Some tribal leaders are opposing a recent federal announcement, including one in South Dakota. The U.S. Education Department said it’s transferring some of its Native American education programs to the Labor and Interior Departments.
Steven Sitting Bear is Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. He issued a statement that the tribe “strongly objects” to the move.
He said it reflects a “troubling return to historical patterns of federal control over Native education, including the era of the Indian boarding school system.”
Sitting Bear said the decision was done without consultation with the tribes and criticized the shift—which could change with each presidential administration.
He argues that a single model can’t meet the needs of hundreds of sovereign Tribal Nations with unique cultures, languages and educational priorities.
A spokesperson for the Education Department told the Associated Press the department intends to consult with tribes before initiating the transfer of services.
