A bill, which would mandate the teaching of the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings (OSEU), has advanced from the Senate Education Committee in the South Dakota Legislature.

South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s C.J. Keene reports.

The bill was brought by State Sen. Tamara Grove (R-SD) from Lower Brule.

She says the move is in the spirit of “resetting” state-tribal relations.

“I am honored and blown away for all seven of the Senators to stand with me on (SB) 196. To really lean into the rest that the good chairman from Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate called for is just unbelievable.”

Under the administration of former Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD), state-tribal relations saw many polarizing moments – including Gov. Noem saying Native children “don’t have any hope.”

That culminated in the then-governor’s banishment from every reservation in South Dakota.

In the State of the Tribes speech to lawmakers, Sisseton Wahpeton Chairman J. Garrett Renville said this moment was a chance to reset that relationship.

Sen. Grove says teaching these lessons in all public schools is a meaningful step toward reconciliation.

“A big part of what (Native peoples) carry has been the rejection and the abandonment – those kinds of heart wounds. It’s part of the healing process, right? It says we want to move forward, and we want to be more inclusive about how we’re doing our education.”

The OSEUs teach Native culture, traditions, and history.

The standards were developed by a team of educators and experts in culture, history, oral traditions, and language in collaboration with the state’s education department.

The bill will next be heard on the Senate floor.

(Courtesy Brenda White Bull)

In the New Mexico Legislature, a bill that would prohibit school boards from banning tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies in the state unanimously passed its first committee this week.

As Jeanette DeDios reports, it stems from an incident that happened last May in the city of Farmington, N.M.

A Native American high school graduate was told to remove their embellished graduation cap that had an eagle plume and beads.

Farmington Municipal Schools later released a statement clarifying the district’s policy that caps and gowns could not be altered.

The student was given a generic cap for the remainder of the ceremony.

New Mexico Secretary for the Indian Affairs Department Josett Monette from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa discussed how important wearing regalia is for Native American students.

“It’s our way of honoring the accomplishment. It’s our family’s way of honoring our accomplishments. And I think it means something to be able to represent who we are as Native people.”

During the Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee hearing, State Sen. William Sharer (R-NM) from Farmington suggested defining what regalia is and questioned whether this bill could affect the first amendment.

“What about other groups? I know this one clearly talks about Native American, but what if somebody wanted to support Christopher Columbus? What if somebody wanted to put a swastika on their head for First Amendment rights.”

Bill co-sponsor State Sen. Benny Shendo Jr. (Jemez Pueblo/D-NM) says the intent isn’t to exclude anybody but to reaffirm Native Americans students’ sovereign rights.

“We’re the only group of people as federally recognized tribes that are named in the Constitution. No other group of people is. That’s why this relationship and what we do, we’re not excluding anybody. We’re exerting our right to be who we are, that this country identified from the very beginning.”

State Sen. William Soules (D-NM) recommended giving the bill an emergency clause so it would go into effect in time for this year’s graduates in May. 

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