked with Indian Nations to improve the education of American Indian students for decades. Northern Arizona University has hosted a variety of American Indian teacher and administrative preparation programs, including the well received Learn In Beauty program, and published a number of monographs, including Honoring Our Heritage: Culturally Appropriate Approaches for Teaching Indigenous Students and Honoring Our Children: Culturally Appropriate Approaches for Teaching Indigenous Students.

Goals of the Conference

Conference Registration Form PDF File
Draft Conference Program 5/16/13 PDF File
Application for Travel and Registration Support to Attend the SILS 20 Conference
For more information contact Joseph Martin, Conference Co-Chair or Jon Reyhner (Jon.Reyhner@nau.edu), Conference Coordinator

Keynote Speakers

Researching Indigenous Language Revitalization
Mary Hermes

Mary Hermes Picture

Dr. Mary Hermes has been involved with language and culture based curriculum for the past 15 years. An Associate professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, she teaches in the Second Languages & Cultures and Culture & Teaching programs. She is Principle Investigator on the "Ojibwe Movies" grant project and the National Science Foundation's Endangered Language Project, "Documenting Ojibwe Conversation." In her spare time she directs the non-profit Grassroots Indigenous Multimedia, which provides pedagogy and technology for revitalization. She lives in Hayward, Wisconsin and the Twin Cities with her Naabem and two children. She was one of several co-founders of the Waadokodaading Ojibwe immersion school in Hayward, Wisconsin and is a second language learner and speaker speaker of Ojibwemowin.

Preparing Culturally Sensitive and Knowledgeable Teachers for Indigenous Language Immersion and Other Schools
Keiki Kawai'ae'a

Keiki Picture

Dr. Keiki Kawai'ae'a resides in Keaukaha on Hawai'i island. She currently serves as the Director of Ka Haka 'Ula o Ke elikolani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawai'i Hilo campus. Keiki is one of the pioneering families of the Hawaiian immersion education movement and mauli ola education P-20. Her professional experience includes the K-12 classroom, curriculum and program development, teacher preparation and professional development. Keiki has been instrumental in the development of the Na Honua Mauli Ola Hawaiian guidelines and cultural pathways and the Moenaha culture-based curriculum design and instructional method. She has been an invited speaker at national and international gatherings addressing Indigenous education, language and culture revitalization and native teacher education. Keiki has received several honors for her work in Hawaiian education including the National Indian Education Association Educator of the Year, the Chancellor's Award for Excellence and Innovation and the Ipu Ka'eo Native Hawaiian Education Award. She is a published author on Hawaiian education, language revitalization and has written numerous children's books and songs.
What Are the Challenges and Rewards of Starting a Tribal School
Rick St. Germaine

Rick St. Germaine Picture

Dr. Rick St. Germaine, a life time NIEA member, was awarded the NIEA's National Indian Educator of the Year award at the 2012 Oklahoma City conference. He is known for his ground-paving work in American Indian charter school development, school improvement, youth leadership professional development, and classroom behavior management training. With 43 years of service in Indian education and over twelve years of experience in elected tribal government leadership, Dr. St. Germaine recently retired from the University of Wisconsin -- Eau Claire after 23 years as professor of education and professor of history. He also serves as member of the school board of the STAR School, a Navajo charter school located near Flagstaff, Arizona. Dr. St Germaine received his PhD from Arizona State University.

Panel Presentation

Progress and Challenges Implementing Common Core Standards
Panel: Debora Norris, Deputy Associate of Native American Education, Arizona Department of Education; Dr. Harold Begay, Superintendent, Tuba City Unified School District, AZ; Dr. Harry Martin, Superintendent, Kayenta Unified School District, AZ; Gloria Hale-Showalter, Associate Superintendent, Navajo BIE Schools, AZ; Joan Gilmore, Principal, Los Alamitos Middle School, Grants-Cibola School District, Grants, NM; Dr. Pamela Powell, Chair, NAU Department of Teaching & Learning.

The major work of implementing the common core standards takes place after the standards have been adopted, as schools tackle complementary changes in curriculum, assessment, professional development, and other areas. This panel will discuss changes in policies and practices for elementary and secondary education as part of their approach to implementing the common core standards including related changes in assessment, curriculum materials, instructional practices, and providing professional development to teachers and principals working with American Indian students.


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