Hannahville Indian School is a tribal K-12 school in Hannahville, Harris Township, Michigan. It is affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).[1] Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy is a charter school affiliated with the institution. The school serves the Potawotami tribe and the Hannahville Indian Community.
In 1990, it was the only school in Michigan that had all of its students as Native Americans.[2]
It is in proximity to Wilson.[3]
The name "Nah Tah Wahsh" means "soaring eagles".[4]
History
editTwo mothers, Sally Eichhorn and Gloria McCollough, began a campaign to create a tribal school in August 1975 to address the shortcomings of the education of tribal children at Bark River-Harris School.[2] In 1976, the school opened,[5] with four teachers. Initially, the school was a K-8 school that occupied two previously unused rooms. The school went from K-8 to K-12 in 1984.[2]
Before and in 1989, the school sought funding from the State of Michigan three times, with the third time being a request for $80,000. Frank Kelley, Attorney General of Michigan, denied these requests. In 1989, he stated that since Hannahville Indian was not under the control of the state itself, it was not considered a public school in Michigan and could not get state funding as per a 1976 amendment made to the Michigan Constitution, which prohibited the state government from funding schools not considered to be public. Additionally, Kelley stated that the school did not admit non-Native Americans while Ken Pond, the principal of Hannahville Indian, stated that it did.[3]
The Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy, which could legally enroll non-Native Americans, opened in 1995.[5]
Curriculum
editThe school includes tribal culture and customs in addition to academic subjects.[2]
The school intends to continue the tribal language; such language instruction began after 1996.[6]
Athletics
editIn 1990, the school created a basketball team.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Hannahville Indian School". Bureau of Indian Education. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ a b c d Volgenau, Gerald (1990-01-09). "All-Indian school puts heritage in classroom". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. pp. 3A, 4A. - Clipping of first and of second page at Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Daubenmier, Judy (1989-05-09). "Kelley rules out state funds for Indian school". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. Associated Press. p. 10B. - See clipping from Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Bacon, John U. (1996-03-03). "Understanding the game". The Detroit News. Detroit, Michigan. pp. 1D, 10D, then 9D. - Clipping of first, of second, and of third page at Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "About Us". Hannahville Indian School. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ Flesher, John (2001-02-20). "Culture preserved by learning tribe's dialect". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. pp. 1C, 7C. - Clipping of first and of second page at Newspapers.com.
External links
edit45°39′37″N 87°20′37″W / 45.6603°N 87.3436°W
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