An educator at Salish Kootenai College in Montana sees a bigger mission in the move to implement the Indian Education for All Act.

The law requires public schools to teach about Indian history and culture. But Julie Cajune, the director of SKC's Tribal History Project, said it's really about race relations and human rights.

"I don't know how we can think about peace with other people until America recovers its own memory. We must make peace here," Cajune said at the University of Montana, The Missoulian reported.

Cajune said there are some difficulties in carrying out the act. As part of a project to put Salish place names on a map, she didn't work with the state Office of Public Instruction because her materials would have to be copyrighted by the state.

"Would you give all your family history and stories to a state agency to copyright?" she said. She ended up getting more than 100 place names, as well as the history behind them, from Salish elders on the Flathead Reservation.

Get the Story:
Salish Kootenai educator speaks on restoring history (The Missoulian 11/14)

Relevant Links:
Big Horn Teacher Projects - http://www.msubillings.edu/bighornteacherproj
Montana Indian Education Association - http://www.mtiea.org
Montana Office of Public Instruction - http://www.opi.state.mt.us

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