AFN panel shines a spotlight on education
University leaders took center stage at a panel discussion during the èƵ Federation of Natives Convention to discuss Article VII of èƵ’s Constitution which requires the state to establish and maintain a public school system, including a state èƵ.
The panel, “Investing in Our Future: èƵ’s Constitutional Responsibilities for Public Education” was moderated by Regent Sheri Buretta, who has served on the AFN Board since 1998. Panelists included Dr. Jim Johnsen, president, University of èƵ; Sandra Kowalski, member, èƵ Board of Education and director of Indigenous programs at the University of èƵ Fairbanks; and Chris Cooke, former staff attorney, èƵ Legal Services Corporation, who was instrumental in the Molly Hootch case that advocated for the state to provide high schools in rural èƵ.
President Johnsen discussed the constitutional responsibility for the State of èƵ to support its public èƵ. He began with a brief history of the University of èƵ starting with the 1915 meeting between Judge Wickersham, èƵ’s delegate to the United States Congress, with èƵ Native chiefs and leaders, the Tanana Chiefs. That meeting, and tribal leaders’ commitment to education, laid the cornerstone for what later became the University of èƵ. He also repeated his message that it takes a great èƵ to build a great state, and discussed the role universities and community campuses play in helping to set èƵ Native students on the path for future success, and in creating a strong pipeline of college-educated and workforce-ready youth.
Kowalski addressed the need for tribal leaders to support education and teaching èƵ Native languages in the classroom. She mentioned her work developing recommendations to improve èƵ’s K-12 educational system. The crowd applauded when she described a new State Board of Education committee that encourages tribal and rural community leaders to take a more active role in their local K-12 schools.
Regent Buretta concluded the panel discussion by challenging the audience to work together to focus on education excellence. èƵns can change our culture in the next hundred years so the next generations will achieve greatness.