Act Now to Support Indigenous Schools

New York State has consistently underfunded the three schools

serving Indigenous students on their own nations for decades

As part of the historic treaty relationship between the Haudenosaunee and the United States, the US is responsible for providing healthcare and education to Indigenous communities. Unfortunately, these treaties have been repeatedly ignored and broken. This history includes the appalling boarding school era, where the motto, “Kill the Indian, save the man” was carried out across the continent. Indigenous communities survived through resilience and determination. Almost every public school building in New York New York State is owned by the School District in that community, except for three schools on Indigenous Nations – the Onondaga Nation School (Lafayette School District), the Tuscarora Nation School (Niagara Wheatfield School District) and the St. Regis Mohawk School (Salmon River School District).

NYS is responsible for maintaining the buildings which house these three schools. They have been terribly underfunded for decades – leaving them with major facilities problems – crumbling brick walls, poorly functioning heating and cooling systems, dangerously degraded concrete, inadequate security and fire protection and much more. The superintendents of those districts describe them as among “the worst building conditions in NYS.”

New York’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan, approved in January 2018, emphasizes fostering equity in education for all students and ensuring that all students succeed and thrive in school no matter who they are, where they live, where they go to school, or where they come from. It specifically mentions historically disadvantaged students.

Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation (NOON) is joining with others across NYS in calling for Governor Cathy Hochul to include $60 million in the 2022-23 NYS Budget, $20 million for each of these three schools, plus $6 million ($2 million per school) on an annual basis for maintenance and improvements moving forward. We ask people to contact Governor Hochul during December to urge her to include this funding in her Executive budget proposal when she submits it to the legislature in January.

Take Action Online Now

Customize this sample letter to send to Governor Hochul.

Contact Information

Governor Kathy Hochul
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Phone 518-474-8390

TOOLS For Organizing

• Informational Handout – Background Information on one side and a sample letter to Governor Hochul on the back
• Postcard to Print – Two sided document to create 4 postcards to be sent to Governor Hochul (print two sided)
• Slideshow on Funding Inequity – This slideshow was created by the Superintendents of the three Indigenous Schools and includes detailed information about the problems
• Letter to Governor Hochul from the 3 Superintendents
• Article from Onondaga Nation website about the three superintendents advocating for increased funding

Thank you all for your partnership to bring the Indie Lens Screening of “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World” to our community. Following are the details and agenda for the event. In red are action items. If there is anyone else involved who should be included, please forward this information along. And if you have any edits/suggestions, please let me know.

WCNY’s Marketing team will update our website posting to reflect our additional partners/details (Indigenous Values Initiative), as well as update social media posts and news release/calendar alerts. We will encourage advance registration, since seating at the Auburn Public Theater is limited (please confirm total number of possible seats at 180). Please continue to promote this event through your networks and share the registration link: http://www.wcny.org/events/rumble-the-indians-that-rocked-the-world/

DESCRIPTION: 

• RUMBLE brings to light a profound and missing chapter in the history of American music: the Indigenous influence. Featuring music icons Charley Patton, Mildred Bailey, Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Jesse Ed Davis, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Robbie Robertson, Randy Castillo, and Taboo, RUMBLE shows how these pioneering Native musicians helped shape the soundtracks of our lives.
• A discussion guide with details about the film and bios of the featured artists has been shared with Rob and Sandy.
• Broadcast Premiere on PBS will be Monday, Jan. 21, 2019.

SCREENING JANUARY 16, 2019:

• At 6:30 P.M., Courtney will share information about the Equal Rights Heritage Center, then instruct attendees to make their way to the Auburn Public Theater for screening.
• (Partnership with Philip Arnold, founding director Skä·noñh, Great Law of Peace Center, and president of Indigenous Values Initiative and Sandy Bigtree, musician and member of Indigenous Values Initiative)7-9 p.m. screening at Auburn Public Theater, Auburn, NY. (contact is Angela Daddabbo)
• Registration table to be provided. WCNY will man registration table.
• Podium and microphone to be provided by Center, as well as some seating.
• Octane Social House (Rob Otterstatter) will be coordinating the reception and providing hors d’oeuvres and beverages.5-7 p.m. reception at Equal Rights Heritage Center, Auburn (contact is Courtney Rae Kasper)
• At 6:50 p.m., Cristina will introduce Indie Lens Screening of film Rumble.At 8:30 p.m., Sandy Bigtree and Phil Arnold will moderate community conversation around film.Movie will play from 7 p.m. to 8:30. Approximate Running Time: 86 minutes. DVDs were provided to Rob, who will get them to Angela to test in advance.
• At 9:00 p.m., Angela will thank guests for coming.

Cristina will bring surveys to Auburn Public Theater for placement on all seats.

At 5:40 p.m., Mayor Quill will introduce Sandy Bigtree and Phil Arnold (bios: https://indigenousvalues.org/about/our-team/) to discuss Indigenous Values Initiative and introduce conversation topics/question for audience feedback and participation.

• At 5:30 p.m., Rob will make introductory remarks and introduce Mayor Quill.

 Learn more at WCNY.