Note: The Lawrence Times runs opinion columns and letters to the Times written by community members with varying perspectives on local issues. These pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Times staff.
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The United States government entered into more than 4,000 treaties and statutes in dealing with Native American governments. Kansas and Missouri lawmakers are both considering vouchers to expand funding to private schools. Vouchers will further chip away, dismantle, and do away with the right to a quality education that was promised in Indian treaties.
The state of Kansas has yet to fully support free compulsory education and support our Indigenous students.
I have served for more than three years on the USD 497 Board of Education, and I am an enrolled member of the federally recognized Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas and affiliated with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Kansas. I have advocated numerous times at the Kansas Statehouse. I am honored and proud of my Native American heritage, culture, and history. I am privileged to serve the community as an elected official where I matriculated my public education. I have utilized my education to the fullest to gain employment at the Kansas City Indian Center. The Kansas City Indian Center proudly provides much needed services for the entire Kansas City metro community in both Kansas and Missouri.
The USD 497 Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution with amendments recognizing treaty rights and responsibilities in support of rejecting proposals to divert tax dollars to non-public schools, and to support Kansas public schools and provide the necessary funding to support all Kansas students.
My parents taught me about the importance of our Indian Treaties. One of these is our treaty of 1854 Treaty of Washington D.C. Our treaty specifically states that the Kickapoos promise to use their best efforts and every possible means to promote their advancement in civilization. Furthermore, the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution of America, Article VI, Clause 2, establishes that the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it and treaties made under its authority, constitute the “Supreme Law of the Land, and thus take priority over any conflicting state laws.”
Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson was suspended in February 2022 for making offensive remarks about Native Americans during a two-day conference on a virtual educational conference. He joked about how his cousins from California used to visit him and were “petrified” about tornados. He told them he’d say, “Don’t worry about that, but you got to worry about the Indians raiding the town at any time.” He has since made apologies and was suspended for 30 days without pay.
This author does not fault him but blames the Kansas educational system. The question remains: What do the Kansas History, Government and Social Studies Standards say about teaching Native American history and culture? The 247-page document can be found on the Kansas Department of Education’s website. There is little or no mention of treaties.
Watson pushed for a redesign of the state’s public schools to place more emphasis on personalized learning and better preparing students for adult work. Our youth will someday become our lawmakers, policymakers, and educators. Our youth, among many things, will deal with Indian tribes as sovereigns with powers of self-government.
It is to the detriment of our sovereign people who entered into treaty agreements that true history of tribal people within the borders of Kansas is not studied and truly honored rather than treated as a relic of the past.
Our Indigenous people are greatly dependent upon the federal treaty and trust educational responsibilities. Prior to the Citizenship Act of 1924, Native Americans were not recognized as citizens. The state has a duty to provide equal access to state schools under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Our Native American students have a right to a quality public education. The proposed voucher system will raise different legal issues because of this country’s legacy of not living up to the trust and treaty obligations.
The U.S. Constitution should be at the center of debate and decisionmaking in the consideration of using taxpayer dollars for vouchers. Now is the time to truly honor Native American people by studying the treaties and trust obligations.
Miigwetch (thank you),
— Carole Cadue-Blackwood (she/her), Lawrence, Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas tribal member and proud Kansan
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