Native American Press/Ojibwe News

Minneapolis American Indian High School Graduates honored

By Clara NiiSka - June 14, 2002
Fifty-two American Indian high school students graduated from the Minneapolis school district this spring, according to information maintained by the federally-funded Johnson O’Malley program, the state Indian Education program, and the foundation-funded Success for the Future program.

The Minneapolis Public Schools’ coalition of Indian Education Programs recognized the graduates’ accomplishments at a graduation dinner on June 6th. Kerry Dean Bird, president of the National Indian Education Association, was keynote speaker for the after-dinner ceremonies. The nineteen graduating seniors who attended the Indian graduation program were awarded certificates signed by the Mayor of Minneapolis and were given Pendleton blankets. The Honor Song was by the drum group East Bank.

James Monchamp of the Minneapolis Public Schools Indian Education Programs told Press/ON that the Pendleton blankets were intended to be, “something that they can hold on to. Pendletons last a long time, … will give them something to think about,” to acknowledge the graduates’ and to remind them, in later years, of their achievements.

The Indian Education Programs also acknowledged the importance of family support for the high school graduates. Monchamp wrote to each of the graduating seniors, explaining that “we would like to recognize a family member who has made a difference in your academic pursuits.” He asked that each student write about one family member whose contributions merited special honor, including “sacrifices that were made, encouragement, academic assistance and direction for your future.”

John Whiteman was given special honor at the graduation ceremonies for what he had done to help his grandson, John McKenna (Winnebago), graduate from Southwest High School.

Only about half of the Indian seniors in Minneapolis graduated from high school this spring, according to Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning (CF&L) statistics posted at http://cfl.state.mn.us/datactr/enroll/index.htm. The Indian Class of 2002 is an elite 16% of their age group entering the Minneapolis school system twelve years ago, in the 1990 – 1991 school year.

Red Lake school statistics are not completely comparable to those for Minneapolis for a number of reasons, including families having moved back to the rez during the last decade. About two thirds of Indian seniors at Red Lake High School graduated this year, and according to CF&L statistics the graduates are about 37% of their age group who began 1st grade at the Red Lake schools in 1990 – 1991.