Harlan McKosato: Learning to walk and live in different worlds

For years on my radio program I talked to educators, school administrators and parents about these so-called different learning styles, but I could never get a specific, consistent answer or even a clear example. I wondered if perhaps it is a myth made up by Native people who don't want to put in the work to teach our kids that yes we do have cultural differences with other students and teachers but we can't use that as an excuse to not excel in school.

We have to keep our old ways alive because our ancestors taught us the right way. My family taught us to be proud of our Indian heritage and to not be ashamed of who we are, but also to not be intimidated by the larger society and to engage within it. They also taught us to never forget where we come from.

I grew up in Oklahoma, which is much more integrated than other states with high Indian populations, and my son and I live here in Albuquerque which has a high Indian population and a very active Indian Education program. But nearly all the time in my school years, including at the University of Oklahoma, I was the only Native student in my classroom and my son is the only Native student in all his classes this semester.