People Of The Sacred Land

TO SUPPORT AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLE WHO ARE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF COLORADO AND THOSE WHOSE HOMELANDS ARE IN COLORADO TO PRESERVE THEIR CULTURE, LANGUAGE, AND WAYS OF LIFE THAT WERE INTIMATELY TIED TO THE LAND.

WE HAVE HAD ELEVEN TRUTH, RESTORATION, AND EDUCATION COMMISSION (TREC) MEETINGS DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD. WE HAVE PRODUCED SIX POLITICAL AND LEGAL HISTORIES FOR 4 OF THE 7 TRIBES INCLUDED IN THE TREC PROJECT. WE HAVE DEVELOPED AND TESTED THREE OF OUR CURRICULUM MODULES WITH STUDENTS. THESE THREE MODULES ARE RESPECT (VALUES), RELATIONSHIPS (IDENTITY), AND TREATIES. THESE THREE MODULES WERE DEVELOPED BASED ON INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS WITH ELDERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY. WE FINISHED THE 4TH GRADE CURRICULUM MODULES. WE CONDUCTED A STATE-WIDE ANALYSIS OF ALL SCHOOLS IN COLORADO TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CURRENT CURRICULUM EXISTS IN THOSE SCHOOLS. WE INTEND TO USE THE DATA COLLECTED TO PREPARE A REPORT TO THE COLORADO STATE LEGISLATURE. THE BILL, IF SUCCESSFUL, WILL REQUIRE AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY TO BE TAUGHT IN ALL SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE CREATED A 4TH GRADE LEVEL CURRICULUM THAT WILL MEET ALL OF THE ACCREDITATION STANDARDS FOR THE COLORADO EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. WE PLAN TO TEST THE CURRICULUM IN SELECT SCHOOLS OR WITHIN INDIAN EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE DENVER AREA. A COPY IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. IN SEPTEMBER, WE FINISHED THE HISTORIC ECONOMIC LOSS ASSESSMENT (HELA). THE REPORT IS UNAVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC BUT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL REPORT UNLESS THE TREC COMMISSION AUTHORIZES AN EARLIER RELEASE. WE HAVE CONDUCTED OVER TWENTY PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, CONSULTATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIP MEETINGS WITH ALLIES. WE ASSISTED WITH THE STRATEGY TO RENAME MOUNT EVANS TO MOUNT BLUE SKY. WE HAVE CONSULTED WITH SEVERAL TRIBES AND HAD SITE VISITS TO THREE OF THE TRIBES. WE ESTABLISHED A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO SCHOOL OF LAW, WHERE THEY ARE PROVIDING TWO INTERNS TO ASSIST US WITH LEGAL ISSUES.