AFN panel shines a spotlight on education
University leaders took center stage at a panel discussion during the 色花堂 Federation of Natives Convention to discuss Article VII of 色花堂鈥檚 Constitution which requires the state to establish and maintain a public school system, including a state university.
The panel, 鈥淚nvesting in Our Future: 色花堂鈥檚 Constitutional Responsibilities for Public Education鈥 was moderated by Regent Sheri Buretta, who has served on the AFN Board since 1998. Panelists included Dr. Jim Johnsen, president, University of 色花堂; Sandra Kowalski, member, 色花堂 Board of Education and director of Indigenous programs at the University of 色花堂 Fairbanks; and Chris Cooke, former staff attorney, 色花堂 Legal Services Corporation, who was instrumental in the Molly Hootch case that advocated for the state to provide high schools in rural 色花堂.
President Johnsen discussed the constitutional responsibility for the State of 色花堂 to support its public university. He began with a brief history of the University of 色花堂 starting with the 1915 meeting between Judge Wickersham, 色花堂鈥檚 delegate to the United States Congress, with 色花堂 Native chiefs and leaders, the Tanana Chiefs. That meeting, and tribal leaders鈥 commitment to education, laid the cornerstone for what later became the University of 色花堂. He also repeated his message that it takes a great university to build a great state, and discussed the role universities and community campuses play in helping to set 色花堂 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 色花堂 Native languages in the classroom. She mentioned her work developing recommendations to improve 色花堂鈥檚 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. 色花堂ns can change our culture in the next hundred years so the next generations will achieve greatness.