The Connection Between the Reservation and the Outside World Volume 1 | Page 7

Connection

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The further two fields, education and law enforcement also provide a connection between reservations and the outside world are either partially or fully regulated by the U.S. Federal Government and other relief organizations.

The education of Native American children is considered to be a very ambiguous issue in the United States. In fact, the whole concept of teaching Indian children in general raises the question that what type of education they are given: cultural or federal? The problem that generates conflicts is simply the fact that those indigenous children who leave the reservation in order to participate in federal education - may that be primary school or university - show a high likelihood of not returning to the reservation later.

The root of the problem

This problem exists because tribal education includes a heavy load of cultural studies and focuses on passing Native American heritage to new generations, incorporating the necessity of cohabitation with the elder generations to acquire knowledge and uphold tribal unity. Furthermore, these tribal schools and educational facilities do not always provide necessary knowledge for the student to be able to continue their studies in universities. Of course, it would be very harsh to generalize, as there are always people who attempt to resolve these problems and propose a golden mean to preserve both the fox and the geese. Gregory A. Cajete, a professor of the University of New Mexico discusses in his study that with our technological advancements in education, it is possible to improve tribal general education without "... enticing them [Native American students] to conform to mainstream education."

What is the conclusion?

To sum up, federal education versus tribal education is still a very fragile question that has to be handled with care. In most cases, federal support to Native American students is necessary to raise the level of tutoring inside the reservation. Also, financial support can make the introduction of technical advancements and methodology possible in American Indian schools allowing them to develop to the point of reinforcing both tribal unity and competitive cultivation of children.

Education

Legal and protectionist

connection

Education

Seal of the

Tulsa Public Schools