Why Integrate IEFA & NGSS
In 1972, Montana rewrote its constitution. The constitutional delegates wrote, in Article X, Section 1(2), “The state recognizes the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians and is committed in its educational goals to the preservation of their cultural integrity.”
In 1999, the Montana Legislature passed House Bill 528 into law, which codified the constitutional intent as MCA 20-1-50. This law is known as Indian Education for All (IEFA) and states,“… every Montanan, whether Indian or non-Indian, be encouraged to learn about the distinct and unique heritage of American Indians in a culturally responsive manner; and ... every educational agency and all educational personnel will work cooperatively with Montana tribes … when providing instruction and implementing an educational goal…. It is also the intent of this part, predicated on the belief that all school personnel should have an understanding and awareness of American Indian tribes to help them relate effectively with American Indian students and parents, that educational personnel provide means by which school personnel will gain an understanding of and appreciation for the American Indian people.”
In 2013, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were created as part of a multi-state effort with the purpose of creating standards that were "rich in content and practice, arranged in a coherent manner across disciplines and grades to provide all students an internationally benchmarked science education." These standards highlight three pillars of science education, Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Cross Cutting Concepts.
Whether you live in Montana or not, the need for the American people to have an understanding and awareness of the numerous American Indian tribes is crucial in creating a society that is built on inclusion and respect. In addition traditional knowledge and western science have a lot to offer one another. According to the author and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Robin Wall Kimmerer, "To be native to a place we must learn to speak its language.” The "language" of the Americas has been observed for thousands of years by the various American Indian tribes and it is a combination of their traditional knowledge and western science that can allow all Americans to become native to the land.