' S. HRG 99-572

PROPOSED SPACE AND PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS

ON THE FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL

HEARINGN

BEFORE THE

SELECT COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS

UNITED STATES SENATE

NINETY-NINTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

FEBRUARY 10, 1986, FLANDREAU, SD

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

59-151 O WASHINGTON : 1986
SELECT COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS

MARK ANDREWS, North Dakota, Chairman

BARRY GOLDWATER, Arizona JOHN MELCHER, Montana

SLADE GORTON, Washington DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii

FRANK H. MURKOWSKI, Alaska DENNIS DECONCINI, Arizona

JAMES ABDNOR, South Dakota QUENTIN N. BURDICK, North Dakota

PETER S. TAYLOR, Staff Director

MAX I. RICHTMAN, Minority Staff Director

SC- &&ZZ3

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office

U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402
&

u

^CONTENTS

WITNESSES

Page

Bordeaux, Rodney, Rosebud Sioux Tribe council representative and school

board member, Flandreau Indian School 61

Letter from Alex Lunderman, president, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, dated December 30, 1985, to Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Ross Swimmer 62

Rosebud Tribal Council resolution 64

Buck, Ed, president. National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 187;

vice president. National Federation of Federal Employees BIA Council 24

Prepared statement on behalf of the National Federation of Federal

Employees 26

Cummingham, Barbara Dean, supervisory guidance counselor, Flandreau

Indian School, Flandreau, SD 34

Dillon, Lew B., executive assistant, Marty Indian School, Marty, SD 73

Material referred to in oral presentation 75

Ellingson, William, attorney, Flandreau, SD 39

Firman, Anthony G., religious coordinator and advisor, Flandreau Indian

School, Flandreau, SD 9

Prepared statement 11

Forseth, Sandra, Red Lake Band of Chippawa Indians. Duluth, MN 19

Gourneau, Ron, Flandreau, SD 29

Hansen, Linda, former student, Flandreau Indian School 35

Herman, Audra, Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, ND 21

Huerth, Michael, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis, MN 72

Jackson, Iris, Fort Berthold, New Town, ND 21

Janklow, William 36

Kipp, Cynthia C, president, Flandreau School Board 48

Material referred to in oral presentation 51

Koepp, Edwin F., Koepp Family Counseling Services, Brookings, SD 70

' Alexandra: South African Black Township Most Visitors Never See,"

article, Christian Science Monitor, May 5, 1982 71

Kohel, Madeline, Keshena, WI 19

Krumm, Bernita, faculty member, Flandreau Indian School, Flandreau, SD 30

Correspondence referred to in oral presentation 32

Langley, Tim, executive director. South Dakota Peace and Justice Center 68

Larson, Dory, consulting psychologist, Brookings, SD 65

Little Wind, Karen, Fort Totten, ND 14

Makeshine, Byron, Wind River Reservation, Liverton, WY 23

Martin, James, Assistant Director, Office of Indian Education Programs,

Bureau of Indian Affairs, accompanied by Jack Belkham, superintendent,

Flandreau Indian School; Harry Eagle Bull, area educational program administrator, Aberdeen, SD; and Leroy Chief, superintendent, Wahpeton

School, ND 41

Prepared statement 42

Mesteth, Gabe, Pine Ridge, SD 13, 20

Morris, Catherine, Sioux City, IA 18

Old Person, Roger, Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Browning, MT 22

Peters, Gaynelle, Menominee, WI 14

Prepared statement on behalf of the Flandreau Indian School Student

Council 16

Rank, Melva, Crow Creek Sioux Reservation, Fort Thompson, SD 18

Sackatook, Frances, Neopit, WI 13, 22

(ill)
IV

Page

Sackatook, Frances, Neopit, WI•Continued

Prepared statement 13

Shaeffer, John, Flandreau, SD 11

Tail Feathers, Tom, member, Blackfeet Tribal Business Council 56

Prepared statement 59

Ulven, Wayne, president, local No. 208, Wahpeton Indian School, Wahpeton,

ND 68

Walker, Neola E., Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, Winnebago, NE 79

Material referred to in oral presentation 81

Prepared statement on behalf of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska 80

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR INCLUSION IN THE RECORD

Daschle, Hon. Tom, statement 7

Pressler, Hon. Larry, statement 3

Wendell, Connie, employee of Flandreau Indian School, statement 35

Wendell, John, employee of Flandreau Indian School, statement 36

APPENDIX

American Indian Culture Research Center, Marvin, SD, letter dated January

31, 1986, from Rev. Stanislaus Maudlin 95

Blackfeet Tribe, Browning, MT, letter to Chairman Cynthia Kipp, Flandreau

Indian School Board, dated September 10, 1985, from Myrna J. Galbreath,

secretary, Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, with attached resolution 85

Cartwright, Arthur R., Flandreau, SD, letter dated February 5, 1986 106

First Christian Church, Sioux Falls, SD, letter dated January 31, 1986, from

N. Gayle Fischer, pastor 97

Flandreau Indian School Board, Flandreau, SD, letter dated February 11,

1986, from Cynthia C. Kipp, president, with attachment 98

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Flandreau, SD, letter dated February 10, 1986,

from Elmer H. Weston, tribal president, Larry D. Lovejoy, vice president,

and Samuel H. Allen, secretary/treasurer, with attached resolution 88

Garcia, Debbie, letter dated February 9, 1986 105

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Keshena, WI, letter dated January 21,

1986, from Lynn Skinadore, tribal chairperson, with attached resolution 90

Smith, Vera R, Flandreau, SD, memorandum re closing of the Flandreau

Indian School 107

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Fort Yates, ND, letter dated December 2, 1985,

from Charles W. Murphy, chairman, with attached resolution 92

United Methodist Church, Mitchell, SD, letter dated January 30, 1986, from

Bob Roth, South Dakota Conference Council on Ministries director 104

Walker, Ramona H, administrative officer, Flandreau Indian School, letter 109
PROPOSED SPACE AND PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS ON THE FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1986

U.S. SENATE,

SELECT COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS,

Flandreau, SD.

The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:25 a.m., at Flandreau Indian School, Flandreau, SD, Hon. James Abdnor (acting

chairman) presiding.

Present: Senator Abdnor.

Staff present: Ms. Jane Wrenn, counsel.

Senator ABDNOK. The Select Committee on Indian Affairs will

come to order.

I welcome all of you to this field hearing being held by the

Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs to review the possible

impact of the proposed space and privacy requirements on the

Flandreau Indian School.

It is a pleasure to have this opportunity to again visit this school.

As a long-time supporter of the Flandreau Indian School, I am

pleased that I could arrange for the hearing by the Senate Select

Committee on Indian Affairs to learn firsthand the concerns of the

students, the faculty, the staff, and the supporters of the school.

As you know, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is currently reviewing

the options available to make certain that the BIA-operated schools

are safe and sound for the children attending these schools. I realize the goals are important, but I will not allow these good intentions to result in harm to the Flandreau Indian School, and the

students attending it•especially when it is not warranted.

I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Ross Swimmer, the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, at length about

these issues. I expressed to him and to the Secretary of the Interior, Secretary Donald Hodel, my commitment to keep this school

open and operating on a normal basis. We are not going to let

these overly-restrictive regulations have this kind of an impact on

the operation of this school.

Now, I continue to believe that a waiver is the best solution to

this problem, and I continue to press the BIA to grant it. If this is

not done, I intend to pursue legislative opportunities to obtain

relief from these regulations on behalf of Congress.

At this time I would introduce a young lady to my left, Ms. Jane

Wrenn, who is special counsel to the Select Committee on Indian

Affairs. Jane is here at the request of the chairman of the Select

Committee on Indian Affairs, Senator Mark Andrews of North

(1)
Dakota. Senator Andrews had hoped to be present, but his commitments in North Dakota just did not allow him the opportunity to

do so. But I want you to know that Jane is probably the leading

congressional expert on Indian education and we are, indeed, very

lucky to have her at our side.

I also want to introduce Mr. James Martin, who is the Assistant

Director for Indian Education at the Bureau of Indian Affairs in

Washington. Mr. Martin is here to learn of our concerns and we

would like to welcome him to South Dakota. Where are you, Mr.

Martin? Fine. We welcome you to South Dakota.

Since our time is limited, and I know a lot of you here today

would like to testify before this committee•we are off to a late

start; we do have a number of witnesses•I am going to have to

insist that you keep your remarks brief so we give an opportunity

to all those who want to be heard.

At this time I am going to ask, without objection, to enter into

the record a statement from our senior Senator Larry Pressler, on

behalf of the school. Larry has been working closely with me on

this issue, and his support and efforts are greatly appreciated.

[Statement of Senator Pressler follows:]
-LARRY PRESSLER

SOUTH DAKOTA

Bnitti ^tatts ^tnatt

WASHINGTON. DC 205 10

FOIUION MLATIOK*

nMNtKwrTATKm

SELECTC

STATEMENT OF SENATOR LARRY PRESSLER

before the

Select Committee on Indian Affairs

Monday, February 10, 1986

Flandreau, South Dakota

Mr. Chairman, as a strong supporter of Indian Education, I

must voice my concern over the detrimental effect the enforcement

of dormitory space and privacy regulations, established in

accordance with P.L. 9S-561, could have on the Flandreau Indian

School. Since October of 1985 I have received several letters

from the people of Flandreau and the surrounding area urging me

to change or "grandfather" this clause in order to preserve

Flandreau's current level of student enrollment. The service

this school has provided to students over the years is

invaluable. With more creativity and hard work than funding,

Flandreau can be proud of the reputation it has built. In the

past few years, however, it appears that this school has been

doggedly pursued by bureaucratic proposals and regulations which

threaten its existence. I am compelled, once again, to come to

the defense of this institution and the fine work done here.

On April 15, 1982 1 submitted testimony for a Bureau of Indian

Affairs field hearing on the proposed closing of off-reservation
boarding schools. The overwhelming support for the continued

operation of Flandreau Indian School evident at that time led to

the BIA's announcement May 20, 1982 that the Flandreau School

would not be closed. I was very proud to be able to work to

maintain the fine facilities of this educational institution by

contacting the BIA several times and bringing a Congressional

Education Committee to tour the facility and observe first hand

the important services provided students at the Flandreau Indian

School.

Now it appears that a number of students may be denied the

opportunity to experience the educational offerings of this

unique learning environment. Mr. Chairman, I realize the

importance of establishing a set of criteria for safe and

comfortable surroundings for students attending boarding

schools. These standards are guidelines for insuring a high

quality of life for students attending a school like Flandreau.

However, in this particular case I do not feel the Bureau of

Indian Affairs has determined that the current dimensions of the

dormitories at Flandreau in any way stifle the growth and

development of the students in attendance here.

The construction of these dorms which accommodate 600 students

was completed in 1962, in accordance with the standards at that

time. This was no easy task for the school to undertake. A few

years later they are being asked to make these rooms bigger.

Most of the boarding schools like Flandreau operate on a

shoestring budget and do not have the funds for constant

renovation of their facilities. These budgets will become even

tighter with the implementation of the Deficit Control Act of

1985. I believe the BIA should conduct a thorough study of the
facilities and the needs of students of Flandreau before any

action is taken to force compliance with the regulations

contained in P.L. 95-561.

As I mentioned earlier, 1 know that standards and regulations

are not arbitrarily imposed, and that occasionally there are

exceptions to the rules. Once in a while a greater standard or

need must be met. In this situation that standard is the

education and happiness of the students presently attending

Flandreau and the students who hope to attend in the future.

Sleeping space and privacy are important, but are they more

important than the opportunity for these children to begin their

future with a good education?

There is a choice to be made in resolving the dilemna that

faces the Flandreau Indian School. I urge the BIA to exempt the

school from the regulations in question, or to provide assistance

for compliance with the stipulations. Unless funding is provided

to the Flandreau Indian School for the purpose of modifying their

facilities to bring them into compliance with the regulations

raised here, I feel it is unfair to impose this burden on the

administrators and students of Flandreau Indian School.

Flandreau is the only school of its type in a large

geographical area. It has been educating students from South

Dakota and neighboring states for many years. Flandreau has been

a real survivor in the midst of changing policies and bureaucratic

red tape. It is time to let this school concentrate on what it

does best, educate students, and free it from constant battles

with government agencies.
Senator ABDNOR. I understand that a representative of Congressman Tom Daschle's office is here, and he has a statement to be included in the record. Is that representative present, in case somebody would like to•well, you know where he is, if anybody wants

to talk to him.

[Statement of Mr. Daschle follows:]
TESTIMONY BY

The Honorable Tom Daschle

Before

The Senate Select Committee on Indian Atfalis

Flandreau, S.D. • February 10, 1986

I want to begin by thanking the Senate Select Committee on Indian

Affairs for coming to Flandreau co investigate firsthand the

dormitory situation at the Flandreau Indian School. 1 nope that

the Committee will depart believing, as I do, that implementation

of the BIA's September 9, 1985 dormitory regulations would

devastate the Flandreau Indian Scnool and therefore should be

modified co protect the school and its students.

Although I am unable to be in Flandreau today, I have nad the

opportunity to visit the school, tour its dormitories and speak

with students, instructors and school officials about the BIA's

new dormitory regulations. While I support the establishment of

realistic minimum safety standards for school dormitories, I do

not think we should allow the pursuit of this objective to

unnecessarily undermine equally important educational goals.

That is precisely the effect of these regulations on the

Flandreau Indian School.

Since the BIA first published its minimum dormitory space

requirements last September, I have worked with school

administrators and Flandreau civic leaders to try to formulate a

compromise position that would recognize the unique circumstances

in Flandreau without compromising the intent of the BIA's

regulations. I am convinced that a mutually satisractory

resolution of these goals is attainable.

To date, however, BIA officials have been unwilling to modify

their regulations or, alternatively, to provide the FIS with the

assistance needed to achieve compliance. While I appreciate

Administration statements that the BIA has no "immediate" plans

to drastically reduce enrollment at the Flandreau Indian School,

I continue to believe that concrete assurances that the school

will not be adversely affected by the new dormitory regulations

are imperative. This objective can be accomplished either

administratively by the Dfepartment of the Interior or

legislatively by Congress.

On November 21, 1985, after months of trustrating .inaction on the

part of the Administration, I introduced legislation (H.R. 3809)

that would "grandfather" existing BIA dormitories into compliance

with the BIA's space regulations. Enactment of this bill would

provide a clear-cut resolution of the current controversy.
The Administration nas not endorsed this legislation. Their

opposition to the bill appears assured. Nevertheless, I remain

Interested in working with BIA officials to tashion a timely

solution to this problem.

In a letter to Ross Swimmer, Assistant Secretary of the Interior

for Indian Affairs, dated December 27, 1985, I suggested an

alternate approach that would allow the Agency to resolve the PIS

dilemma administratively without requiring cbe enactment of

legislation. In that letter, I offered a three-part solution.

First, the Secretary of the Interior would oe given the authority

to temporarily waive the new dormitory regulations on a case-bycase basis tor Institutions where immediate compliance would De

physically or economically impossible. The Secretary would oe

required to assess the effect which non-compliance would have un

the school before authorizing a waiver. In che case of the

Flandreau Indian School, the immediate implementation of the

September 9 regulations is clearly not necessary. These

requirements could be waived without detriment to the health and

safety of the students.

If a waiver is granted, it should be tor a specified period of

time sufficient to allow the BIA to provide the school with

financial and technical assistance which will bring them into

compliance with the regulations. I recommend at least five

years.

Finally, if the necessary tlnancial and technical assistance is

not provided to the school within chat five year period, the

dormitory would be permanently "grandfathered" into compliance

with the September 9, 1985 space requirements.

To aate, Hr. Swimmer has not responded to this initiative. I

hope that this silence means that this approach is receiving

serious consideration by Administration policy-makers.

Hy proposal is reasonable and addresses the concerns the BIA has

raised about certain schools that may nave dormitories that pose

dangerous health or safety hazards to students. It recognizes

that students at Flandreau are NOT immediately endangered or even

inconvenienced with their current living arrangements and

guarantees that the BIA will provide the assistance necessary to

insure that Flandreau may continue to provide its current quality

curriculum to as many Indian students as possible.

This proposal would temporarily delay the implementation of the

space requirements, allowing the BIA adequate time to address the

unique needs of the Flandreau Indian School. At the same time,

it would assure the faculty, parents and students of the school

that the Fis is not Immediately threatened and that the BIA will

either provide the resources necessary to meet the new dormitory

requirements or exempt the school trora these regulations.

The BIA has the authority to implement this solution. Congress
9

has the power to mandate a legislative solution. If the BIA is

not willing to take action to grant relief to the Flandreau

Indian Scnool, I am not willing to sit back and watch the school

die slowly. I continue to believe that if the BIA will not

address the FIS' legitimate needs administratively. Congress

should require them to do so legislatively.

Again, I wish to thank the Senate Select Committee on Indian

Affairs for coming co Flandreau today. I hope this hearing will

help facilitate a solution to the dormitory space problem so that

the Flandreau students can leave school this spring with the

assurance that this exceptional school will be open to ALL of

them again in the tall of 1986.

Thank you.

Senator ABDNOR. Again, I would like to remind everyone that

you can submit testimony on behalf of the school by either giving it

to one of my staff or by mailing it directly to my office. If you have

any questions about this, we would just ask you to touch base with

one of my staff here today so that it can be included in the official

record.

I am also delighted that our Governor is here today. Welcome,

Governor.

In our effort to help our hearing reporter, we're going to ask that

each witness please state your name, your title, and your home

town for their benefit and for the record.

Now, we will start off with the witness list as presented to me.

Our first witness is Rev. Anthony Firman, the chaplain of the

Flandreau Indian School, Flandreau, SD. Reverend Firman.

Once again, we welcome you, and it's good to see you. Reverend.

Let me say•to speed this thing up•if you have a written statement, the entire statement will be made a part of the record.

STATEMENT OF ANTHONY G. FIRMAN, RELIGIOUS COORDINATOR

AND ADVISOR, FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL, FLANDREAU, SD

Mr. FIRMAN. Let us pause if we may, just for a moment, to ask

God's blessing on this occasion.

We pray that we will be open to the real issue at stake today, to

the future of these young people entrusted to our care, and that

everything that we do will be to that good end. We pray in Christ's

name, Amen.

Senator, members of the committee, my name is Anthony

Firman. I have the privilege to represent the Christian people of

the State of South Dakota and their concern for these young people

at the Flandreau Indian School. I have the privilege to serve as the

chaplain and religious coordinator for the past 19 years for the

Flandreau Indian School. I will try to keep this brief and to the

point.

Actions speak louder than words. The actions of the Bureau

under the present administration have spoken clearly to us here at

Flandreau. We have observed the closing or abandonment of the

Chilocco School in Oklahoma; Mount Edgcumbe in Alaska; the

Inter-Mountain School in Brigham City, UT; the Stuart Indian

School in Carson City, NV; the attempt in 1982 to operably close
10

and destroy forever the Wahpeton Indian School. The intent of this

current administration with regard to Indian education is, unfortunately, very, very clear. They have proven by their previous actions

that they wish to eliminate the off-reservation opportunity as

quickly and as quietly as possible. Beginning with our school as far

back as 1982, they have done nothing but continually harass and

try to undermine this fine educational program.

The question, I believe, before us today. Senator and members of

the committee, is will anyone be able to intervene on our behalf at

this late date? I don't think we're discussing the 50 square feet requirement for the rooms; I think that was simply a blind. I believe

that what we're really discussing is the continuing attempt to undermine•to cut the enrollment•and to force that reduction at

this school.

We pray that Mr. Swimmer, the new Deputy Secretary for

Indian Affairs, will have a different attitude than his predecessor.

We know that there are people within the Bureau who are working

against us, and that is very frightening. It is important that we

keep in mind that the Congress of these United States of America

brought this school into being under sacred treaty obligations, not

a bureaucrat within the Bureau of Indian Affairs. How, then, will

Congress deal with the continuing violation of the treaty rights,

the trust responsibility, and•I believe•the basic civil rights of

these young native American people?

The truly sad fact of the situation is that under the guise of

watching out for the space requirement of these young Indian students, many boys and girls will lose forever their opportunity to

attend this excellent off-reservation school. It seems very strange to

me that the Federal bureaucracy can use a virtual lie to cover

their real intent, which is to destroy the sacred trust and educational programs now available in the off-reservation school system.

I sincerely believe, based on my experience. Senator Abdnor, that

this school is deserving of the ongoing support of the current administration and Congress. If we have a sense of vision, the Flandreau Indian School could be a model institution, reinforcing that a

bridge must and can be built, that communications can and must

exist between the dominant and the Indian cultures. To sit back

and to allow the destruction of this essential program will send a

frightening and dreadful notice to the present and the future

Indian generations. It will be a notice of indifference and continuing apartheid. We seem to recognize that, the human rights violations, much better in South Africa than we seem to recognize them

when they are occurring against our own people, especially our minority people.

We know in our hearts that this school really does help to bridge

the social and cultural isolation of the many tribes that we have

the privilege to serve, and we are praying today that you people

involved in the Senate committee•who are really our last

chance•will become more virtually involved in protecting the

future of this program. We thank you for coming.

[Mr. Firman's prepared statement follows:]
11

PREPARED STATEMENT OF ANTHONY G. FIRMAN, REUGIOUS COORDINATOR AND

ADVISOR, FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL, FLANDREAU, SD

The people who make up the current administration have proven by their previous actions that they wished to eliminate the off-reservation schools, as quickly and

as quietly beginning as far back as 1982 they have done nothing but harass and continually try to undermine this fine educational program. The question is: Senator

Abdnor, will you or anyone be able to intervene on our behalf? at this late date?

How can we possibly change the hurtful attitude of Assistant Secretary Ross Swimmer and his appointee Nancy Garrett and their highly paid collorahiorators? who

are working against us in the Bureau of Indian Affairs? It is important that we

keep in mind that the Congress of these United States of America brought this

school into being under the sacred treaty obligations. How then will Congress deal

with the continuing violation of the Treaty rights, trust responsibility, and basic

Civil Rights of these Native American People?

The truly sad fact of this situation is that under the guise of watching out for the

space requirement of these young students many Indian boys and girls will lose

their opportunity to attend this excellent Off Reservation School. It seems strange

how the Federal Bureaucrats can use a virtual lie to cover their real intent which is

to destroy the sacred trust and educational programs now available to these young

people and their tribes. I believe that this school is deserving of the on-going support of this Administration and Congress. If we only had a sense of vision Flandreau

Indian School could serve as a model institution reenforcing that a real bridge of

understanding and communications can and must exist between the dominate and

Indian Cultures.

To allow the destruction of this essential educational opportunity will send a

dreadful notice to the present and future Indian generations. It will be a notice of

gross indifference and continuing apartheid. We know in our hearts that this school

really helps to bridge the social and cultural isolation of the many tribes that we

have the privilege to serve.

In conclusion we have sadly observed the destruction of the Chilocco Indian school

in Oklahoma.

Most of the Flandreau Indian School Students come from large extended families,

also multigenerational, living within one home. The idea that four students to a

room is not helpful quite simply won't wash with the real living experience of these

young people. Example: As I was traveling with six students for a time of Spiritual

Retreat, I made certain that each student had a private room. In the morning when

I went to awaken them, I had five empty rooms and one full room.

The Flandreau Indian School complex was built around the six hundred student

design model which includes three hundred in each dormatory and all other facilities on the campus including the academic complex are geared to the six hundred

student level of operation.

The overall operation of the Flandreau Indian School is built around a reality

therapy with heavy emphasis on positive peer culture. With this emphasis on positive peer involvement the roommates become family and are very important in the

improvement of both academic and maturity levels.

The sleeping rooms are really sleeping rooms. The dorms have spacious livingrooms on each floor, large recreation room and hobby shop rooms on the basement

level, a Counseling center which includes separate offices which are for individualized counseling. Truly, there is more than adequate living space in each of our dormitories for the three hundred student number.

In conclusion, we have observed the destruction of the Chilocco Indian School in

Oklahoma, Mount Edgcumbe in Alaska, The Inter-Mountain Indian School at

Brigham City, Utah, the recent attempt at Wahpeton Indian School in North

Dakota, The intent of this Administration is completely clear. Please help us to

fight the forces who would blatently abandoned these young people. Please help us

before it is too late.

Senator ABDNOR. All right, Reverend, we thank you very much

for your strong statement. We need that for the record and it will

be very helpful. Thank you.

Our next witness is John Shaeffer of Flandreau.

STATEMENT OF JOHN SHAEFFER, FLANDREAU, SD

Mr. SHAEFFER. Senator Abdnor and members of the committee,

first of all, I think I speak for all the people in Moody County, Sen-
12

ator, when I say thank you for all the support and concern that

you have shown towards the Flandreau Indian School these last

several years. It is deeply appreciated.

My name is John Shaeffer and I am an attorney here in town. I

have lived in this community for 20 years. I am trying to anticipate, Senator, some of the other arguments that other people will

make here today so that I won't duplicate them.

I would like to say that in the 20 years that I have lived here in

Flandreau, that I have spent 8 of those years as State's attorney

and the other 12 working hand in hand with the school, with their

legal problems, and quite closely with the staff. I can honestly say

that the caliber of people that are now at this school has greatly

increased in the last 20 years.

I would like to make just one argument to the committee, and

that is this. In 1961, when the dormitories were built, at that time

the Flandreau Indian School had a population of 542 students.

When the two dormitories were built, it was anticipated that they

would each house 300 students, or 4 students per dorm room. Now,

in 1985 and 1986, we have approximately 600 students.

I guess the point that I want to make is that, at the time the

Federal Government decided to build these dormitories in 1961,

they did so on the basis that four students per room was sufficient

and was a proper standard to have. Now, 25 years later, apparently

some bureaucrat has now made the decision that four students to a

dormitory room is not adequate and not sufficient. Well, I guess we

can all agree on that; and ideally, if we wanted to be idealists, we

could say that probably each student should have their own room,

each student should have their own shower and their own bathroom. But we are practical people. We know that is not going to

happen. We know in these times of austerity, the Federal Government is trying to cut back. I would only say that if any bureaucrat

feels that the students are being deprived, that they should come

here to Flandreau, SD, and talk to those students.

It kind of reminds me of a similar problem that we had in basketball several years ago. There was a complaint that the basketball players were getting too tall; and some bureaucrat, after studying the situation, said that the way to resolve this thing is, probably, anybody over 6 feet tall, we will cut off their feet. Well, to

me, this is a similar solution that the Government is now trying.

We now feel that four students to a room are too many, so therefore let us cut out half the students. This would be a tremendous

loss to the students that would now have to be forced, probably, to

go elsewhere if they could in fact find similar or other educations.

I would only say in closing. Senator•because I am going to be

brief•that the Flandreau Indian School has been here a long time,

and the caliber of education keeps increasing. The percentage of

students that go on and make something of themselves is increasing. The final solution for whatever that is, that is to be made,

should not be made until after the people involved that make these

decisions come here to Flandreau, SD, and talk to the students involved. You and I can propose all kinds of solutions, and we can sit

down and tell everyone what the problems are; but let us talk to

the kids involved and find out what they think the situation is and

what should be done to correct it.
13

Thank you very much.

Senator ABDNOR. Mr. Shaeffer, thank you. That was excellent

testimony.

Let me ask you, have you ever heard anyone complaining about

overcrowded facilities or rooms?

Mr. SHAEFFER. I have not, Senator. As I said before, in the many

years that I have worked closely with the school, I have come in

contact with many of the students; not only representing them, but

when I was State's attorney, having to prosecute some of them.

And again, when you have 600 students together in a community,

whether it is here in Flandreau, SD, or New York City, you are

going to have some problems as far as kids getting along. But I

have never, ever heard one student complain to me that they feel

they are overcrowded. The fact that four students are in a room•

when I went to college, I had•in the room that I was in, I had a

kid from China, a kid from Ethiopia, and a kid from Egypt, the

first year that I was in college. I learned more about human nature

and how to get along with my fellow man that first year in college

than I ever did the rest of my life because I had three roommates

that were from other parts of the world. And here you have kids

coming from all over, and this teaches them how to get along with

each other.

Senator ABDNOR. Let me just add to that. I didn't have quite that

experience. I went through these dormitories just last year, and I

was quite pleased at the size of it. I didn't know what to expect,

especially with the stories you hear. To go back to my college

days•we were a lot more crowded where I was than anyone is out

here.

Thank you very much.

Mr. SHAEFFER. Thank you. Senator.

Senator ABDNOR. Our next witnesses are a panel made up of the

student council representatives of the Flandreau Indian School.

We welcome you here to the panel. I would ask each of you, as

you speak, to give your name and your home address.

Mr. Mesteth.

STATEMENT OF GABE MESTETH, PINE RIDGE, SD

Mr. MESTETH. My name is Gabe Mesteth from Pine Ridge, SD,

M-E-S-T-E-T-H. I've been attending Flandreau for 3 years now. The

space that we have in our room, it's more than enough. If these

standards do go into effect, it will cut our enrollment in half.

Senator ABDNOR. MS. Sackatook.

STATEMENT OF FRANCES SACKATOOK, NEOPIT, WI

Ms. SACKATOOK. My name is Frances Sackatook. I am from

Neopit, WI.

[Ms. Sackatook's prepared statement follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF FRANCES SACKATOOK, NEOPIT, WI

My name is Frances Sackatook. I am a Menominee Indian from Neopit, Wisconsin

and have been attending Flandreau Indian School for three years. Flandreau Indian

School has helped me in a lot of ways. For one thing, it has helped me to stay in

school. My attendance is better here than it would be at home. I'm also beginning to

learn more about myself and from that I'm becoming more independent. I'm learn-
14

ing what I need to make a life for myself after high school. It has also given me a

chance to meet new friends. I'm a Senior this year and will graduate in June. The

school here has given me a chance, so I hope that you can help our school to give

other kids the same chance.

Senator ABDNOR. MS. Little Wind.

STATEMENT OF KAREN LITTLE WIND, FORT TOTTEN, ND

Ms. LITTLE WIND. My name is Karen Little Wind, and I am from

Fort Totten, ND.

Senator ABDNOR. MS. Peters.

STATEMENT OF GAYNELLE PETERS, MENOMINEE, WI

Ms. PETERS. My name is Gaynelle Peters and I am from Menominee, WI. I would like to explain on behalf of the school council to

the Honorable James Abdnor, U.S. Senate, and the Senate Select

Committee, that it is indeed an honor to have you here with us at

the Flandreau Indian School. You have proven to be a valuable

ally and have served both the Wahpeton and Flandreau Indian

Schools well other times of concern. We are grateful for your

strong leadership from North and South Dakota and appreciate

your visit here to once more give credence to the concerns of our

peoples.

In the nearly 100 years since the United States established a

boarding school at Flandreau, we have been faced with many and

varied challenges. We have risen to those challenges, always intent

upon preserving this institution not only for the traditions it has

represented to our families over the generations, but also for the

implications its continuation carries for our futures. As American

Indians, we are grateful for the fine education provided through

the Flandreau Indian School. The impact of this fine institution on

the young people from the various tribes and nations has had a

strong and positive influence on each of the reservations from

which we come.

We are now involved in what we consider a fight for our existence. We are used to facing adversities and once more rise to the

challenge. Our current concern comes in the form of the "Minimum Academic Standards for the Basic Education of Indian Children and National Criteria for Dormitory Situations." While we

are pleased for the concern with our education, we are confused by

some of the requirements, especially the one dealing with space

and privacy, which seems designed to cut the total number of students who could annually be housed and educated at Flandreau

Indian School.

The standards of which we speak state that "sleeping rooms

shall provide sufficient space and privacy for the resident students.' The dormitory rooms do that and have been doing that

since they were built in 1962. For that reason, we are having a

hard time understanding why those same standards go on to set

specific criteria which would cut the number of student residents

per room in half. For those of us who live in the dormitories, these

new space standards are extremely confusing because we feel we

have plenty of space in our more than adequate dormitories.

We, the students of Flandreau Indian School, are proud of our

school. We feel that the staff and facilities here are second to none.
15

For these reasons, we strongly implore you to work on our behalf

to have our facilities "grandfathered" into compliance with the

proposed standards, and thus ensure our school's very existence for

the young American Indians of the future.

On behalf of the students of Flandreau Indian School, we are the

student council members of 1986: President, Gabe Mesteth, home

agency Pine Ridge, SD; Vice President, Gaynelle Peters, home

agency Menominee, WI; Secretary/Treasurer, Karen Little Wind,

home agency Fort Totten, ND; Girls' Dorm Representative, Frances

Sackatook, home agency Menominee; Boys' Dorm Representative,

Stacey Two Bulls, home agency Pine Ridge; Senior Class Representatives, Byron Makeshine, Fort Washington, WY and Muriel Stately, Red Lake, MN; Junior Class Representatives, Bernie Goodbird,

Fort Peck and Teri Johnson, Red Lake, MN; Sophomore Class Representatives, Sandy Forseth, Red Lake, MN, and Donovan Schoenborn. Red Lake, MN; Freshman Class Representatives, Selina LaFontaine, Belcourt, ND and William White Bull, Fort Yates, ND.

Thank you.

[Ms. Peters' prepared statement, on behalf of the Flandreau

Indian School Student Council, follows:]
16

PREPARED STATEMENT OF GAYNELLE PETERS, ON BEHALF OF THE FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL

STUDENT COUNCIL

It is indeed an honor and priviledge to have you both with us here at Flandreau

Indian School. In recent years you have both proven to be invaluable allies,

allies who served both the Wahpeton and Flandreau Indian Schools well in other

times of concern. We are grateful for your strong leadership from North and

South Dakota and appreciate your visit here to once more give credence to the

concerns of our peoples.

In the nearly 100 years since the United States established a boarding school

at Flandreau, we have been faced with many and varied challenges. We have

risen to those challenges, always intent upon preserving this Institution not

only for the traditions it has represented to our families over the generations

but also for the implications Its continuation carries for our futures. As

American Indians we are grateful for the fine education provided through the

Flandreau Indian School. The Impact of this fine institution on the young

people from the various tribes and nations has had a strong and positive

Influence on each of the reservations from which we come.

We are now Involved In what we consider a fight for our exlstance. We are used

to facing adversities and once more rise to the challenge. Our current concern

comes In the form of the "Minimum Academic Standards for the Basic Education of

Indian Children and National Criteria for Dormitory Situations." While we are

pleased for the concern with our education, we are confused by some of the

requirements, especially the one dealing with space and privacy which seems

designed to cut the total number of students who could annually be housed and

educated at Flandreau Indian School.

The standards of which we speak state that "sleeping rooms shall provide

sufficient space and privacy for the resident students." The dormitory rooms

do that and have been doing that since they were built in 1962. For that

reason we are having a hard time understanding why those same standards go on

to set specific criteria which would cut the number of student residents per

room in half. For those of us who live in the dormitories, these new space

standards are extremely confusing because we feel we have plenty of space in

our more than adequate dormitories.
17

We, the students of Plandreau Indian School, are proufi of our school. We fc*l

Chat the staff and facilities here are second to none. For these reasons we

strongly implore you to work on our behalf to have our facilities

"grandfathered" Into compliance with the proposed standards and thus Insure our

school's very exlstance for the young American Indians of the future.

On behalf of the students of Flandreau Indian School, we are the Student

Council members of 1986:

President qUsJ^i.j/)4s£iyih Sealor Claas Reps. / ,. // A

Home Agency^p,:^ ^y .CD / ////// <A /(LM^* ^ /'

Sec/Treasurer HLVXX-O W\.-VHj ."^fuxA Junior Class Reps. ^

Hone Agency gg \ yjfn ^ '^ (S. _ - • , rv tif*

Girl's Don. Rep^J^i^^^L^C

Home Agency Lfftt nfrm u.\iJ - A>. ^Sirtttl ^'.t X^n igOa A'

icy

-

Boy's Dorm Rep^- <Z*^fe/7ki'&>uCt> Sophonore Class Reps. j^dLoJ.u. trvo.

Home Agency fe^ /gX.^e- ^

S^'»'>i--L ^^Mti^ *Bcy.

Freshman Class Reps. y y
18

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you, Gaynelle, for that very fine testimony. It is going to be very helpful. I don't know of anyone who it

is more important to hear from than young people who are living

in these present conditions, and how they accept it and how they

feel about it. So to all of you, Gabe and Frances and Karen, we appreciate the fact that you were willing to come up here and make

yourself heard and to speak out.

Let me ask you this one•I know I probably don't need to ask

this•but have any of you ever heard any of the other students

complain about crowded conditions?

[No response.]

Senator ABDNOR. Well, thank you very, very much for taking the

time to come do this.

Ms. PETERS. Thank you.

Senator ABDNOR. The next witnesses will begin a different

group•student body representatives of the Flandreau Indian

School. If they will come forward, we welcome them to the committee.

I made a slight mistake; it is the student association. We certainly welcome your presence here at the committee. I think we can all

learn from these students who are participants in the school and

who reside in the school and occupy the dormitories.

We would ask you each to pick up the mike•those of you who

are testifying can do so•the rest of you, we would like to have

your name and your home town.

We welcome you, and go right ahead.

Ms. Morris.

STATEMENT OF CATHERINE MORRIS, SIOUX CITY, IA

Ms. MORRIS. My name is Catherine Morris. I am a 15-year-old

Winnebago/Omaha Indian, a student here at Flandreau. I am from

the Winnebago/Omaha Indian Reservation in Macy, NE. I have

been here for approximately 2 years. By being here, I have accumulated enough credits to be a junior.

This school has helped me a great deal. The atmosphere of a

boarding school has been a definite advantage to me. I have been

attending boarding school since first grade. I have had no problems

spacewise with the dormitory sleeping room. If I were living at

home, I would have approximately the same amount of room, or

possibly less. This school has given me the chance to meet and

become friends with other Indian students from many states, which

is part of our heritage. Without a "grandfather" clause, many of us

would not be allowed to continue at Flandreau Indian School. But

keeping our class as it is gives me hope for the future. If I stayed

back in Macy, I probably would not be in school today.

Thank you.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you, Catherine. Thank you very much.

Ms. Rank.

STATEMENT OF MELVA RANK, CROW CREEK SIOUX

RESERVATION, FORT THOMPSON, SD

Ms. RANK. Hi. My name is Melva Rank. I am from the Crow

Creek Sioux Reservation located in Fort Thompson, SD.
19

I've been attending FIS for 4 years now and I think this is a good

school to get an education, and also for meeting friends.

As you know, we are here speaking today on the proposed reduction of the student enrollment. FIS won't be an effective school if

the student body is cut in half. They say the rooms are too small,

but we're the ones who live in the dorms, and I think that four to a

room is pretty comfortable. We would probably be lonely with only

with only two to a room. We are all used to four to a room,

anyway. Myself, I think this is a good school the way it is.

Thank you.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you.

Ms. Forseth.

STATEMENT OF SANDRA FORSETH, RED LAKE BAND OF

CHIPPEWA INDIANS, DULUTH, MN

Ms. FORSETH. My name is Sandy Forseth. I am a 17-year-old

Chippewa Indian from the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians.

This is my second year at FIS.

The Flandreau Indian School has taught me to develop pride and

confidence. Without that, I would not be in school today. Flandreau

Indian School is a school here that I can learn at, and that is why I

am here.

If the law says I cannot come to a school of learning, then where

else can I go? If the enrollment at Flandreau Indian School because

of the newly proposed law must be reduced, then many of my

friends and the staff members be only a memory to me.

Flandreau Indian School has the facilities to teach curriculum

and heritage. It also helps me to respect and learn to live with

others. In the past year I have roomed with three other girls. The

space was quite sufficient; the privacy was respected. The space

available now was alright in the past. Why not stay with it, at

least at FIS? What I am saying is, why change something that has

been working for so many years?

I am proud to be an American Indian and I am proud to be a

student at the Flandreau Indian School.

Thank you.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you. And once again, place that mike

right up to your mouth so that you come through loud and clear.

You are doing fine; it is just that we want to make sure that everyone hears, especially our reporter, who is taking this down for the

record. So when you are speaking, hold the mike close.

Ms. Kohel.

STATEMENT OF MADELINE KOHEL, KESHENA, WI

Ms. KOHEL. Senator Abdnor, my name is Madeline Kohel. I am a

senior at Flandreau Indian School. I am a Menominee Indian from

Keshena, WI. I have attended Flandreau Indian Schocl for 1%

years, with this being my second year here.

I am here to mention the visit that the students had from Congressman Tom Daschle. He had discussed with us the standard

dorm room size and the Government's concern that the room size

was not large enough for four students to occupy. The size that was

used for these new standards is the one used in federal peneten-
20

tiaries for criminals. I know I am not only speaking for myself, but

all of the students that are attending school here; we are not criminals. We are here because we want to be here, and we want our

education.

The size of the rooms in the dorms has been the same for the

past 22 years, and the regulations are just now bringing this subject up. We have learned to get along in the size of our rooms for

all of these years. So if you really want to help us and find a solution to this problem, do not cut our student body to half. Build another dorm so we can continue our education and get away from

the problems that we face on our reservations and in our home

towns.

If you allow our student body to be cut in half, we will lose a lot

of our friends, friends that we have come to know so well and care

about. You will also be subjecting these friends to the drugs, alcohol, and suicide problems at home. I know you would not want to

do this to your children, so why do it to us?

If the students attending Flandreau Indian School was cut to

half, that would give the Government all the more reason to close

this school. There are students that really and truly depend on this

school. We would like to see this school go on with as many students as possible, and with even more, if we could.

So please give me, my fellow students, and the staff a chance to

be with the wonderful people that we have here at FIS. Give us all

our education and our future.

Thank you.

Senator ABDNOR. Madeline, thank you very, very much for that

excellent presentation. You've said it all beautifully. And to all of

you young ladies•Madeline, Sandy, Melva, Cathy•obviously, you

feel that you have more than sufficient room for your needs, and

that's important to have on the record. Thank you very much.

Gabe, shall we start with you? You are the president of the student body, and back once again. Give your name again.

STATEMENT OF GABE MESTETH, PINE RIDGE, SD

Mr. MESTETH. My name is Gabe Mesteth. I'm an Oglala Sioux

from the Pine Ridge Reservation. I've been attending Flandreau

Indian School for 3 years now and I feel that these new standards

are nonsense because when they built this school, it was built according to Government standards. And now, these standards say

we have to have two students per room. When they built Flandreau Indian School they put two bunk beds in each room so the

school could house four students per room. These new standards

that apply to Flandreau Indian School were only applied to prisons,

and Flandreau Indian School is not a prison. So why should these

standards go into effect here?

If the standards do go into effect, it will cut the student enrollment in half. Teachers and students will be affected by this cut,

also. Students say that if it wasn't for Flandreau Indian School,

they wouldn't be attending school at all. So FIS must be doing

something good for the students.

When students come to Flandreau Indian School for an education, they leave with what they came here for.
21

Thank you.

Senator ABDNOR. MS. Herman.

STATEMENT OF AUDRA HERMAN, TURTLE MOUNTAIN INDIAN

RESERVATION, ND

Ms. HERMAN. My name is Audra Herman. I am a senior from the

Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota. I am a

senior here at the Flandreau Indian School. I have been attending

FIS for 2 years.

I am testifying today because of the concerns I have about the

Indian School and the staff and students. My feeling is that the

size of the rooms is adequate. If they change the rules and only let

two students in a room, then many kids won't be in school. If the

Bureau of Indian Affairs feels we don't have enough room, they

should build more dorms. It is so easy for people to live with the

changes they make, but it is hard for the people who have to live

with them.

Senator ABDNOR. MS. Jackson.

STATEMENT OF IRIS JACKSON, FORT BERTHOLD, NEW TOWN, ND

Ms. JACKSON. My name is Iris Jackson. I am a member of the

Three Affiliated Tribes from Fort Berthold, New Town, North

Dakota. I am a 19-year-old freshman here at the Flandreau Indian

School. I am testifying because Flandreau Indian School has done a

lot for me and helped me in many ways.

I have attended public school, but I was told I was too old to complete my education. No other school gave me a chance until I applied here, and they gave me a chance to finish my education.

Flandreau also has a solo parent program where I can bring my

child and care for him here while I complete my education. If the

school student body is cut, will this solo parent program also be

cut? Many young mothers would not get a chance to finish school.

There are a lot of other girls back home who do not have a chance

to finish school because they have children and can't do both without help. The Flandreau Indian School gives us a chance. If the enrollment is cut, the mother's chances of an education will be hurt,

but so will the baby's since the mother will not have an education

to compete for jobs.

My uncles and brother graduated from Flandreau. They are

family men who are supporting their own children and trying to

help them become educated too. When they attended Flandreau

Indian School, they were assigned four to a room. This did not hurt

their studies. When I came last fall, I was assigned a room with

three other girls. It was not crowded. We learned to get along, and

to share chores and responsibilities. Now, I am in honor dorm. I

only have one roommate, and we get along real well, but it is not

the same as when I first came. You don t really get to meet as

many other girls when you only have one roommate.

I don't think the school is crowded. If you go to other schools

where not many Indians go, it seems that the Indians get pushed to

the back. Here at Flandreau Indian School, Indians are treated

good and are cared for. This school gives Indians an education, and

we are treated equally. Flandreau Indian School also gives the
22

right of an education to unwed mothers. This school also gives us

the responsibilities to care for ourselves. If the enrollment is cut,

many students will not even go to school. When students are here,

it seems like they have more pride in being an Indian.

I hope you reconsider about the dormitory living arrangements.

You won't be hurting yourself; you will be hurting a lot of young

Indian students.

Senator ABDNOR. Mr. Old Person.

STATEMENT OF ROGER OLD PERSON, BLACKFEET INDIAN

RESERVATION, BROWNING, MT

Mr. OLD PERSON. My name is Roger Old Person. I am a 17-yearold Flathead Indian from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.

This is my second year at Flandreau Indian School. I am a junior

this year and will graduate next year.

I am testifying today because I don't think it is right to cut the

enrollment of our school. Cutting the number of students will

mean that those students may not be able to go to school at all because they can't go, or won't go at home.

The dorm rooms here are big enough. I have three roommates,

but I still have more room here than I have at home. I stay in

school and go to classes here at Flandreau Indian School, but at

home I might not stay in school.

Our school is a good school and should be allowed to continue as

it is.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you, Mr. Old Person. I assure you we

are going to do everything in our power that we can to help solve

this problem. I assure you, we are working hard at it.

I would like to make a point. I don't know how this comparison

with the prisons came in. I don't think anyone back in Washington

is looking at it that way; I don't think it has a thing to do it. As far

as I know, the basis for dormitory standards has nothing to do with

prisons, and I would just like to make that point because I have

heard references to it and I think it is unfortunate that we have

made that comparison here. I don't think that we look at the prisons in the same way that we look at our fine young students in

schools throughout this country.

Thank you all for coming.

[Recess.]

Senator ABDNOR. We welcome you back again. Who wants to go

first?

Ms. Sackatook, please proceed.

STATEMENT OF FRANCES SACKATOOK, NEOPIT, WI

Ms. SACKATOOK. My name is Frances Sackatook. I am a Menominee Indian from Neopit, WI, and I have been attending Flandreau

Indian School for 3 years. Flandreau Indian School has helped me

in a lot of ways. For one thing, it has helped me to stay in school.

My attendance is better here than it would be at home. I am also

beginning to learn more about myself, and from that I am becoming more independent. I am learning what I need to make a life for

myself after high school. It has also given me a chance to meet new

friends. I am a senior this year and will graduate in June. The
23

school here has given me a chance, so I hope that you can help our

school to give other kids the same chance.

Senator ABDNOR. Mr. Makeshine.

STATEMENT OF BYRON MAKESHINE. WIND RIVER

RESERVATION. LIVERTON. WY

Mr. MAKESHINE. My name is Byron Makeshine. I am a 17-yearold Arapaho Indian from the Wind River Reservation in central

Wyoming. I have been attending Flandreau Indian School for 2

years now, and will be graduating this year.

I am testifying today not only for myself, but for the other students as well. I could say that I don't have to testify because I am

graduating this year and I don't care what happens to this school

after I leave, but I do care. I care for the other students who will

still be here and for those students who want and have a need to

come here. Without your help, the BIA standards will cut our enrollment in half and will cut off many students who would like to

come here for their education and have a right to come here for

their education.

Students come here for many reasons. Many are kicked out of

school at home, or don't like the schools at home. Some of them

don't even go back to school at all and turn to alcohol and drugs.

Some students come here because they have no other place to go. It

usually turns out that they like this place•not only for the school,

but for the other students. At the Flandreau Indian School there is

the feeling of being together, for the fact is, you are.

Receiving a lot of help from the staff here makes the student

that much of a better person. I question this rule that will cut our

enrollment in half and whether it is there to help us.

Senator ABDNOR. Well, I think the words that you have spoken

have told the whole story of how much you people appreciate the

school and your living conditions. And I want you to know that

we're going to do everything possible to make sure that this school

continues to operate.

Thank you very much. The Flandreau Indian School employees,

if you will come forward.

While they're coming forward I want to say how much I appreciated the students participating in this hearing. At the outset, they

are the ones who live here because the school is here, and they've

compared it to their home life and everything else. So, I think it is

important that we did hear from them.

We certainly appreciate having people who work here at this facility participating in our hearing today. I see that some of you

have prepared statements; I assure you that the statements will be

made a part of the record. To speed this thing along, we would ask

you to summarize; we don't want to take anything away from your

main points, but again, I assure you that we'd like to have your

statements and they will be placed in the record exactly as written.

So, who wants to start off? If you would give your name and

what you do here at the school, it will be included in the record.

Mr. Buck.
24

STATEMENT OF ED BUCK, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL FEDERATION

OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 187; VICE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES BIA COUNCIL

Mr. BUCK. My name is Ed Buck. I am the president of National

Federation of Federal Employees, Local 187, and I serve as a vice

president of the National Federation of Federal Employees BIA

Council. On behalf of NFFE, I would like to thank you for taking

the time to come to Flandreau today to look into the adverse effect

that the space and privacy section of the minimum academic standards for the basic education of Indian children and national criteria for dormitory situations will have on Indian education.

As you are aware, these new standards were placed into effect on

October 9, 1985. You have heard and will hear many more comments on how the space and privacy requirements portion of the

standards will affect the Indian youth who attend BIA schools.

These standards may also have adverse effects on the BIA work

force. As you know, to come into compliance with the space and

privacy portion of the standards, the Flandreau Indian School may

lose up to half of our student population. Other BIA schools are

also affected, but not to the same extent as the Flandreau Indian

School. It is obvious that if we lose a large percent of our student

population, many employees will also lose their jobs.

Recent years have not been good ones for the Federal employee.

The current administration has done little to improve employee

morale. Many employees in the BIA work force are career Federal

employees who have several years of Federal service dedicated to

the care and education of Indian youth. In addition to the normal

job pressures and stress that employees experience, the employees

at this installation have had additional pressures to contend with.

Examples are, in 1982, the announced closing of the Flandreau

Indian School, which had a traumatic effect on both the students

and the staff; the enrollment policy change in 1985; and now, the

space and privacy requirement issue in 1986.

When we accept employment with the BIA, we take on the big

responsibility of providing care and education for the Indian youth

who are placed in our trust. Our jobs certainly are not made easier

by the constant turmoil that we seem to face. One of our staff

members recently said that we seem to live from one crisis to the

next. This certainly does little to make our jobs easier.

At times, it is very difficult for the work force to grasp the total

plan of the BIA. Those of us who work in the field perceive the

goal of the BIA education branch as that of educating and taking

care of the Indian youth.

It often seems to us that the goal of BIA management on the national level is to get out of the Indian education business. It almost

seems as though we started out in the same game, on the same

team, but now it seems like we are on different teams with different game plans.

When the standards were being proposed and comments were

being solicited, it became immediately evident to NFFE that the

space and privacy portion of the standards would have a big impact

on the BIA work force. We submitted comments and contacted the

proper officials in Washington, DC, about our concerns. On page
25

36815 of the standards, the Bureau acknowledged commentors who

suggested that the 50- to 70-square-feet requirement is unrealistic

for current facilities, but should be used in a modified form in the

construction of new dorms only. When the final rule of the standards was published, the regulation states flatly that 50 to 70 square

feet of living space per student is required in all cases. Without exception we have been told not to worry because the new standards

would have no effect on our school, but now this obviously isn't the

case.

You may recall. Senator, that several of us visited you in your

office in Sioux Falls about 2 years ago, and at that time you

phoned Washington; and they, at that time, told you that there

was no problem. To my knowledge, the authors of these new regulations did not visit our campus to look at the facilities. They did

not ask the opinion of the students who actually live in the dorms.

They did not consult with the tribes and school boards, and they

did not negotiate in good faith with the union this change of policy

and the impact it will have on the work force. After many requests

for negotiations on the impact of the standards•which were

turned down•NFFE filed an unfair labor practice suit with the

Department of Labor against the Director of Indian Education.

This unfair labor practice is still pending at this time.

When our facilities were constructed, they were built by the BIA

to accommodate 600 students. If the Bureau of Indian Affairs feels

that we now have a problem with the living conditions of the students in the dorms, we feel that in addition to pointing out the

problems, it is management's responsibility to find and offer solutions to the proposed problems. Thus far, the only solution that

they are offering is cutting enrollment and jobs. We find this solution to be totally unacceptable.

In President Reagan's State of the Union address on February 4,

1986, he stated, "Tonight I want to speak directly to America's

younger generation because they hold the destiny of our Nation in

your hands." I hope that President Reagan's Cabinet members that

make policy decisions for the BIA were listening, because they hold

the destiny of the Indian youth and the Indian nation in their

hands.

[Mr. Buck's prepared statement, on behalf of the National Federation of Federal Employees, follows:]
26

OYEES

Local ihJSENATE COMMITTEE HEARING

FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL February 10, 1986

My name is Ed Buck. I am the President of National Federation of

Federal Employees Local 187 and I serve as a Vice President of

the National NFFE BIA Council.

On behalf of NFFE, I would like to thank you for taking the time

to come to Flandreau today to look into the adverse effect that

the space and privacy section of the Minimum Academic Standards

For The Basic Education of Indian children and National Criteria

For Dormitory Situations will have on Indian education. As you

are aware, these new Standards were placed into effect on October

9, 1985. You have heard and will hear many more comments on how

the space and priv^-y i: equireneiit' portion of the Standards will

affect the Indian yo^Lh who attend BIA schools. These Standards

may also have adverse effects on the BIA workforce. As you know,

to come into compliance with the space and privacy portion of the

Standards, the Flandreau Indian School may lose up to half of our

student population. Other BIA schools are also affected, but not

to the same extent as the Flandreau Indian School. It is obvious

that if we lose a large percent of our student population. many

employees will also lose their jobs.

Recent years have not been good ones for the Federal Employee.

The current administration has done little to improve employee

moral. Many employees in the BIA workforce are career federal

employees who have several years of federal service dedicated to

the care and education of Indian youth. In addition to the

normal job pressures and stress that employees experience, the

employees at this installation have had additional pressures to
27

contend with: /,

1. The employees have bean placed in furlough status which means

long periods of non-pay during summer months.

2. The announced closing of the Flandreau Indian School in 1982

which had a traumatic effect on both students and staff.

3. The enrollment policy change in 1985.

4. Now the space and privacy requirement issue in 1986.

When we accept employment with the BIA/ we take on the big

responsibility of providing care and education for the Indian

youth who are placed in our trust. Our jobs certainly are not

made easier by the constant turmoil that we seem to face. One of

our staff members recently said that we seem to live from one

.crisis to the next. That certainly does little to make our jobs

easier•

At times it is very difficult for the workforce to grasp the

total plan of the BIA. Those of us who work in the field

perceive the goal of the BIA education branch as that of

educating and taking care of the Indian youth. It often seems to

us that the goal of BIA management on the national level is to

get out of the Indian education business. It almost seems as

though we started out in the same game - on the same team, but it

now seems like we are on different teams with different game

plans.-

When the Standards were being proposed and comments were being

solicited, it became immediately evident to NFFE that the space

and privacy portion of the Standards would have a big impact on

the BIA workforce. We submitted comments and contacted the

proper officials in Washington D.C. about our concerns. On page

36815 of the Standards - the Bureau acknowledged coramentors who

suggested that the 50-70 square feet requirement is unrealistic

for current facilities, but should be used in a modified form in

the construction of new dorms - when the final rule of the

Standards was published the regulation states flatly that 50-70

square feet of living space per student is required in all
28

facilities. Without exception we had been told not to worry

because the new Standards would have no effect on our school but

now this obviously isn't the case.

To my knowledge! the authors of these new regulations did not

visit our campus to look at our facilities; they did not ask the

opinion of the students who actually live in the dorms; they did

not consult with the tribes and school boards; and they did not

negotiate in good faith with the Union this change of policy and

the impact it vill have on the workforce. After many requests

for negotiations on the impact of the Standards> which were

turned down, NFFE filed an unfair labor practice suit with the

Department of Labor against the Director of Indian Education.

This unfair labor practice is still pending at this time.

When our facilities were constructed, they were built by the BIA

to accomadate 600 students. If the Bureau of Indian Affairs

feels that we now have a problem with the living conditions of

the students in the dorms, we feel that in addition to pointing

out the problems, it is managements responsibility to find and

offer solutions to the proposed problems. Thus far, the only

solution that they are offering is cutting enrollment and jobs.

We find this solution to be totally unacceptable.

In President Reagan's State of the Union address on February 4,

1986, he stated: Tonite I want to speak directly to America's

younger generation - because you hold the destiny of our nation

in your hands." I hope that President Reagan's cabinet members

that make policy decisions for the BIA were listening•because

they hold the destiny of the Indian youth and the Indian nation

in their hands!
29

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you.

Mr. Gourneau.

STATEMENT OF RON GOURNEAU, FLANDREAU, SD

Mr. GOURNEAU. My name is Ron Gourneau. I am here to testify

against the dormitory space requirements which the Flandreau

Indian School will be forced to comply with beginning with the

next school year, 1986-87. I am not here because I am an employee

of the school, but because I am an educator.

American Indian students are the future of the American Indian

people, and education is the key to the type of future young Indian

students will have. The Flandreau Indian School provides Indian

students with an opportunity to get a good education and a start at

a better life.

The new dormitory space regulations would effectively cut the

opportunity for future Indian students to get a good education because it would require each student living in a dormitory room to

have 50 to 70 square feet of space exclusive of furniture. This

means that if you put one student in a room, he must have at least

50 square feet of nothing but space in the room to call his own; two

students per room means 100 square feet of nothing; three students

means 150 square feet of nothing; and four students means 200

square feet of nothing. To me, this adds up to a lot of space for

nothing. Is this the purpose of the new regulation? If it is, it will

not only provide for space exclusive of furniture, but also a school

exclusive of students.

The current dormitory rooms at Flandreau Indian School cannot

provide that much square footage of nothing and maintain the current enrollment. I submit that there are not many colleges in

America that provide that much square footage per student especially if, in order to maintain enrollment, they must house three to

four students per room.

Why must the Flandreau Indian School be forced to comply with

these regulations? Why must the Flandreau Indian School be constantly justifying its purpose? The purpose of the Flandreau Indian

School is simple: The Flandreau Indian School provides American

Indian students with the opportunity to get an education. The

Flandreau Indian School has been doing an excellent job at providing that opportunity.

The current dormitories were built in 1962-63. They were built

to provide enough space to house four students per room. Since the

existence of the new dormitories, that is exactly what the Flandreau Indian School has been doing•depending on enrollment,

housing three to four students per room. Since the new dormitories

were built, the Flandreau Indian School has graduated 2,201

Indian students. From 1962 to 1969, 804 students graduated from

Flandreau Indian School. From 1970 to 1979, 964 students graduated from Flandreau Indian School. From 1980 to 1985, 433 students

graduated from Flandreau Indian School. This averages 95.7 students per graduating class. During a normal school year, the entire

student body•exclusive of seniors•is averaged to be approximately five times greater than the graduating class. This means that in

the past 23 years, there have been approximately 11,000 students

59-151 0-86-2
30

who completed the school year at the Flandreau Indian School who

have not been seniors.

If statistics is what impress people who make regulations, then

these statistics should impress somebody. These statistics are proof

that the Flandreau Indian School is doing something good and that

it is, and has been, providing Indian students with the opportunity

to get an education.

The Flandreau Indian School only asks for the opportunity to

continue to provide as many Indian students as possible with an

equal opportunity to get a good education. The only way the Flandreau Indian School will be able to provide that opportunity is if

the current dormitory space regulations are amended and existing

facilities such as the Flandreau Indian School are "grandfathered"

into compliance with those regulations.

Thank you.

Senator ABDNOR. MS. Krumm.

STATEMENT OF BERNITA KRUMM, FACULTY MEMBER,

FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL, FLANDREAU, SD

Ms. KRUMM. I am Bernita Krumm. I am a teacher here at the

Indian school.

For the past 6 years I have been a faculty member at the Flandreau Indian School, working on a daily basis with Indian youth in

both academic and social situations. As a parent myself, as well as

a taxpayer and educator, I am convinced that this school provides

an essential and requisite service: The education of our native

American youth.

Education is defined as the process by which people acquire

knowledge, skills, habits, values, or attitudes. Its two main purposes may be defined as helping students to become responsible

and useful members of society, and assisting them in developing an

appreciation of their cultural heritage. For over 100 years, Flandreau Indian School has provided an education such as this for

native Americans. That the school can continue to do so for the

number of students who desire to be educated here is now threatened by the implementation of the minimum academic standards

for the basic education of Indian children and national criteria for

dormitory situations.

In an October 1985 letter to Representative Tom Daschle, the

Acting Director of the Office of Indian Education Programs stated,

"The Bureau feels that overcrowding of dormitory accommodations

can be detrimental to the homeliving situation and study habits of

students." While the Bureau's concern over alleged "overcrowding"

may be admirable, it is misplaced. Since their construction by the

Bureau according to specifications in 1963, the dormitories currently in use at Flandreau have provided ample room for students.

Living space is adequate, and in many cases preferable to what students experience at home. It is particularly significant that even at

times when reduced school enrollment provides students with the

opportunity to have only one or two roommates, most choose to

remain in rooms of four.

School attendance is compulsory in every State, and it is the

duty of the Federal Government to ensure that all children are
31

granted equal educational opportunities. Speaking for the Bureau,

the Acting Director wrote, "It is not and has never been our intent

to close Flandreau Indian School," adding further that, "Optimally,

we want Indian students to have the advantages of other students."

Curtailing the student enrollment at Flandreau will not ensure

equal educational opportunities for Indian students, nor will it provide them with comparable advantages. Rather, it will deny many

the education that is their right and, in so doing, will virtually

eliminate the school.

On February 5, 1986, our third quarter new student enrollment

at Flandreau Indian School totaled 87 students. Many of these students were not in any school during the first semester; those who

were felt, for varying reasons, that they could not continue school

at home. These students are in school today because Flandreau offered them an alternative and an opportunity. Without that opportunity, with the enforcement of the standards as written, these 87

students•along with the more than 100 others who constitute

Flandreau's "excess"•would not be in school.

Quality education is the vehicle by which our youth can proudly

and effectively assume their roles in society as self-supporting and

self-respecting individuals. Flandreau Indian School provides this

quality education for native American students, and should be allowed to continue to do so. The answer is not to reduce our enrollment; rather, it is to assist us in maintaining the ability to provide

those services vital to the education of native American youth.

I ask, therefore, that the existing dormitory facilities at Flandreau Indian School be "grandfathered" into capability for continued usage, and I urge you to support the measures necessary to

enable Flandreau Indian School to maintain the present level of

service to Indian youth. Thank you.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you, Ms. Krumm. I think it would be

good if you would make the correspondence referred to a part of

the record, if you have it.

[Correspondence from Acting Director Theodore W. Sudia,

Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, follows:]
32

is' in PI V Kl I IK TO

Indian Education

BCCO »2708

United Stales Deparlmenl of the Interior

IIIIKI AHOI IMMAN \l I AIRS

wAsniNC ION. or. :o:45

Honorable Tom Daschle

House of Representatives

Washington, O.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Daschle:

Thank you for your letter of September 30, 1985 to George Scott,'regarding the

National Criteria for Dormitory Situations that was published In the Federa 1

Register on September 9, 1985, as a final rule.

In South Dakota, the Bureau funds seven dormitory facilities and all but

Flandreau Indian School have reported that they can meet the space requirements

under the dormitory criteria. Therefore, since your letter does not mention

the specific school, we assiane the problem Is with Flandreau.

The space and privacy criteria for Bureau dormitories requires an average of

50-70 square feet for each student. Flandreau Indian School has approximately

28,304 square feet of sleeping space. Using the lower average of 50 square

feet per student and the upper average of 70 square feet per student, this

could provide space for 566 and/or 404 students, respectively. In the last

four years, Handreau's Average Daily Membership (ADM) was 376, 485, 504, and

527; an average of 473. Based on the four-year student ADM, we do not forsee a

major problem with the dormitory space at Flandreau Indian School arising from

implementation of the dormitory criteria.

Public Law 95-561 required the Bureau to establish space and privacy criteria^

for residential students in Bureau schools. **

iii^a11 "mTn"

space requirements in the dormltory criteria, it was our intent and expectation that students would have

adequate space and privacy and that this would lead tflJLtqher.retention and

lower turn-over rates of students. WM

pafTrW^^^^^TneTniMieliving envTronSenir

At the maximum, each student could have free space of 50 square feet, with 20

square feet for furniture. However, certain modifications can be made to

existing circumstances to meet the space requirement, such as use of bunk beds.

'Normally, desks and wardrobes are shared and so would only be counted once for

space purposes.

Part 36, the Bureau Is required, within two years of

October 9, 1985, to review and evaluate the applicability of the dormitory

criteria and to make appropriate revisions. In addition, {36.76(f) requires

the Bureau to submit to Congress a budget for additional needs to bring

boarding schools up to the dormitory criteria.

We hope this adequately addresses your concerns. If we can be of further

assistance, please let us know.

Sincerely,

Acting Director, Office of

Indian Education Programs
33

United States Department of the Interior

HI'RI AUOr INDIAN ArFMRS

WASIIINC.TON. DC :o:45

IN RKPLY RblXR TO

Indian Education

BCCO #2767

N0V131985

Honorable Larry Pressler

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20S10

Dear Mr. Pressler:

Thank you for your October 9 letter concerning the national dormitory criteria

which addresses the square footage requirement for space and privacy in

sleeping quarters in Bureau of Indian Affairs funded schools.

Public Law 95-561 (Education Amendments of 1978) required the Bureau of Indian

Affairs to establish sjaco aml^prtvacy criteria for residential students in

Bureau funded schools;

In developTniJ CHI 5P8PP fMIllt'^fiHteiiTs TVOie dormitory criteria, it

was the Bureau's Intent and expectation that students would have adequate space

and privacy and that this would lead to higher retention and lower turn-over

rates of students.

The dormitory criteria (copy enclosed) does require an average of 50-70 square

feet, exclusive of furniture, of free space for residential students, but the

criteria does not limit the number of students per room to two. In fact. In

the last four years, Flandreau's Average Daily Membership (AOM) was 376, 485,

504, and 527 for an average of 473. To date, flandreau Indian Schools' enrollment is approximately 570 students. Flandreau Indian School, presently, has

28,304 square feet of sleeping space. Using the lower range of 50 square feet

per student and the upper range of 70 square feet per student, would provide

space for 566 and 404 students, respectively. The Bureau believes implementation of the criteria at Flandreau would permit housing for at least 500

students within the criteria and that with certain faci lity modifications, all

students can be accomnodated.

With regard to reducing the number of students to comply with the space

requirements, the Bureau predicts little or no reduction, and certainly not In

the magnitude of 50 percent. ^^^^ ,L___^___a!^__^^^^___

regulations also Include the provision under ^36.1(b) of 25 CFK Part 36 that

the Bureau will, within two years from the date of publication, review and

evaluate the applicability of the national dormitory criteria and make appropriate revisions. It will be during this period of time that the space and

privacy requirements will be reviewed for applicability.

I hope this information allays your concerns about the future of the Flandreau

School. If further information would be helpful, you may want to write

directly to the Director, Office of Indian Education Programs, Code 505 -Rm.

3515N., 18th & C Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20245.

Sincerely,

Enclosure

or, bfflcS^fff

cation Programs
34

Senator ABDNOR. I am going to urge people to try to summarize

as much as possible because I have a long list of witnesses, and I

have to be out of here after 3 hours of hearing. So, I urge you again

to summarize your written statements.

Ms. Cunningham.

STATEMENT OF BARBARA DEAN CUNNINGHAM, SUPERVISORY

GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL, FLANDREAU, SD

Ms. CUNNINGHAM. I am Barbara Dean Cunningham, supervisory

guidance counselor, GS-11, in charge of the Girl's Dormitory at the

Flandreau Indian School at Flandreau, SD.

Permit me to give you a little of my background. My grandparents, John and Marjorie Lamar Conroy, are products of BIA boarding schools. Marjorie Conroy attended Riverside Indian School in

Anadarko, OK, and graduated from the Chilocco Indian School,

Chilocco, OK. My grandfather, John, was a 1920 graduate of the

Flandreau Indian School; was the valedictorian of his class; and,

upon his retirement from the BIA, was superintendent of buildings

and utilities at Pine Ridge, SD. My parents, William and Vivian

Conroy Cunningham, are products of BIA boarding schools. My

mother, Vivian, graduated from Bacone Junior College, Muskogee,

OK. My father graduated from Haskell Institute and is currently a

facilities manager, GS-11, at the Riverside Indian School, Anadarko, OK. I am a product•and very proud of that fact•of a BIA

boarding school, Haskell Institute, class of 1970. As you may

gather, BIA boarding school education has been a major success

factor in my family. However, my background is not exclusive;

many of our current students have the same background.

We give our students not only a basic education, but a knowledge

of how to deal with life's realities and to understand and analyze

facts through deductive reasoning. The students, therefore, turn to

us as teachers, counselors, and surrogate parents for the answers to

their questions. The fact and reality of this situation is that the

Flandreau Indian School is not in compliance with the newly established boarding school standards. Here are a few questions I have

been asked within the last few months, for which I have no answers.

Who said I am uncomfortable because there isn't enough space

in the dorm?

Who came up with these magical numbers for space per student?

If the enrollment is cut, who will be denied admittance? And am

I not going to be allowed to return?

If I want to go to school here and I can't get along at home because of problems, and I can't come here because I'm not in the

right number, where am I going to go?

Who is denying me the right to an education, and why? Because

this is where I want to be.

Is this just another excuse to try and close the school because it

didn't happen 3 years ago?

What's going to happen to my brother and sister who want to go

to school here and might not be let in?
35

Why do education budgets get cut when all I've ever heard is

that an education is the only way to get ahead?

Instead of cutting enrollment, why can't they build us a bigger

school so more of us can go to school instead of being dropouts

going on welfare and Indian relief?

I've explained budget cuts, national deficit, and Federal regulations, but that does not satisfactorily answer the question of,

"What am I going to do?" I welcome any suggestion and/or answer

to this question because I am concerned about the future of my

people.

The final fact and reality: Without the Flandreau Indian School

and the limitations being placed upon it, many Indian young

people will not be given the opportunity for an education and the

chance to succeed in life, a sad fact and a tragic reality.

My last statement: If education is so expensive, what is the price

of ignorance?

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you for your fine statement.

Ms. Hansen.

STATEMENT OF LINDA HANSEN. FORMER STUDENT, FLANDREAU

INDIAN SCHOOL

Ms. HANSEN. My name is Linda Hansen and I'm a former student of Flandreau Indian School. I graduated in 1973. I attended

school here for 3 years; after graduation, I went on to vocational

school and got a practical nursing degree. I returned to Flandreau

because there was something like a void in my life; I guess it did so

much for me, I wanted to do for the other students what Flandreau

Indian School did for me.

But the point I want to make is that during the 3 years that I

attended the Flandreau Indian School, at one time, when I first

came, I had three other roommates, so there were four of us to a

room. Another time, I think there were three; another period, one;

then two. And in no way, shape, or form did it hinder my learning.

It didn't make any difference how many roommates I had; I was

still learning. I was able to learn. The number of people in my

room made no difference.

And basically, that's the purpose of the Indian schools, for us

Indian kids to get a good education, which I feel I did when I attended Flandreau Indian School. I didn't have any difficulty attending post-secondary education schools.

Like I said, it didn't make any difference how many roommates I

had. I was still learning, because the staff and the teachers taught

me and I was able to learn, regardless of how many people were in

my room.

[Statements of two additional employees of Flandreau Indian

School follow:]

STATEMENT OF CONNIE WENDELL

My name is Connie Wendell. I have taught English at Flandreau Indian School

since 1969. I taught in public school for seven years before that.

Since I started teaching here, the student body has changed. In the early seventies, the students chose Flandreau over other schools available on their reservations.

Now the students are here because of social reasons. Many are from only one parent

families. Some are too far from a school to attend regularly. In some instances, prej-
36

udice and its ramifications have made it difficult for students to attend public

schools.

I have taught in public school. These students need the education more than the

public school students. In a boarding school situation, the students have the opportunity to attend school. Indian students also get an education where they learn to

live in a white society. Most public school students can survive in their own environment, but Indians must learn to live in two cultures. To get the tools to survive,

they must have a chance for an education. Boarding schools such as Flandreau have

a excellent daily attendance records. As any educator can tell you, students are

learning in the classroom regardless if it seems they are or not. FIS students are

learning much more than academics. They are learning to get along, are learning

independence, and are learning social manners.

The square footage in the dormitory is an issue now. Families in the midwest are

accustomed to living together. Even though this is true, the scholastic scores in the

midwest are high. I would like to see the studies which prove that room size and

numbers of roommates affect a person's ability to get good grades. My own son and

daughter had separate rooms, but they did not have fifty square feet of floor space

exclusive of furniture. If a person' personnel "space" is the issue;, the colleges in the

United States are in trouble.

Many of our students have lived in rooms by themselves or with one roommate.

They dfid not like it because it was too lonely and boring. Indian students are friendly and like being with their peers. They want people around. They are more family

oriented than other cultures. Many of our Indian students are living with extended

families at home. If they were expected to have only one other person with them in

room, it would be alien to their lifestyle.

Many of the standards are good for Indian students, but there are no statistics to

prove that the dormitory standards will help the average Indian students' academic

achievement. Please grandfather all existing dormitories so that we can get on with

educating Indian students without this legislation threatening some of them without

an equal chance for an education. Thank you.

STATEMENT OF JOHN WENDELL

I am John Wendell, Supervisory Guidance Counselor Boys Dormitory, I have

worked here at Flandreau Indian School since 1969. After working with many students over the years, I can see that most of our students would not complete school

without being at Flandreau Indian School. Our school does more than give them a

place to finish high school. Our students learn to live with other people, learn independence, learn to make decisions for themselves, learn to socialize with others, and

learn to interact with students from other tribes and places. We have programs that

help them with some of the personal problems that they have such as: abuse, drinking, drugs, school work, and many other social problems.

Our students come from mostly large families and usually over half from broken

homes, or different types such as foster homes, group homes, or having lived with

relatives.

Many homes that our students come from do not have 50 square feet in the sleeping area for each person. Many of the homes of our staff, as well as others in town,

would not meet the 50 square feet per person in sleeping areas of their homes. I

believe our dormitories provide sufficient space and should be "grandfathered" into

compliance for the standards.

Senator ABDNOR. Well, thank you very, very much.

I want to thank our entire panel for your testimony and for the

evidence and statistics you have submitted for the record.

We are pleased now to call on Mr. William Janklow.

STATEMENT OF WILLIAM JANKLOW

Mr. JANKLOW. Good morning. Senator. Thank you very much for

the courtesy you have extended to me by giving me a few minutes'

opportunity to have a chance to visit with the committee.

I have had a rare opportunity this morning because normally,

when a Senator or a Governor or a Congressman attends a hearing,

invariably they move them right to the head of the line. And today

I have had a unique opportunity•because other people were sched-
37

uled•I have had a chance to listen to some students come up and

talk about their desire to continue going to school, which I think is

overly impressive.

Let us just take a minute•and I am going to be very brief this

morning•but let us take a minute to look at the situation with respect to types of schools, the types of environment, and the type of

living conditions that many of the students at the Flandreau

Indian School come from. We are talking about people who sometimes come from areas where drugs are more prevalent than a lot

of other places in American society. We are talking about a place

where hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars have been

spent to try and deal with alcoholism problems. We are talking

about students and young people•some of them come from areas

where 40 to 50 square feet per person to sleep is a luxury, because

they have an awful lot less than that.

We are talking about people that have a tremendously difficult

time in attending school on a regular basis because of transportation problems or family problems, or just overall truancy-type environmental concerns. We are talking about people that don t always

get an adequate nutritional diet so that they have the ability to go

to school and learn. We are talking about people that don't get a

good night's sleep, all too often, and•again•don't have the ability

to go to school and learn.

We are talking about young people whose dropout rate in education is virtually the highest in the Nation. We are talking about

young people who are the future Indian leaders of America, and I

think that is•honestly, absolutely•ludicrous that one would be

overly concerned about the size of the space available where these

students sleep, recognizing that the vast, vast majority of their

time is spent in social activities, spent in educational activities,

spent in athletic activities and classroom activities and the ability

to roam around this entire campus. We are not talking about

people that are locked into their rooms for a sustained period of

time so they could be too overcrowded.

You know, I think honestly it is the height of intellectual dishonesty to have my Government, the National Government, all of our

National Government use as a disguise the amount of square feet

of dormitory space to try and close a school.

I remember when I got out of the Marine Corps and visited with

Carl Mundt, Senator Mundt, over in Madison one day, as he was

introducing bill after bill to rebuilt this campus and to put the new

dormitories here and the new classroom facilities and the new

auditoriums, and his dream for making this an excellent institution that would really forge and assist in providing for the Indian

leadership of the future. And I think it is the height of intellectual

dishonesty to turn around and use the excuse of the amount of

square feet available to sleep as the disguise to close down this facility.

I won't analogize it to a prison situation, but I venture to say

that anybody that is drafted these rules has never served in the

Navy aboard a ship and known how much room there is to sleep on

a Navy ship. I venture to say none of them have ever been in boot

camp. I venture to say none of them have ever been in the Marine

Corps. I venture to say very few of them have ever been in the
38

Army, because if they were they would find out that there is a lot

less space available for a lot of those people than there is when

we're talking about this type of facility.

In the final analysis, we are really talking about an institution

that the Government built to Government standards; and now the

Government is coming in and saying, "We are going to use our inability to have done it right to cause these young people problems."

I spent 7 years living on the Rosebud Indian Reservation after I got

out of law school, and I spent many years of my life here in the

Flandreau community. And I have never, ever, ever seen a situation where you found Indian young people who came and asked•

and literally have had to beg•for the opportunity to continue to go

to school.

I listened to a young lady here this morning who by any reasonable measure that you want to apply•a solo mother, a single

parent, a young lady with a young child•talked about the fact

that she is too old to get into the normal school environment. She

is a lady who has been dedicated to spending her life on welfare

and public assistance, who has been given an opportunity because

of the resources and the facilities that are available at this institution.

And the final thing I will say is this. I find it absolutely incredible, the callous disregard that I find at the national level in the

bureaucratic offices•and I am not talking about the legislative

branch; I am talking about the executive branch•that would make

decisions that could thrust these people back to the environment

from whence they came, where they and their families don't want

them to go, so they can become lifelong problems in terms of not

having an adequate education, in terms of having alcoholism problems, in terms of living in a place where there is nothing to do and

no education as well as academic as well as occupational environment that they can use to develop their personal well-being.

This school has stood for quality education and opportunity for

young Indian people for decades. And to now come through with

these types of regulations is ludicrous, and I would really ask the

Senator to please use the good graces that you have back in the

Senate•not to pass a resolution; not to compel the administrative

offices to make a temporary decision to keep this school open•but

to pass legislation that mandates and says that the Flandreau

Indian School shall be maintained and continue to provide educational opportunity for young Indians as long as there are young

Indian people and their families who desire to have them come

here and attend this institution so they can be part of America's

future instead of part of America's problems.

Thank you very much.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you very much for that fine statement.

We have another witness who has, I think, another appointment

that he just has to keep. Mr. William Ellingson? I am going to

move him up in the order of testimony today.
39

STATEMENT OF WILLIAM ELLINGSON. ATTORNEY. FLANDREAU,

SD

Mr. ELLINGSON. Good morning, Senator, other members of the

panel. I, too, want to thank you for coming to Flandreau today.

I am Bill Ellingson, an attorney in Flandreau. I have been practicing here for 10 years. I have served 8 of those years as State's

attorney or prosecuting attorney; the last 12 or 14 months I have

been serving as a private attorney. And I want to draw upon that

experience to share with you today the importance that I feel that

this institution•and, for example, the Indian school in Wahpeton,

ND•serves for the Indian students.

Let me draw upon my last, most recent experience. I was courtappointed to represent an Indian boy who was, I would say, in the

middle school grades, maybe the 7th grade, from the Flandreau

area, attending the public school system. Recently•last fall•I was

appointed to represent him on a petition that was of a nature of a

child that needed supervision. In other words, this boy was not a

juvenile delinquent; he had not violated any laws, but he was in

need of supervision because he did not have the supervision at

home to get him out of bed in the morning and get him to school.

He was a truant. Because he was not attending school, he was failing.

I worked with this boy and tried to find and discover and analyze

all of the opportunities that might be available to this boy, including staying at home and trying to work it out in this area. One of

the opportunities available to this boy was the Wahpeton Grade

School in Wahpeton, ND. As it turns out, he enrolled at Wahpeton;

and I have talked to him since and I have talked to the school administrators up there, and he is doing very well.

Just to give you an example, I saw his report card for the first

few weeks of school here at the public schools. He was getting an A

in spelling, and I think we all realized that there's a natural ability

there if he was getting an A in spelling. But as the weeks progressed and as he missed more school, he was flunking. Now, he is

doing very well in Wahpeton.

Both Indian and non-Indian students alike have a problem with

truancy if they are not getting the supervision at home. This can

happen. They can start failing in school. They can become dropouts

and they can become dependent upon society. Obviously, the nonIndian students•as well as the Indian students•who get into this

problem, there are other placements that can be made for them.

But the Indian school students•so far, anyway•still have the opportunities of the Wahpeton School and the Flandreau Indian

School where they can be placed on a boarding school basis if the

situation at home is not adequate to keep them in school.

That is just one example that I want to cite to you, drawing upon

my experience, that I have found that opportunity very, very valuable. And with the regulations that have been adopted and are

about to be implemented, it is going to deny up to 300 students the

opportunity here at Flandreau Indian School. I think it is ironic

that on one hand, as I read some of the testimony offered by Dr.

James Martin, it is ironic that it opens with the statement to the

effect that the act of November 1, 1978, talks about establishing
40

academic standards and criteria for dormitory situations for boarding schools for Indian students.

They are talking about planning for the future of these Indian

school students in 1978. It is ironic, the number of schools that

have closed since that time; it is ironic, the very strong effort that

was made to close the Wahpeton schools and the Flandreau Indian

School back in 1982. It is more than ironic; I tink it says a lot

about the attitude of the administration. I think that attitude is

that there are other opportunities just as good on the reservation

as there are on the off-reservation schools. But I adamantly deny

that. I think they are living with a falsehood.

There are not the opportunities on the reservation that there are

in the off-reservation schools. They are denying the opportunities

to these students by restricting the enrollment here at the Flandreau Indian School. They are doing so without the input from the

students themselves, from the alumni, and from the parents and

from the school board of this institution. And as I mentioned, I

think that says a lot about the attitude of this administration.

I want to close. Senator, by relating to you very briefly•my

family and I, my wife and two daughters, ages 5 and 10, crossed the

State of South Dakota last summer and toured the beautiful Black

Hills. On the way out there we stopped in the Badlands. We

stopped the car at the southern edge of the Badlands and we

looked off to the south, and I stopped and reflected for a minute,

and I commented to my family, "You know, we are looking over

part of the Indian reservations of South Dakota." And that was

some of the most desolate country that I have seen.

I haven't been all over this country, but the Badlands of South

Dakota are desolate. You know, that says a lot about the attitude

of our Government toward Indian people. I said, "Kids, I have to

admit I am ashamed by what has happened in the past. We are not

personally responsible for that; developments that occurred over

125 years ago led to this, but I am ashamed."

One thing about it. Senator, we are going to have to be careful so

that we do not reflect•10 years from now•back and think to ourselves, "We were personally responsible, and we are now ashamed

of what we didn't do when we could have." So if there is any message•aside from the regulation that we are dealing with here

today•if there is any message you can take back to Washington,

both to the Congress but more importantly to the administration,

that is that Indian people and non-Indian people alike are not

going to sit back and see this administration erode away and shirk

the responsibilities that it has under the trust laws and the treaties

that we have with Indian people. Primarily, Indian people bargained away a lot; but they included in there the responsibility of

our Government for Indian education, and we cannot shirk that responsibility. Otherwise, we will be very ashamed of ourselves.

Thank you.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you, Mr. Ellingson.

We have next Dr. James Martin, who is the Assistant Director

for Education in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the

Interior, who is accompanied by Jack Belkham.

Dr. Martin came all the way out from Washington; we are glad

to have you here today.
41

STATEMENT OF JAMES MARTIN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, OFFICE

OF INDIAN EDUCATION PROGRAMS, BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, ACCOMPANIED BY JACK BELKHAM, SUPERINTENDENT,

FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL; HARRY EAGLE BULL, AREA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR, ABERDEEN, SD; AND

LEROY CHIEF, SUPERINTENDENT, WAHPETON SCHOOL, ND

Mr. MARTIN. I am glad to be here. I hope you can understand my

voice; I have a little bit of a cold.

I would like to introduce, on my far right, Harry Eagle Bull, who

is the area educational program administrator in Aberdeen, to my

immediate right is Jack Belkham, superintendent here at Flandreau; and to my left is Leroy Chief, superintendent at Wahpeton.

I believe that my statement has been submitted for the record. I

would only like to add a statement or two here, and then we four

would be glad to answer any questions that you might have.

It is a fact that Public Law 95-561, passed in 1978, did require

the Bureau to implement and devise several sets of regulations,

and the academic and dorm standards are only one set. The statute

did, in fact, require space and privacy, verbatim. I have known the

various task groups that have worked over the last 5 or 6 years to

get these standards done. They were all well-meaning people and

they thought they were putting together some square footages,

when it actually came down to that, which were reasonable.

Now, as these have been put forth as final, and as we start a

long process of implementation, the Bureau and my office have

been well aware of the fact that we're to look at these and to revise

them to fit the need as they exist within our schools. So I cannot

come to you and say that this is a hard and fast decision made by

the Bureau, that there is no room to make exceptions or to take a

look at things.

I would also like to state that until all the data is in and we have

reviewed all the compliance reports from all 187 of our schools, we

are really not in a position to say that we're going to take action

against Flandreau or Wahpeton or any other school.

So with those comments, I'll be glad to try to answer any questions that you have.

[Mr. Martin's prepared statement follows:]
42

STATEMENT OF OR. JAMES MARTIN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF INDIAN EDUCATION

PROGRAMS, BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, IN FLANDREAU, SOUTH DAKOTA, BEFORE THE

HEARING OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, UNITED STATES SENATE, ON

IMPLEMENTATION OF DORMITORY STANDARDS ON THE FLANDREAU AND WAHPETON INDIAN

SCHOOLS.

FEBRUARY 10, 1936

Good morning Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee. My name is

James Martin, I am the Assistant Director, in the Office of Indian Education

Programs. Thank you very much for the opportunity to discuss with you the

application of dormitory standards to the Flandreau and Wahpeton Indian

Schools.

The Act of November 1, 1978 requires the Secretary of the Interior to

establish academic standards for the basic education of Indian children in

Bureau of Indian Affairs' schools and national criteria for dormitory

situations. This task took several years to accomplish but after numerous

reviews and drafts, the Minimum Academic Standards for the Basic Education of

Indian Children and National Criteria for Dormitory Situations were published

as proposed regulations on March 23, 1983.

The proposed regulations reflected State and national accrediting

association formats and followed the standard terminology used by the

National Center for Education Statistics. The regulations were divided into

several subparts: Subpart A contained general provisions applicable to both

the academic standards and the dormitory criteria. Subparts B tnrough G

consisted of the minimum academic standards for the basic education of Indian

children. These subparts provided for the programs of studies, the

requirement for grade completion and graduation, the requirements applicable

to instructional support functions, the evaluation of the impact of the

established educational standards, and the requirements for compliance with

the standards by all schools within the Bureau of Indian Affairs education

system. Subpart H contained the national dormitory criteria and provided for
43

a home living guidance prograai, residential staff-student ratios, space and

privacy requirements, and compliance requirements.

Since the hearing Is more specific to the dormitory criteria,

particularly the "space and privacy" requirements, I will

specifically address these particular concerns.

Tne proposed regulations that were published for comment on March 23,

1983, contained the following "space and privacy" requirements for dormitory

programs. For grades 1-8 dormitory facilities, a space footage varying from

50 to 65 square feet per student would be allowed for sleeping rooms,

exclusive of furniture (wardrobe, desks, beds, etc.). Dormitories serving

grades 9-12 would require sleeping room space of no less than 70 square feet

per student.

During the comment period, seven com.ienters agreed with the proposed 50

to 65 square feet per elementary student requirement, exclusive of furniture,

but pointed out that current facilities would not allow continuation of the

current enrollment levels. In response, the regulations were changed from

the proposed "varying from 50 to 65 square feet" to "averaging from 40 to 60

square feet".

Twelve commenters stated that the proposed 73 square feet requirement

was unrealistic for current facilities, but that it should be used, in a

modified form. In the construction of new dormitories. In response, the rule

was changed from "70 square feet" to "averaging from 50 to 70 square feet",

exclusive of furniture.

On September 9, 1^85, the regulations were published as final.
44

In order to develop a plan for the implementation of the regulations, on

October 3, 1985, all school and dormitory administrators were directed to

submit a report as to the status of their compliance with the regulations. On

December 26, 1985, we received a compliance report from tne administrator of

Flandreau Indian School. The report indicated that Flandreau would not be

able to meet the "minimum on-duty paraprofessional staff/student ratio" and

the "50-70 square feet" requirement for space and privacy for each

residential student. A team is currently being selected to conduct an

on-site review of the school to verify the report and provide assistance for

identifying an appropriate course of action to achieve compliance. We expect

to complete the review by the end of February. Until a complete review is

conducted and all options have been reviewed with the school, we do not know

what actions will be taken. Therefore, at this time there are no plans to

close, consolidate or significantly alter the school because of the

implementation of dormitory standards. We do not have sufficient information

to make any judgitients at this time.

The development of the space and privacy criteria was based on research

studies that show that there is a strong relationship between delinquency

(which include drop-out rates) and housing density. The lack of privacy can

negatively affect students and overcrowding of dormitory accommodations can

be detrimental to the homeliving situations and study nabits of students.

The enrollment at Flandreau Indian School this year has dropped froni 633

students enrolled in September to 426 students on January 21, 1986. We are

concerned that a density factor could contribute to this low retention rate.

It is our Intenc for students to have adequate space and privacy, which we

hope will lead to higher retention at all our boarding and dormitory

facilities.

On December 26, 1985, we received a compliance report from the

administrator of Wahpeton Indian School. The report indicated that they were

in compliance with the "space and privacy" requirement.

This concludes my prepared statement and I will be pleased to answer any

questions that the Committee may have.
45

Senator ABDNOR. Let me ask you, when do you think that report

or whatever you are looking at will be issued?

Mr. MARTIN. I don't know the answer to that. I do know that for

Flandreau's case, we will have a validation team, if you will, out

here within the next week or two. And the dormitory situations,

we are going to have about 80 of those across the total system. The

preliminary data is that we may have some problems in about 9 or

10 of them, so those are the ones that we are going to focus on,

those 9 or 10. So I would hope that within the first part of April we

would have some kind of report for you.

Senator ABDNOR. I think the atmosphere here•"big brother"

moving in from Washington and telling us the school should not be

kept open because•we have been kicking this around for a long

time. I guess I am pretty prejudiced, and even more so today after

hearing these witnesses. I think you heard from these young

people, their strong feelings on the dorm. They told us they have

the same conditions or better than they have at home.

Do you have any statements, fellows?

Mr. MARTIN. NO, they don't.

Senator ABDNOR. Is there anything we should add that you want

to say for the record?

Mr. BELKHAM. Senator, I just might add to what the students

have said here, and to what the people have testified earlier, that

space has not been a problem here in our opinion at the Flandreau

Indian School. And we don't feel it will be a problem in the future

if they see reasons to "grandfather" in the existing facility. Obviously, we will have a problem if we have to go with the current

square footage requirement; it will, in fact, cut our enrollment

drastically and will take away the opportunity for many of these

young students to complete their high school education.

It has also been stated that many of these students would not go

on to high school. And those that leave us•and they leave us for a

number of reasons•many of them do not go on to high school.

Many of them do apply and are reaccepted back, and the second

time they come to us are successful.

So I guess the point is, Senator, that we feel like we are doing a

good job, but we want the opportunity to continue to do the same

good job at the same level that we are currently working at. Thank

you.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you. Jack. You have been around here,

and you know. I think you touched on this. Do you really feel that

they are overdoing these space requirements?

Mr. BELKHAM. Yes, sir, I do. That is my opinion.

Senator ABDNOR. I think it is important to distinguish•let me

state this on the record•some people would like to drive a Cadillac

instead of a Chevrolet because they are happy with it, it does the

job, and it is a pretty nice car. And I kind of feel that way about

this situation. I just shake my head and think that on the one hand

we are telling people we have got to cut down on spending, and

then other people come in here and say we have got to expand everything and make it bigger and better.

Have you had any complaints?

Mr. BELKHAM. NO, sir, I haven't. We have looked into this•especially after this law has been proposed and will go into effect•as
46

we see it now, it will go into effect in the fall of 1986 unless something is changed. But we feel we will have to be in compliance with

the regulation for dormitory space in the fall of 1986. In fact, we

have a memo from the central office saying that we should be in

compliance by the fall of 1986. Mr. Martin has indicated that perhaps that won't be the case, but we will need to have that memo

rescinded before we get out from under the gun in the fall of 1986.

And also, as was stated earlier, these are sleeping rooms. There

is very much space available to these young people around the

campus; not only within the dormitory, but in the canteen and

within the gymnasiums and this nice auditorium that we are in

here, currently.

Senator ABDNOR. It has been brought to my attention that

schools that did not try to get into compliance•on swimming

pools•had 2 years to do so.

Mr. BELKHAM. From when? Maybe Mr. Martin could address that

part of it. We have the understanding currently that we have to be

in compliance by the fall of 1986.

Senator ABDNOR. Would you care to comment on that?

Mr. MARTIN. Well, I am aware that the regulations, as they currently are, do have to be revised and amended within a 2-year

period of time. But as far as implementation, as far as I know, my

office is looking toward this goal. But as with many things in the

Bureau, when you are talking about change, you have got to look

at phasing in things. And I really haven't held Harry or Jack or

Leroy, here, personally accountable for them being unable to meet

these at the current time.

Senator ABDNOR. I appreciate those remarks. I appreciate the responsibility you have, but we get a different signal here.

Does anyone care to step up and make a statement? Leroy Chief?

Mr. CHIEF. Thank you. Senator. Just a comment I would like to

make. In the enrollment of the Flandreau Indian School, we have

roughly 35 to 40 percent of the students that have left my school;

and Flandreau being a bit bigger or larger school than Wahpeton,

an opinion I would share with you is that if Jack was to continue

or follow through with the curtailing enrollment to roughly half of

his current enrollment, I would see some difficulty for some of the

students that leave my school. The difficulty would probably be in

being denied enrollment. The probability of some of my students

getting here would be diminished. And that is probably one area I

would have concern on. Based on that, I had responded originally

to the bill when it was in the proposal stages, that being that our

schools were already in existence, they were constructed under different standards, our facilities should be grandfathered in with the

current enrollment capabilities. Thank you.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you. Your standards compliance is

pretty well in hand at Wahpeton?

Mr. CHIEF. I am not greatly affected by this because of the differences in the square footage for grade school kids versus high school

kids.

Senator ABDNOR. YOU are very concerned about the effect of the

closing here at Flandreau and what it would have for you?

Mr. CHIEF. I have some concerns on it, yes, sir.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you very much, Mr. Chief.
47

I don't want to shut anyone off if you have anything you want to

say. Mr. Eagle Bull?

Mr. EAGLE BULL. Thank you. We, of course, are quite concerned

about the effects of any standards, whether it is these or any

others down the road, as it affects any school within the Aberdeen

area. And we have been working reed close with these two schools

and the other schools that are under our office, and we do share

the same concerns that you have heard this morning from both Mr.

Belkham and Mr. Chief and all the students that did testify.

We have looked at the compliance report as it was submitted by

the school and are awaiting the validation team as it comes out to

the two schools in question here. And we believe that any time we

curtail any opportunities for any education, whether it be for the

Indian student or any other student, we are curtailing our own

future. And we are concerned that whatever comes out of the final

results of the review team, that we do take into serious consideration the existence of the school as it has been operating. We work

quite closely with this school and believe that it can continue to

operate on the same lines that it has been for a number of years.

And I think that anyone that takes the time to go through the dormitories and go through the entire campus will see the variety of

space utilization and the opportunities that we do have that the

students can and do make use of.

So I see it as a thing that we need to look at very carefully, that

we take into consideration all aspects of this educational program

and not just focus in on one small part of the operation. Thank

you.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you.

Let me ask you•in the event that something turns out to be out

of compliance on the space requirement, what do you think the

BIA would do? Do you think they would go down and try to force

them to close?

Mr. EAGLE BULL. Well, it depends on when they decide whether

we are or are not in compliance. If you look at the regulations, it is

like Dr. Martin said; it will be looked at this fall. But if we get a

reprieve for 2 years, 3 years down the road, I think that that reprieve is fine but I would hope that we would have our game plan

laid out so that we don't wait until the 2 years have elapsed and

then start thinking about what we are going to do. Because when

you run a school and when you cut enrollment or you add enrollment, you have a lot of other adjustments that you need to make;

and in the system we operate, those adjustments don't come very

fast and they don't come very easy. There's some leadtime needed,

either one way or the other.

Senator ABDNOR. Well, the more I come here, the more convinced

I am that this is one of the most stupid things I have ever seen

carried out, on the basis of what I have seen. I can't believe, when I

look at the dormitories•that of all people•the Federal Government is crying about all the things that are wrong and all the

heavy expenditures. When you have something that is working,

why try to fix it? That is all I can say. You have been around these

kids and you have seen them come in. What would you say•what

percent of our enrollment here actually has far better lives here

than they probably do in their homes? The living conditions; I am
48

not discussing families. The bedrooms they have, the food they eat,

and all that goes with it.

Mr. CHIEF. Well, I think many of our students here come to any

of our schools•I am sure that the facilities that they see and that

we are able to provide for them at the schools are, in many cases,

unfortunately, much better than they have at home.

Senator ABDNOR. What do you think the school means to these

kids? Maybe you are not the one I should ask, but don't they walk

out of here after an education far more mature, better equipped to

live in this world than they were before they came in?

Mr. CHIEF. Well, perhaps Mr. Belkham might be able to answer

that better than I can, but I would like to comment that anytime

you look at a school, an off-reservation boarding school where you

have students come into the school, for some of these students it is

a last effort for them. It is a last opportunity for them. And I think

we need to make sure that once the students get on campus, we are

prepared the best we can to help make that last effort a successful

one for them.

Senator ABDNOR. Mr. Belkham, would you care•I would like

your thoughts on that. Where would these kids•what will happen

to these kids if this school is closed?

Mr. BELKHAM. Well, I can tell you from the students that we

have lost. After they leave Flandreau for whatever reason, 9 times

out of 10 they contact us by telephone or by letter stating that they

are home and they are not doing anything, and they regret having

left Flandreau. And as I mentioned earlier, many of those reapply

and do come back. It is, in very many cases, the last opportunity

for these young people to obtain that high school education.

And as what has been stated earlier, it is the name of the game

for Indian people; to be successful citizens within the dominant society, education is the key. It means very much. Senator, very

much.

Senator ABDNOR. I couldn't agree more with you.

Mr. BELKHAM. We appreciate your efforts. Senator.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you all very much.

Our next witness is Cynthia Kipp, president of the Flandreau

School Board.

STATEMENT OF CYNTHIA C. KIPP, PRESIDENT, FLANDREAU

SCHOOL BOARD

Ms. KIPP. Good morning, Hon. Senator Abdnor, FIS staff, students, everyone, ladies and gentlemen. I am Cynthia Kipp, Blackfeet, chairman of the Flandreau Indian School Board, mother of 9

children and 19 grandchildren.

Thank you for responding so quickly to our cry for help. Senator,

in regards to the dormitory criteria. I have here 75 letters of testimony from parents and alumni from the Blackfeet Nation.* I have

also have here•that I would like to draw your attention to•Flandreau Indian School had a meeting after the regulations came out

in September, and we drafted a resolution. I won't read all of the

resolution, but upon hearing the testimony that you have heard

'Retained in the committee's files.
49

here this morning, I would like to state that our students are not

in their sleeping rooms for extended periods of time. The students

have 1,854 square feet of living room space. In addition, in the

basement they have hobby shops and activity rooms; they have

5,255 square feet. They also have a spacious dining room where

their meals are served. They have a large student center complex,

two gymnasiums, and an auditorium where they have various activities, including movies on the weekends. The academic building

library is open some evenings and all weekends for the students.

The entire campus has been designed around the 600-student capacity, and the Flandreau Indian School Board emphatically states

that the sleeping quarters now existent are more than adequate for

our students.

I also have testimony here from Earl Old Person to the Senate

Select Committee, and Mr. Old Person states that the Indian

people must remain united in their efforts to maintain and enhance the educational opportunities for Indian youth. The Blackfeet Tribe is committed to such a policy and stands ready to offer

whatever assistance is necessary to further said educational opportunities here at Flandreau Indian School.

I also have a letter here from Tom Thompson, who is on the task

force for the State of Montana Educational Board, and he is very

concerned because, like on every reservation throughout the entire

United States of America, reservations such as they are, we know

that there isn't enough space in the public schools now on reservations were Flandreau's enrollment to be cut in half, knowing that

the other off-reservation boarding schools have been closed.

Tom Thompson says that:

As you are aware, several Blackfeet and other Montana Indian students currently

attend Flandreau. Browning Public Schools enroll approximately 1,400 elementary

students and 430 high school students. We are severely crowded at the elementary

level. Two second grade classes are currently at the Junior High School. Another

class is housed in the Mormon Church. In addition, we are now attempting to rent

five classrooms at the Catholic Church. The high school situation is even more critical; Browning high school was built for a maximum capacity of 350 students.

We are housing students in two sheds, two apartments, and a central kitchen facility, all of which are ill-suited to learning. In three to four years we expect a high

school enrollment of approximately 600. As you know, we have virtually no means

to generate construction funds. We are currently awaiting the final scores for our

Public Law 81-815 applications, however. In short, added students from Flandreau

would further complicate our already-crowded campus. If I might be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to call. Sincerely, Tom Thompson.

I am sure that all the other reservations are faced with this

same dilemma, that the public schools on the reservations could

not and would not be able to house students who would not be able

to come here to Flandreau if the enrollment is cut in half.

I also have here a resolution from the Blackfeet Tribal Nation

supporting the Flandreau School Board resolution.

There are resolutions from the National Indian Education Association, National Tribal Chairmen's Association, and the Off-Reservation Boarding School Association.*

Flandreau is a fully accredited high school. Flandreau is proud of

its former graduates. Flandreau has graduated Indian students

'Retained in the committee's files.
50

who have gone into every walk of life•business administrators,

health administrators, doctors of education, school teachers, architects, lawyers, nurses, dental technicians, secretaries, carpenters,

masons, electricians, and plumbers. Flandreau has a fine curriculum. We are proud of our Solo Parent Program. We have initiated

drug and alcohol abuse programs here.

Flandreau Indian School has requested additional dormitory

space, and to date we have not heard whether we•we haven't even

been advised•we haven't even been graced with a letter from our

resolution and the request, asking for additional space for dormitories.

[Material referred to by Ms. Kipp follows:]
51

October 4, 1985

Re: Minimum Academic Standards

Dear

It has come to the attention of the Blackfeet Tribal

Business Council that new minimum academic standards in the

above area of Indian education have recently been published

in the Federal Register as 25 CFR Part 36. This matter

comes to the attention of the Blackfeet Tribal Business

Council because a significant number of Blackfeet students

attending Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota are

directly and adversely impacted by the final rule as it

appears in 25 CFR Part 36.

Ms. Cynthia Kipp, Chairperson of the School Board of

Flandreau Indian High School and an enrolled member of the

Balckfeet Tribe, has advised the Blackfeet Tribal Business

Council that the Flandreau Indian School Board, by duly

passed resolution, is requesting a waiver from the

application of the final rule and a grandfather clause which

will allow Flandreau Indian High School time to comply with

the final rule under Subpart H and Section 36.76.

The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council fully and

unequivocally supports the position of the Flandreau Indian

School Board in its efforts to obtain a waiver from the

compliance provisions of 25 CFR Part 36. Many members of

the Blackfeet Tribe have been educated at Flandreau Indian

High School. Its continued ability to particpate in the

educational development of tribal members is of paramount

importance to the Blackfeet Tribe as well as the other

Indian Tribes whose members attend Flandreau Indian High

School.

The Indian people must remain united in the efforts to

maintain and enhance the educational opportunities for

Indian youth. The Blackfeet Tribe is committed to such a

policy and stands ready to offer whatever assistance is

necessary to further said educational opportunities.

Thank you very much for your time and efforts in resolving

this matter.

Sincerely, ...-.

EARL OLD PERSON, Chairman

Blackfeet Tribal Business Council
52

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 9

jDzowninq, dvyontana 59417

February 7, 1986

Mrs. Cynthia C. Kipp, President

Flandreau Indian School Board

Flandreau Indian School

Flandreau, South Dakota 57028

Dear Cynthia:

Thank you for informing me of the proposed B.I.A. regulations which could

severely reduce the enrollment at Flandreau Indian School.

As you are aware, several Blackfeet and other Montana Indian students currently

attend Flandreau.

browning Public Schools enroll approximately 1,400 elementary students and 430

High School students.

We are severely crowded at the elementary level. Two second grade classes are

currently at the Junior High School. Another class is housed in the Mormon

Church. In addition, we are now attempting to rent five classrooms at the

Catholic Church.

The High School situation is even more critical. Browning High School was

built for a maximum capacity of 350.

We are housing students (classes) in two sheds, two apartments, and a central

kitchen facility, all of which are ill-suited to learning.

In three to four years we expect a High School enrollment of approximately

600!

As you know, we have virtually no means to generate construction funds.

We are currently waiting for final scores for our P.L. 81-815 applications,

however.
Mrs. Oynthli C. Klpp

Februjry 7. 1986

Pag* 2 of 2

In short, added studtnts fro* Flandruu would further conplicat* our already

crowded campus.

If I might be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to call.

Slpcauly,

Tom Thompson

Superintendent

bl

cc: Board of Trustees

L. Cornish

P. Hi 11 lams

J. Melctier

M. Baucus

R. Marltnee
54

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

EAtl OLD PEKON. CHAIRMAN

JOHN BUSTER- VEUOW KIDKEf VICE-CHAIRMAN

MVRNA i CA18REATH. MCBETARV

BLACKFEET NATION

P.O. BOX 850

BROWNING, MONTANA 59417

(406)338-7179

RESOLUTION

TniBAL COUflClt.

EAM OLD PERSON

K)HN"SUSTER ytllOWKIDNEV

MTRNA | CALBREATH

ROLAND F KENNERLT

JOE J MCKAT

ARTHUR MUI

LEONARD J MOUNTAIN CHIEF

CARL KIPP JR

TOM TAIL FEATHERS

NUMBER : 100-86

WHEREAS: The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council is the duly constituted governing

body within the exterior boundaries of the Blackfeet Indian Nation; and

WHEREAS: The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council has been organized to represent,

develop, protect, and advance the views, interests, education, and

resources of the Blackfeet Indian Nation; and

WHEREAS: Ms. Cynthia Kipp, President of the Flandreau Indian School Board, has

presented F.I.S. Resolution No. 8503 wherein the Flandreau Indian School

Board urges the adoption of a Grandfather Clause exempting existing

facilities from newly enacted regulations concerning the Minimum Academic Standards for the Basic Education of Indian Children and National

Criteria for Dormitory Situations, 25 CFR, Part 36, Sub-part H., 35.75

and 36.76; and

WHEREAS: Flandreau Indian Scnool presently has sleeping quarters for the 600

student capacity which is more than adequate for the student pooulation

and that said students also have access to an entire campus designed

around the student caoacity. which includes areas for hobby shops,

activity rooms, dining room, student center complex, two gymnasiums.

an auditorium, and an academic building library; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council does hereby

endorse and support the aacption of a Grandfather Clause to 25 CFR,

Part 36, exempting existing facilities from said regulations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council strongly

urges the immediate adoption o* said Grandfather Clause on behalf of

the Blackfeet Tribal members presently attending the Flandreau Indian

School and all Indian students who otherwise would be denied educational

opportunities as such that are provided at the Flandreau Indian School.

ATTEST: THE BLACKFEET TRIBE OF THE

BLACKFEET INDIAN NATION

C^Q^'^iurf^vA^

Tom TaiIfeathers, Acting Secretary Earl Old Per^off, Chairman

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the Blackfeet Tribal

Business Council during a duly called, noticed, and convened Regular Session held

the 6th day of February, 1986, with Nine(9) members present to constitute a quorum

and by a vote of Nine (9) For and None (0) Oppqj

Tom Tailfeathers, Acting Secretary

Blackfeet Tribal Business Council
55

FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL BOARD

FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL

FLANDREAU, SOUTH DAKOTA

RESOLUTION NO 85-3

WHEREAS, the Flandreau Indian School Board respectfully draws to

the attention of the Secretary of Interior, Donald P. Hodel, at

this time of mounting budget deficits for our Nation, we believe

it is of the utmost importance that the newly enacted regulations

concerning the Minimum Academic Standards for the Basic Education

of Indian Children and National Criteria for Dormitory Situations,

25 C F.R., Part 36, Sub-part H., 35.75 & 36.76, that a Grandfather

Clause stating that existing facilities be exempt from the regulations. Without the implementation of our requested Granfather

.Clause, thi^s excellent educational opportunity will be denied to

many of our young Indian students, and;

WHEREAS our students are not in their sleeping rooms for extended

periods of time. Within the dormitories, the students have 1,854

square feet of living room space. In addition, in the basements,

they have hobby shops and activity rooms that have 5,255 square

feet. They also have a spacious dining room where their meals are

served. They have a large student center complex, two gymnasiums

and an auditorium where they have various activities including

movies on the weekends. The Academic Building Library is open

some evenings and all weekends for the students. The entire campus

has been designed around the 600 student capacity, and;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Flandreau Indian School Board

emphatically states that the sleeping quarters now in existence are

more than adequate for our student population.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to

each Tribe whose students are represented at Flandreau Indian School

to request their support by contacting their various Congressional

delegations to request that a Grandfather Clause be inserted into

the new regulations stating that existing facilities be exempt from

the regulations,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted

to the Senate Select Eonmlttee 'on Indian Affairs; the House Committee

on Interior and Insular Affairs; the Education and Labor Committee;

the National Congress of American Indians; the National Tribal Chairmen's Association to request their active support on behalf ol the

Flandreau Indian School.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be immediately

transmitted to Donald P. Hodel, Secretary of Interior; Ross Swimmer,

Assistant Secretary of Interior on Indian Affaire.

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly

presented and enacted upon at by a vote of 5 for and 0 against

at the Flandreau Indian School Board Meeting held on September 23,

1985, with a quorum present.

Verna E.Nlgod, Vice/resident

Flandreau IrStiaa-Scfiool Board
56

Ms. KIPP. This gentleman I have here is Mr. Tom Tail Feathers,

a former graduate of Flandreau Indian School and a member of

our Blackfeet Tribal Business Council.

Senator ABDNOR. Let me ask you, do you feel you need additional

dormitory space for your students?

Ms. KIPP. Yes, I think it would be nice, but what we are asking•

the asking now is to grandfather clause our existing dormitories.

Senator ABDNOR. Yes, I realize that, but I thought I heard you

say

Ms. Kipp. We did request additional space in which to be in compliance in the next 2 years.

Senator ABDNOR. YOU are doing this to be in compliance? You

feel that the school is adequate, and all this, but

Ms. KIPP. Yes, I think that our school is more them adequate.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you.

Ms. KIPP. But I thought I would just make you aware of that.

Senator.

Senator ABDNOR. Mr. Thompson's material has been submitted

for the record?

Ms. KIPP. Yes.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you.

STATEMENT OF TOM TAIL FEATHERS, MEMBER, BLACKFEET

TRIBAL BUSINESS COUNCIL

Mr. TAIL FEATHERS. First of all. Senator, I would like toSenator ABDNOR. Would you state your name for the record,

please?

Mr. TAIL FEATHERS. My name is Tom Tail Feathers. I am a

member of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council. Also, I am chairman of the Blackfeet Health, Education, and Social Service Committee, and also I'm here to speak on behalf•as chairman of the

Montana Indian Tribe Policy Board and the southern reservations

of Montana.

Once again. Senator, I want to thank you for this opportunity to

come before you and the committee. I also want to thank the board

of Flandreau Indian School, their superintendent, principal, staff,

and•most of all•their students, to be able to have this privilege

and opportunity to stand before this committee and give my testimony.

In 1964 I graduated from Flandreau Indian School, and in 1962

we were one of the first group of students to move into the new

dormitories. And at that time we had an enrollment of approximately 600 students, 300 boys and 300 girls. I came to Flandreau

based on a need to have access to a quality education•access to a

quality education afforded to any other high school kid across

America because, while living on the Blackfeet Reservation, I

didn't have this opportunity for the following reasons.

First, was the distance that we lived from the nearest high

school. And this distance encompassed 32 miles round-trip, and it

also meant getting up earlier and getting home later. It also meant

I couldn't participate in any sports or any other activities that, normally, high school kids could be involved in simply because of the

distance. My parents couldn't wait until 6 or 7 o'clock for me to get
57

finished with whatever I was involved in. If I did participate in

band or anything else•basketball or football or whatever•it

meant that I either had to stay in town or catch a ride home.

So this was one reason why I didn't feel I had access to a quality

education.

Second, is climate. Whenever we have inclement weather on the

reservation•at least 6 months out of the year•we generally

stayed home for our own safety.

The third reason was because of economics. I come from a large

Indian family, and in our area there is a high unemployment rate,

substandard housing, poor medical care, and it was very difficult

for our parents to afford a quality education to us. And even today,

our unemployment rate reaches 70 to 80 percent during the school

year.

Like any other student or any other person, I would have loved

to stay home and gone to school right in Browning, MT. However,

all of these factors•the three factors I just stated•attributed to

my low grades, tardiness, and absenteeism.

Twenty-two years ago, Flandreau Indian School afforded me this

opportunity for a quality education. From Flandreau I went to one

of the best-known business colleges in the United States, Dight

Business College, and I also worked while in boarding school at

Dight Business College and Case Western Reserve's university hospital at Cleveland, OH, as a county clerk and public relations assistant.

I was drafted in the Army in 1965. In the service, I did receive

six medals, including the Bronze Star, while serving in Vietnam. I

served in the field, and I also worked directly under Gen. Alexander Haig in Headquarters Company, 1st Infantry Division.

After my tour of duty I returned to Cleveland, OH, and in 1971 I

received a scholarship from the University of Utah to train as one

of the first native American alcohol and drug counselors. And later

on, I went to work for one of the largest Indian alcohol and drug

organizations as an administrative assistant.

When I returned home, I went to work for the State of Montana

as a vocational rehabilitation counselor; and later on, I became one

of the first native Americans in our area and the Billings area to

be certified as a mental health specialist in the area of chemical

dependency.

Now, I bring these facts to you. Senator, because I attribute

these opportunities and education and employment to the education I received right here at Flandreau Indian School.

Presently, I have two teenage boys; one will attend Flandreau

Indian School next fall. Again, they are experiencing the same

problems that I had experienced when I was a young high school

kid. They do live a great distance from school; they do•due to inclement weather, it is very difficult for them to get back and forth

if they're to be involved in football, basketball, and so forth. And

the inclement weather also causes them to miss a lot of school.

Again, these same problems that existed in my time exist today,

and this is why I•I have two teenage boys, again, like I said; one

attends Flandreau Indian School this fall, and I am going to do everything I can to have them attend this school because of the quality education I received here•not only the education, but those
58

other things that are so important to be a success in life: the discipline, the independent living, the socialization, the interaction with

people, all of those things; being competitive; being fair and honest,

and all of those things that make a person successful, I feel, I received at Flandreau Indian School.

Again, I'd like to reiterate that any reduction in funding or reduction in enrollment or staff here at Flandreau will seriously

affect the future of students at Flandreau.

We tribal leaders agree that our greatest resource is our young

people. We need to assure that they have access to a quality education. Any reductions of enrollment of Blackfeet students at Flandreau or any of the other boarding schools will have very critical

ramifications on the existing schools on the reservations. They are

already suffering from budget cuts and overcrowding.

Once again. Senator, I want to thank you for this time and this

privilege that I've had.

[Mr. Tail Feathers' prepared statement follows:]
59

PREPARED STATEMEOT OF Tdl TAIL FFATHERS, ^EMBER, BLACKFEET TRIBAL

BUSINESS OOUNCIL

INTRODUCTION

Back In 1964 I graduated from Flandreau Indian School.

We were Sophomores in 1962 when we moved Into the new Boys and Girls

Dormitories. We were also the last graduating class in 1964 to use the old

school.

At that time, Flandreau Indian School's enrollment was approximately 600

students (300 boys and 300 girls)

HISTORY

I came to Flandreau based on a need to have access to a quality education

afforded to any other high school kid across America.

While living on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation I did not have this

opportunity due to several factors:

1. distance: The round trip to school was approximately 32 miles which meant

getting up earlier and getting home later.

I also couldn't participate in any sports or other activities that other

high school students were privileged to take part in.

2. climate; Whenever we had incllmate weather (which Is at least six months

out of the year) we generally stayed home for our own safety.

3. Economics: I come from a large family and with high unemployment,

substandard housing, and poor medical care, it was very difficult for our

parents to afford a quality education to us. Even today our unemployment rate

reaches to 70-80% during the school year.

I would have loved to remain at home and be with my family while attending

school; however, all of the above factors attributed to my low grades,

tardiness, and absenteeism.
60

Twenty years ago Flandreau Indian School afforded me an opportunity to receive

a quality education.

From Flandreau 1 went to Cleveland, Ohio, where I attended Dyke Business

College and later on worked at Case/Western Reserve University Hospitals as an

Accounting Clerk and Public Relations Assistant.

I was later drafted Into the U.S. Army In 1965 and served with 1st Infantry

Division In Vietnam. After serving field duty I worked directly for General

Alexander Halg In Headquarters Company.

After my tour of duty I returned to Cleveland, Ohio, to work. In 1972, I

received a Scholarship from the University of Utah to train as a Native

American Alcohol/Drug Counselor and I later on went to work for one of the

largest Indian Alcohol/Drug Organizations as an Administrative Assistant.

When I returned home I worked as a Voc-Rehab Counselor-Aid for the State of

Montana. Later on I became one of the first Native American Mental Health

Specialist In the area of Chemical Dependencies.

I bring the facts to you because I attribute the opportunities in education

and unemployment over the past 25 years to the opportunities I had for a

quality education at Flandreau Indian School.

Presently, I have two teenage boys who want to attend Flandreau Indian School

next fall.

Again, it is still difficult for High School kids on the Blackfeet Indian

Reservation to receive a quality education - especially, if they live great

distances from school - as my two boys do.

Any reduction in funding, enrollment, staff or available facilities at

Flandreau will seriously affect the present and future students of Flandreau.

We as leaders need to assume our great resource (young people) continue to

have access to a quality education.

Any reductlon(s) in enrollment of Blackfeet Students In Flandreau or other BIA

Boarding Schools will have very critical ramifications on existing schools on

the Reservation. They are already suffering from budget cuts and

overcrowding.
61

Senator ABDNOR. Well, we certainly want to thank you.

Do you feel, looking back on the whole thing, that you were

crowded or did you have any uncomfortable or unsatisfactory living

conditions once you moved into the new dormitories back in 1962?

Mr. TAIL FEATHERS. Back in the 1960's, when I was here, I had

the opportunity to live in the old dormitories, McCarter Hall, and

some of those. And 1 feel the conditions weren't crowded at that

time. Also, again in 1962, we moved into the new boy's dormitory

and I feel that there is ample space over there for the students. I

have never found anybody living in crowded conditions.

Senator ABDNOR. I have to believe that for those students with a

mom and dad living on the reservation, Flandreau Indian School

can probably take care of the students better than they can at

home. Is that a true statement on my part?

Mr. TAIL FEATHERS. I believe that is one of the factors. Senator;

and again, I brought out, you know, three other factors. One is the

great distance that they have to travel, the climate, and also the

economy on the reservation which contributes to poor housing conditions.

Senator ABDNOR. Absolutely. We thank you for your appearance

today.

Mr. TAIL FEATHERS. Thank you, Senator.

Senator ABDNOR. Mr. Bordeaux.

STATEMENT OF RODNEY BORDEAUX, ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBE

COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER,

FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL

Mr. BORDEAUX. Good morning, Senator. I am Rodney Bordeaux, a

member of the Rosebud Tribal Council and also, I have just been

recently elected by them to serve on the Flandreau Indian School

Board. The chairman of the Rosebud Tribal Council, Alex Lunderman, wasn't able to come today; as a result today, I want to read a

letter written by him to Mr. Ross Swimmer, Assistant Secretary for

Indian Affairs

Senator ABDNOR. Let me say that we will make the whole thing

a part of the record.

Mr. BORDEAUX. OK. I'll leave a copy of it.

I want to also read some excerpts from our resolution that was

passed by our Rosebud Tribal Council.

Senator ABDNOR. Those will be made a part of the record, too.

Mr. BORDEAUX. OK.

[The referred to letter from Mr. Lunderman and the Rosebud

Tribal Council resolution follow:]

59-151 0-86-3
62

WEBSTER TOO HAWK ^0440ud StOUX ItCOC LLOVD B. ONE STAR. SR.

Piakknt ROSEBUD HDIM RfSERVATKM Sccreury

ROSEBUD, SOUTH D«KOT« 5J5I0

BEN BLACK BEAR. JR. CHARLES WHITE PIPE. JR

Vice-Pccwfcai tacnr^aM (Mar Art •! tan M, UK M SUt • M4 Ticaium

PMOdt 605-747 2M1

\

December 30, 1985

Mr. Ross Swimmer

Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs

Bureau of Indian Affairs

U.S. Department of Interior

Washington, DC 20240

Dear Mr. Swimmer:

On behalf of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and Tribal Council, I

would like to express our concern and position in regard to the

Bureau's policy in regard to National Criteria for Dormitory

Situations, 25 CFR Part 36.75. We are concerned that this new

regulation would have a serious effect on the enrollment and

future of the Flandreau Indian School of which thirty-four

(34) Rosebud Reservation students attend.

Enclosed is Rosebud Sioux Tribe (RST) Resolution #85-175,

which requests the Bureau to "grandfather clause" the Flandreau

Indian School in regard to the new regulations that require a

minimum of fifty square feet per student, exclusive of furniture,

for dormitory facilities. It is our position that this new

standard not apply to Flandreau Indian School. It would cut

enrollment at Flandreau Indian School by one-half while they

have to turn down up to 100 applications per year. It also

undermines student/parent choice of education.

Is it the Bureau's intention to eventually close Flandreau

Indian School and other off-reservation boarding schools?

The future of Flandreau Indian School is very important to

us as many of our students have graduated from there and will

continue to do so. It is also designated as our off-reservation

boarding school.
63

Mr. Ross Swimmer

December 30, 1985

Page 2

We ask your support of our position and look forward to

hearing from you once a decision has been made.

Congratulations on your recent appointment to a very important position, we wish you the best and look forward to working

with you.

Sincerely,

Al^)//tunderman, President

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

AL:lwm

cc: Senator James Abdnor

Senator Larry Pressler

Representative Tom Daschle

Governor William Janklow

ty^-it^, BTIIU+^C

o^K) be *Mv«s^l ^ifM^u^k m-iWdv-r l-drv fhiVrvun-fV,,

Dtept. ^-S . Lot*?, tonsrvoi^cb) *~t gjn^t^^ 'm l>^ ^M b* lorf,

-I4is-VK» portlier o-f-b^ TLfT -JoJoppcrrt «i^ slviiWr tju^-
64

ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBE

RESOLUTION NO. 85-175

WHEREAS: the Rosebud Sioux Tribe is a federally recognized

Indian Tribe organized pursuant to the Indian

Reorganization Act of 1934 and all pertinent

araendments thereof; and

WHEREAS: the Flandreau Indian School has been adversely

affected by the Minimum Academic Standards for

the Basic Education of Indian Children and National

Criteria for Dormitory Situations in regard to

the space requirements per child; and

WHEREAS: it has been reported that the strict enforcement

of this policy would decrease the school's capacity

to handle students from 600 to 300 children; and

WHEREAS: the Flandreau Indian School Board has determined

that it is able to handle 600 students in a school

complex designed for that number and has requested

that a "grandfather clause" be added to the regulations to exempt its dorms from the space minimum; and

WHEREAS: letters are on file with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe

from tribal members who are students at Flandreau

Indian School in support of the School Board's

determination; and

WHEREAS: it is the understanding of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe

that the space allocations per child at Flandreau

Indian School are near the minimum requirements

in the regulations; and

WHEREAS: the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Education Committee met

on this matter on December 4, 1985, and recommended

support of Flandreau Indian School Board Resolution

85-3; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council

hereby supports the%a3sition of Flandreau Indian

School Board seeking***-"grapd^ather clause" to

exempt its dormitories* from space minimums in 25

CFR 36, Subpart H, 36.75 and 36.76; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this support does not in any way

contribute to overcrowding of students living in

the Flandreau Indian School dormitories; and

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council

requests the Flandreau Indian School Board and

the Bureau of Indian Affairs to allow for Rosebud

Sioux Tribe representation on the Board due to

the increasing number of local tribal members

attending the school.

CERT IFICATION

This is to certify that the above Resolution No. 85-175 was

duly passed by the Kosehud Sioux Tribal Council in ccscion

on December 6, 1985, by a vote of twenty-six (26) in favor,

one (1) opposed and zero (0) not voting. The said Resolution

was adopted pursuant to authority vested in the Council. A

quorum was present.

aron L. Burne

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

urnette, Secretary

>&•&£& .1 SUM. W*-'
Mr. BORDEAUX. The Rosebud Sioux Resolution No. 85-175 was

passed during the tribal council meeting on December 6, 1985.

I guess our main concern on the Rosebud Reservation in regard

to the Bureau's handling of Indian education is that they are very

inconsistent. They have not provided any clear answers as to where

they are going with Indian education. And my main question with

regard to Flandreau Indian School is in Alex's letter, "Is it your

intention to eventually close Flandreau Indian School?" This letter

was dated December 30, and we still haven't received an answer.

We are also concerned as to other areas of the education of our

Indian students, whether they attend Flandreau Indian School or

other reservation boarding schools, and also public schools, as well

as•once students finish high school, they go on to college.

Like I say, we haven't received any clear-cut answers from the

Bureau of Indian Affairs, and we feel•I personally feel•that the

Bureau of Indian Affairs is trying to get out of education. They, in

the 1987 budget, are trying to cut out the special higher education

fellowships for Indian students, which would provide the dollars for

them to attain a graduate level degree and to go on and further

their education.

It is a major concern of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, especially for

the Flandreau Indian School and also where the education dollars

in the future are coming from.

If they are going to cut out education for Indian students, let us

know so that we can make the efforts to do it ourselves.

Thank you. Senator.

Senator ABDNOR, Thank you, Rodney, for coming all the way

over here.

Our next witness is Dr. Dory Larson.

STATEMENT OF DORY LARSON, CONSULTING PSYCHOLOGIST,

BROOKINGS, SD

Mr. LARSON. My name is Dr. Dory Larson. I am a licensed consulting psychologist from Brookings. For the last 4 years I have

been providing psychological services for the students of Flandreau

Indian School.

At the present time I spend 1 full day a week meeting with both

students and staff at the school. In my short time here I have seen

tremendous growth on the part of the staff and their ability to respond to the needs of the students, and I am honored and proud to

have the opportunity to appear before this committee.

Preparing for this testimony has been a difficult job. It is difficult to remain objective and not become emotional when we are

dealing with so many young lives. It is very tempting to appear

before this committee and present a subjective, humanitarian view

on behalf of the Indian children of the Upper Midwest. Surely,

members of this committee are knowledgeable about the adverse

environmental conditions that exist in the reservations. It is tempting to talk about the numbers of students that I see regularly who

have been victims of physical, emotional, and other types of abuse

back on their respective reservations.

I am also tempted to address the fact that almost all the students

that attend this school have been directly and adversely affected by
66

their parents' or loved ones' abuse of alcohol. It might also be important to point out that many of the students attending this

school come from single-parent homes, living well below the poverty level. Many of these students quietly grieve the death of a

parent or loved one. It might also be important to point out that

many of the students at this school have a severe problem with alcohol and drugs, and may be destined to repeat the tragedies of the

generations that have preceded them.

Surely, the vast majority of the students who attend this school

have been touched by many, if not all, of these problems. For all

intents and purposes, these students are not typical students and

this school is not a typical high school. Their emotional, physical,

academic, spiritual, and social needs are many and the resources

are few.

We are here today to discuss the proposed space requirements

and how these requirements will impact on this school. You have

already heard from others appearing before your committee discussing specifics of the standard and the resulting impact on the

number of students that would be allowed to attend Flandreau.

They have addressed the fact that, oftentimes, services provided at

the school are more based on quantity rather than quality. They

are in a much better, more knowledgeable position to comment on

the adverse impact the new standards have on student enrollment

and funding curtailment.

From a psychological perspective, members of the committee, the

new dormitory space requirements as put forth by the BIA should

be applauded for attempting to implement standards that are designed to improve the living conditions of students attending offreservation boarding schools. I had a chance before I came up here,

by the way, to review the written testimony submitted by Dr.

Martin, and he addressed that in his particular testimony.

Surely, social psychologists have shown beyond any doubt that

noisy, crowded conditions precipitate a high degree of anxiety in

people. Psychological literature is full of examples testifying to the

fact that crowded living conditions yield a high degree of acting out

behavior that may take the form of aggressive acts toward others

and oneself, as well as emotional turmoil leading to alcohol and

drug abuse and academic failure.

As a scientist, I cannot actively argue against a standard that

would maximize personal space in the dormitories. All other things

being equal, this standard would certainly decrease the number of

students attending the Flandreau Indian School and would therefore decrease the amount of anxiety on campus. If existing resources would be maintained, fewer students would not only be

calmer, but would also be able to receive more intense services that

they so desperately need.

The space requirements standard is certainly psychologically

sound and would theoretically be in the best interests of the students served by this school. However, there are many who think

that this standard is merely a ploy to cut enrollment at the Flandreau Indian School and serve as a means to decrease funding and

eventually close the school. This would be a real tragedy that

would deny many Indian young people the access to a resource that

is beneficial in assisting them in resolving many of their personal
67

problems while, at the same time, providing them with knowledge

of life outside the reservations.

I would support the standard only if underlying existing services

at Flandreau Indian School be maintained at their present level,

and that the resulting decrease in the number of students enrolled

would not be used as justification to decrease the school funding

and eventually be used as a reason to close the school.

The needs of these students are great and have to be addressed if

they are going to become functional adults. I think the school can

be a tremendous resource to the Indian people and in assisting

these students in working out their very involved problems, while

at the same time providing them with an education.

I sincerely hope that this committee can expand its scope beyond

whether the space requirement standard at the Flandreau Indian

School should be implemented, but rather, exert your political influence to ensure the future of the Flandreau Indian School and

provide your political support to this fine institution. I heard you

address that earlier. Senator Abdnor, when I came in, to focus on

the dormitory standard•to me•is like putting a Band-Aid on a

wound to the jugular. And I really do think that this school does

provide a good service, and I would certainly hope that it could

continue to exist.

Senator ABDNOR. Well, thank you. Dr. Larson.

What do you think the impact of this reduction might be?

Mr. LARSON. Well, one of the things that is very obvious. Senator

Abdnor and other members of the committee, when you have just a

certain number of students with a certain number of staff, it

spreads the staff out very thin. And as we experienced last fall

with the enrollment, the services are limited to the number of students that are being served. If you look at the student/staff ratio, it

would be hard to argue that the services would improve with a

lower student/staff ratio.

And I'm particularly concerned about the number of counselors

that are employed on campus, alcohol and drug services, and

things like that. I spend 1 day a week here, Senator Abdnor, and it

wouldn't be difficult for me to see 30 or 40 students in that day. I

can't even pretend to imply that that's good, quality service; that's

a lie. I have students standing out in the hall waiting to see me.

Senator ABDNOR. I agree with you.

Mr. LARSON. AS I said, as a scientist, it's impossible to argue;

there are studies all over the place that suggest that if you cut the

population, out on the reservation you have so many deer that will

live on a section of land, or so many pheasants that will live on

it•the concern is that so much of this programming that is available here is based on the number of students. It's not on quality of

services; it's based on numbers. And so if you cut the numbers, you

cut the amount of resources that are available, the amount of

money that is available.

Senator ABDNOR. YOU talked about alcohol and drug abuse. It

does require some good programs, I agree with you. I feel very

strongly about that, that not only in schools like this but all over

the Nation. Drug programs and alcohol programs are needed.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Mr. LARSON. Thank you.
68

Senator ABDNOR. Wayne Ulven, are you here?

Mr. Ulven is president of local No. 208 of the Wahpeton Indian

School. We welcome you to the committee, Mr. Ulven.

STATEMENT OF WAYNE ULVEN, PRESIDENT, LOCAL NO. 208,

WAHPETON INDIAN SCHOOL, WAHPETON, ND

Mr. ULVEN. Thank you. Senator Abdnor.

My name is Wayne Ulven; I am a seventh grade teacher at the

Wahpeton School. I am also Indian president of local No. 208.

The 40-square-foot student requirement in elementary boarding

schools and 50-square-foot ruling for secondary boarding schools

are a great concern. With this requirement, we have a ceiling enrollment which would deprive some students of opportunity to

enroll and come to our school. For our students to enroll is just as

important and as needed as the other students.

The truant wards of courts•students who enroll for their elementary education•their needs are also among the last to enroll.

Our facility is in good condition and could easily handle more students or give the opportunity for more to enroll.

This ruling also causes our budget to have a ceiling. Our budget

is based on a student formula. The basic needs for maintaining a

school facility and giving required academic education will be addressed; however, the extra programs•which also are beneficial•

will be difficult to implement because of the lack of money in the

budget. The 40- or 50-square-foot ruling would be more beneficial if

placed only for newly constructed buildings, and make the ruling

exempt for existing buildings that are structurally sound and safe.

This would save the Government the money, and yet keep the enrollment possibilities up so that the proper programs could be

maintained to give the boarding school students a well-rounded

education.

May I also say something in regard to Wahpeton Indian School.

Three years ago, when they were going to go with closures, we had

Kent Smith and some other dignitaries that came through; and

they were surprised with the facilities that we had at our school.

I'm sure that from testimony that we've had today, the students

also told you•and from you walking around the campus•also see

the facilities and how good they are and how adequate they are for

these students. I guess that these students are the ones that should

be the ones that judge whether a school should maintain a proper

enrollment, and also the size.

Thank you. Senator.

Senator ABDNOR. Well, thank you, Mr. Ulven.

Our next witness•and I'm sorry we're moving along so quickly•Tim Langley, executive director of the South Dakota Peace and

Justice Association in Watertown.

Tim, we're happy to have you here today.

STATEMENT OF TIM LANGLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOUTH

DAKOTA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER

Mr. LANGLEY. Senator Abdnor, thank you for the opportunity to

testify, not only for myself but for all the other people who have

been speaking here today.
I am Tim Langley; I am the director of the South Dakota Peace

and Justice Center. Our organization is a membership network of

about 500 people in South Dakota; we are supported by those

people and by the church congregations and denominations that

they belong to. The goal of the organization is to try to work together for the kind of society of sufficiency and fairness that we

think that our religious traditions have envisioned. The center is

both Indian and non-Indian, although a majority of our membership is non-Indian.

I will try to be real brief in my testimony here today. I think it's

probably all pretty much been said.

I guess that I really don't want to address the question of space

requirements of students directly because I suspect that that's a

bogus issue. And I guess what I mean is, if the Flandreau Indian

School had a legitimate need to spend money to create more space

for its students•and it went to the administration in Washington

to ask for it•I don't think they would have a prayer of getting it.

And I think that most people's suspicions in this room are that this

is an additional strategy in an ongoing effort to, in fact, shut down

Flandreau Indian School for budgetary reasons. And that, I guess,

is the point that I would like to address more directly.

The membership of the Peace and Justice Center, both Indian

and non-Indian, strongly believe and have testified before on other

occasions that the Flandreau Indian School ought to remain open,

and that any kind of impediment in any regulation for space ought

to be removed, whether by removing the regulation or grandfathering in Flandreau Indian School.

And the reason that we believe that this institution's survival is

so vital•there are two reasons. One is that we really believe that,

for a segment of native American young people, this school provides an essential and irreplaceable educational service. I don't

think I need to elaborate on that because everybody else has been

elaborating on it.

The second point is that we believe the Federal Government is

the one which ought to pay for the education of Flandreau Indian

School because it is under obligation to do so by treaty law. The

native American nation ceded to non-Indian immigrants virtually

all the land and resources of this country, and that's what the

country has been built upon. In exchange for that, they received

certain solemn and perpetual guarantees for nutrition, law enforcement, health, and education.

And so I guess that, to conclude, I would say that we are here to

advocate for Flandreau Indian School not because we urge the Federal Government to feel sorry for Indian people or because we hope

that they'll agree with the opinion of the Peace and Justice Center.

I think it's stronger than that. The obligation to provide the education that's needed to the people who go to this school is a mortgage.

And so what we're urging the Federal Government to do is nothing

other than to obey the law and to pay its bills.

Thank you very much. Senator.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you, Mr. Langley.

Reverend Stanislaus Maudlin•is he here?

[No response.] _

Senator ABDNOR. Edwin Koepp. We welcome you, Mr. Koepp.
70

STATEMENT OF EDWIN F. KOEPP, KOEPP FAMILY COUNSELING

SERVICES, BROOKINGS, SD

Mr. KOEPP. Good morning, Senator, and good morning, members

of the panel.

My name is Edwin Koepp; I live in Brookings, SD. My family

and I have lived there for 20 years. I am not on the payroll of the

Flandreau Indian School, and my testimony was not solicited. I live

at 1901 Orchard Drive, and would respond to further inquiries

about my knowledge and expertise as it relates to the needs of

native American Indians.

I have been aware of the persistent efforts in recent years to

close or reduce the Flandreau Indian School program for native

American Indian children who have no high school facilities or

comparable standard of living available to them at their home reservation areas.

Originally, our Federal Government intended to assist these children with education and health services so they could become productive and constructive members of the American populace, and

consequently authorized funds to build facilities according to the

Federal specifications of that day.

Unfortunately, bureaucratic intentions to return half or all of

these students to their designated reservation areas could be portrayed as being similar to the apartheid policies of the South African Government, which segregates native African children and

their families into designated areas called "townships."

I have enclosed a copy of a news story which appeared in the

Christian Science Monitor on May 5, 1982, on page 10, which gives

information about the 1-square-mile township, called Alexandra,

which has inadequate housing, health, and school facilities to accommodate the 70,000 people who are forced to live in these government-designated areas which serve as reservations for these disenfranchised native Africans.

Since I have been actively involved in international programs intended to build goodwill and understanding between representatives of our country and representatives of other countries for

many years, I can assure your committee that foreign visitors to

our country have a keen eye on how our Government policies

toward our native American Indians and other minority groups of

Americans either assist or deny them in enjoying and participating

in the opportunities afforded by the world's largest democracy.

When our Government officials call attention to violations of

human rights in other countries, it would be shameful to see America portrayed as hypocritical because of the way we are treating

our native American Indians.

Closing the Flandreau Indian School and returning these students to their designated reservation areas is not the answer. To do

so would, in my opinion, violate public trust in our Government

representatives and could give ammunition to those who would

seek to devalue our democratic form of government.

I appreciate living in a country that permits public testimony.

Thank you very much.

Senator ABDNOR. Well, we certainly thank you, Mr. Koepp.

[The Christian Science Monitor article referred to follows:]
71

10 Wedneaday. May 5.1982 "

Alexandra: South African black

township most visitors never see

By Paul Van Slambronck

Staff correspondent of

The Christian Science Monitor

Johannesburg

Alexandra is the black township most visitors to South Africa do not see.

Instead tourists board government-run

tour buses for a look at Soweto - the black

community that became a focus of International Interest when racial conflict flared In

1976.

Most visitors do not see Alexandra even

though it is only a stone's throw from the hotels in affluent suburbs where many of them

stay. Small and not well known. Alexandra

has not enjoyed the attention and Improvements that near-telebrity status has brought

Soweto over the past six years.

Soweto. a community of about 1.2 million

people, recently negotiated its first overseas

loan. Slowly but surely, the government

seems to be making Soweto a "showpiece*1

among black communities, and proof to onlookers that in this strictly segregated society

facilities for blacks are being upgraded toward standards enjoyed by whites.

Alexandra offers no evidence of the government's "separate but equal" policy. Living conditions here remain as they have for

decades - appalling.

"This is the worst legal slum in South Af-

' rica." concedes Gert Steyn. the government

administrator of Alexandra

Mr, Steyn, relatively new In his post,

makes the Judgement with the conviction that

tilings are about to change for the better. Unrolling a large color-coded maff across his

desk, be points out the sequence of redevelopment thai he says win eventually replace all

of Alexandra's bousing stock. "This will be a

model township." be asserts. He estimates

the process will take another 10 years.

Meanwhile, residents of Alexandra are

growing Impatient.

"For the past thre* years the people of

'Alex' have been promised a great deal. You

have a crisis of expectation here." says Jill

Oertel, management committee chairman of

the township's Thusong Youth Center. <

It was In 1979 that the South African government decided to let Alexandra remain, reversing plans to bulldoze the community and

convert it to a labor settlement of hostels for

migrant workers. It was good news in Alexandra, particularly when accompanied with

government promises that the community

would rise "like a phoenix" in three years.

So far. however u little has changed here.

The township is home for some 70,000 people in an area of about 1 square mile. The typical plot of land, subdivided originally for a

single home, now houses on average nine

families In small brick or corrugated-metal

shacks. Most of the dwellings are without running water or electricity

Knots of black women and children con- things woufd develop more rapidly,'

verse on street comers while waiting to col:""~pdmmiHee member Lucas C. Koza.

lect water from communal taps. Although

most homes do not have electricity, some

sport colorful light fixtures for esthetic effect.

Residents rely on outdoor toilet facilities - an

ongoing concern among health officials.

The community sits on a side of a hill that

slopes down to the Jukskei River Roads are

not paved, and each fresh rain etches new gullies In the already deeply furrowed streets as

water rushes to the river below. y~

Goats and horses wander through the

streets, rummaging through large piles of

rubbish strewn throughout the community.

Alexandra looks longingly across the river

to vacant, grass-covered land. It wants the

use of the property, but nearby white communities fear the consequences of having such a

poor black town as an immediate neighbor.

With Alexandra's great density and lack of

land, new vacant property is seen by government officials aitt community representatives as the key to beginning serious rehabilitation. Without new land, the process

becomes a complex chess game: How can

any section of the township be rebuilt if there

are no spots to relocate displaced persons? .,

Two projects that appear about ready to

move ahead are an educational complex and

a housing development for 79 families. Land

is available to start the housing project: then

the homes in which the 79 families now live

will be leveled and the educational facilities

will rise In their place.

Housing and education are the most pressing needs here. The private sector has made

the most progress In those areas. A nursery

school and primary school have been built

with private assistance, and private developers have put up 24 new homes for sale under

South Africa's 99-year-Iease system. (Blacks

are not allowed freehold title of property.)

The new houses, while modest by white

standards, are not as yet all occupied because

they Are beyond the means of many of their

prospective buyers. -

Existing schools are overcrowded. It Is not

unusual to have 50 students In a classroom. In

some cases children sit on long benches. To

write, they kneel on- the floor and use the

bench as a writing surface. -

Mr. Steyn says the government recognizes

Alexandra as one of the most needy townships

In the republic. Despite budget constraints

produced by the slowing of the nation's economy, he is confident the almost $15 million of

financing needed for the first two phases of

redevelopment will be made available.

Alexandra can accomplish little on Its

own. All revenues from the township go to the

government. The local Alexandra liaison

committee has mainly an advisory role.

However, In working with the white authorities, the committee is eager for some evidence of progress. "We are losing our credibility in the community because we promised

says
72

Senator ABDNOR. Our last set of witnesses is Mike Huerth, Minneapolis, MN; also, Mr. Lew Dillon, who is executive assistant at

Marty Indian School.

Gentlemen, we are happy to have you here.

STATEMENT OF MICHAEL HUERTH, MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC

SCHOOLS, MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Mr. HUERTH. I am Mike Huerth, cultural programs coordinator

for Minneapolis Public Schools, and I am representing Minneapolis

Public Schools at this hearing.

Since we are another school system looking at the situation at

Flandreau from a distance, we are not in a position to make recommendations as to the issue of how many students should be allowed

to enroll. However, we have come to support the concept of the

Flandreau Indian School providing an alternative opportunity for

Indian students to obtain a high school diploma. Though we take

pride in the education we make available to the 2,600 Indian students in our schools, we recognize that there are Indian students

who will not graduate from our schools because of factors beyond

the control of public school systems. Flandreau is attempting to

meet the needs of these students. Keeping in mind the special commitment of the Federal Government to meet the educational needs

of Indian students by virtue of treaty commitments, we recognize

the need for this school and support the school in its efforts to

make education available to Indian youth.

I just want to say a couple of things on my own behalf. I came

down here in a Citation with three kids in the back seat, the oldest

being 12 and the youngest being 9. We have a need for more room

in our Citation. We could get a new car, perhaps bigger, when

funds are available; or I could get rid of one of my kids. I don't

think my kids would appreciate that, and I think the only logical

solution is for me to wait until the time comes when I can get a

larger car. And as I say that, the thought crossed my mind as I

heard the testimony this morning, that that's what it sounds like is

being said; we have to get rid of students because the schools aren't

big enough. These are tough times.

Another thing that crossed my mind is that the•back in the

ISSO's, a lot of people with good intentions got the idea that all Indians should become farmers. And so they divided reservations up

into plots•in some cases, 160 acres, 120, 320 acres, depending on

the area•and they said, "OK, now you take this piece of land and

farm it." And so, the Indian family in each reservation was given a

piece of land, 160 acres, a plough, and told to farm the land. They

farmed it real good; the only problem was, it was forest land which

can't be converted into farmland.

And so, they didn't go to Indian people and say, "What do you

need?" They went and they said, "This is what you need." And it

just sounds a little bit like that this morning when you hear students saying the kinds of things that they're saying.

I have one more story, and that is when I started to teach, I was

teaching in Minneapolis schools about 12 years ago. And about a

year before that time, there was a student that I remember very

well. I worked with him in a program called "Indian Upward
73

Bound." And I remember the first time I was working with him,

someone suggested that this student, because of his situation at

home, because of his situation where he was at, should go to Flandreau. At the time, I didn't know what the Flandreau Indian

School was. As it turned out, he didn't get in the school because, as

every year, there are students who are not allowed to come in because there are too many students. That student, for whatever

reason, a year later was in a mental hospital, at the University of

Minnesota hospital, the reason being drug overdose. He needed to

get out of his family situation and he wasn't able to do it.

I guess the last thing I would mention is that I have been a staff

member here. I worked for Minneapolis schools for 4 years; I

worked here the last 8 years. This summer, I went to work for Minneapolis schools. I had heard about the issue, but I basically

thought it wasn't my business. About a month ago•no, it wasn't

either; a couple of weeks ago•my boss, who is the director of equal

education in Minneapolis, asked me if I wanted to come here to testify for this. I hadn't discussed this issue with her, but she•a highranking staff person in Minneapolis schools•thought that it was

very important that the Flandreau Indian School be spoken for.

So, that's the reason I'm here. I appreciate your patience; I know

you've got places to go, and I thank you for listening to me.

Senator ABDNOR. Mike, thank you very much.

Mr. HUERTH. Thank you.

Senator ABDNOR. Mr. Dillon.

STATEMENT OF LEW B. DILLON, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, MARTY

INDIAN SCHOOL, MARTY, SD

Mr. DILLON. Senator Abdnor, Ms. Wrenn, I appreciate the opportunity to formally testify before you this morning.

We certainly support the efforts at Flandreau and Wahpeton and

their endeavors relative to the dormitory standards. However, last

but not least, I cannot leave out all of those other schools that are

adversely affected, particularly the contract schools; and, of course,

my major concern is Marty Indian School.

In pursuing this, I note that in Dr. Martin's testimony this morning that he used the State and National Accreditation Association

formats and the following terminology in developing those standards. I am glad they had some good guidelines for format and terminology. It might have paid, with all the money that we're spending for the military, to have used the information that they've derived from 1968 to 1974 with their management engineering relative to standards for dormitories and ships; that after doing surveys

with the management engineering teams, both on the east coast

and west coast, they determined that it was best to leave alone

those ships and dormitories that were already constructed and only

apply new standards to new dormitories and new ship construction

or, in the case where moneys were available, renovation. I'm sure a

lot of expertise could be obtained by the Bureau from the military

in that respect.

In order to expedite this, I am including a copy of a letter dated

December 5, to the area office where I set forth the established dormitory count for the Marty Indian School, dating back to 1981.
74

These have been acceptable from that time forward. We will continue to pursue to be able to use our dormitories with those numbers of students in there. They are acceptable to the students. 1

held a meeting with the students and staff prior to coming up here.

We have no overcrowding, regardless whether the Bureau considers that we do or not.

Second, I would like to include•to give you an idea of what happens•at the area office, the area office determined that you should

take and•as one gentleman pointed out this morning, if you put

one student in a room, that's 50 square feet; the second is 100; and

the third is 150. Well, it took someone in the central office to determine that was not right. They in turn sent out a letter and said,

no, you take all the total square footage of those rooms; you add it

together, and then you divide by 50 square feet. They have made it

that far, but they have not made it far enough yet to consider

where the home environment is; in fact, the study halls, the TV

rooms, the recreational areas and other areas that go to make up a

home should be included. So I would include that letter to show

you that they haven't even made up their minds as to what they

would like to be included in the square footage calculation.

Third, it was mentioned earlier that Mr. Ross Swimmer had indicated that a 2-year phase-in period would be appropriate. I have a

letter, December 6, 1985, from the Facilities Engineering staff in

Albuquerque, that recommends that it be a 5-year phase-in period.

Whether it be a 2-year phase-in period or a 5-year phase-in period,

I am definitely against it and my school board is against it. My

question is, where is the money going to come from to expand and

modify these dormitories? They've been acceptable up to now; I

would certainly think they would continue to be acceptable in the

future until we have this windfall where they can build new dormitories, which we all want in the long run. If I may, I would like to

include this letter in the record.

Last but not least, I had the opportunity in December to visit not

only with your office. Senator, but with Congressman Daschle. He

had submitted and made available to us a copy of H.R. 3809. Our

board, by resolution, supports H.R. 3809 and would certainly entertain a companion bill on the Senate side. Resolutions and promises

from the Bureau, from past experience, are not going to work and

would not be acceptable in Indian country. I would request that

you include a copy of H.R. 3809.

I thank you very much for the opportunity to testify this morning. I hope that it certainly benefits the schools.

Senator ABDNOR. Thank you, Mr. Dillon, for coming over from

Marty Indian School.

[The material referred to by Mr. Dillon follows:]
f^T

75

MARTY INDIAN SCHOOL

PHONE (605) 3M-5431 MAHTY, 80 57361-0187

December 5, 1985

Mr. Harry Eagle Bull

Area Education Program Administrator

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Aberdeen Area Office

115 Fourth Avenue, S.E.

Aberdeen, South Dakota 57101 .

Dear Mr. Eagle Bull: • '

Your memorandum of October 17th, 1985 refers.

Attached herewith is the compliance report completed by the School

Administration and approved by the School Board. This school is

accreditated by the State of South Dakota and will continue to

maintain that accreditation. All of the.facilities in the

dormitories do not meet the individual room requirements, 50 square

feet per student exclusive of furniture, however, we will be

pursuing with our Congressional deleptloQ trr^POflfllSTl^y^Qf

grandtathering the exiatir.g •ijr-Ti tory i.-.tj the new regulations

or provide additional a help the school's expand in order

Tocomply with the regulations. It would seem appropriate to

grandrafcner fchis school baaed'on the number or oorm students approved

^F^nr'oiim4HtTTTne"5choolBoardandset forth ta__the Studqr.t

TneseTnrollment figures are:

._, TOlentary Girls-4th to 8th-40j

High School Boy3-9th to 12tt^58; High SchoolCirl3-9th to 12th-70.

v ftj^SjronrnCTff^^Tne School Boara

. \ - A«d Rights & Responsibilities HanaE^g^T

" \** Ji pnBHWf uAys-Hh to yth-nui Bm

=* ^

<

i\^ri H•

If I may provide any additional information please advise.

Sincerely,

i^- Executive Assistant MISB

&

&
76

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20245

IN U»LV UFM TO:

Indian Education

Code 504

DEC 41985 DEC t|

* 4\r

Mefnorandum ^^

m V

To: Aberdeen Area Education Programs Administrator

From: Assistant Director, Office of Indian Education Programs

Subject: Interpretation of 25 CFR 36.75Cb)

In several recent discussions with you, you have interpreted 25 CFR 36.75(b) to

mean that each sleeping room within a dormitory must average 50 to 70 square

feet exclusive of furniture. The official interpretation of this office for 25

CTR 36.75(b) is not that each room must meet the square footage requirement.

The free square footage of all sleeping rooms within a dormitory is to be

totalled and then divided by 50 square feet in order to determine the maximum

student capacity at the 50 square feet level.

}

h^

Y/\jJZy
77

UNlTEDSTATESDEPARTMENTOf THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

FACtL 1TI( I EWOMCiMMM ST*» »

FIOHAL OfftCt tLOO A U I COUMTHOUSf

rjO. BOX l!««

IN HtrtV ftCFEH tO ALBUOUtftOUE. NfW MEXICO 17103

DEC 0 6 1985

To: CMtc«sat»Ml Md UgUUtlv* Affairs st«rf

IU11 C*4« 110 ' '

rroii Acttac ••pwty MneWr, OfH

Subject i "HI J8Q9. * Bill to Ixaipt CortaU Domliori.. Oparat«d hf tha

llur««u of IndUn Affalra from Spaea aad Trivmcj Ra^ulr^anta"

Aa ra^uaatad In your Havaabar 26 mmormdmi, tba fellowlot vlava ara

praaaatad ragardlat tha propoaad laglalatloat

Tha Buraan haa laatallatlona whara donltorlaa ara ovarerowdad

(•.g. Solbroek >on«, Arlcona). In auch eaa«a( It la In tha

Baraaa'a baat lataraata aa trwataa, ta comply with apaea and

privacy ra^alraaaata* Newavar. It la raeogalaad that thara mmy

ba elrciaataoeaa altara iMadtata coBpltaiica would not ba phyoleally or acoaealeally peaalbla. In aach caaaa, ltli__iacMnandad Ch«c tha S«crat«ry ba allowad to S553G *

,lv*th*

provUlona on a ca«« by c«»« b*>it. In doinjt ao, tha S^crafry

• ruil {nvMCigBt* ib* coodltJoaa «nd eoaaldaratlon ahauld ba

glvao to tba lapaet non-caaplI«nca would hava oa tha atiulaata,

prograa and aparatloo* To grantlan tba walvar, tha Soeratary

abeuld raqulra that tha doraltory ba brought Into cowpllanca.

• rr Tr it»»nejl±*ithlm a tiw yaar parlod.

c^t &m 11•

Vo approclata tha opportunity to eoaaoat.

Nonngn T. Suam

r. /

59-151 0-86
78

99TH CONGRESS

IST SESSION H. R. 3809

To exempt certain dormitories operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs from

space and privacy requirements.

m THE HOUSE OF REPKESENTATIVES

NOVBMBBB 21, 1985

Mr. DASCHLE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee

on Education and Labor

A BILL

To exempt certain dormitories operated by the Bureau of Indian

Affairs from space and privacy requirements.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United Stales of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION I. EXEMPTION FROM SPACE AND PRIVACY RE4 QUIREMENTS.

5 Section 1122 of the Education Amendments of 1978

6 (25 U.S.C. 2002) is amended by inserting at the end thereof

7 the following new subsection:

8 "(e) SPACE AND PRIVACY.•Criteria established under

9 this section for dormitory situations shall not apply to any

1 dormitory used for boarding Indian students immediately

2 before October 9, 1985.".

O
79

Senator ABDNOR. We have one more witness; Neola Walker of

Winnebago, if you would come forward.

STATEMENT OF NEOLA E. WALKER, WINNEBAGO TRIBE OF

NEBRASKA, WINNEBAGO, NE

Ms. WALKER. Senator Abdnor, I thank you for giving me this opportunity. I am Neola Walker, an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, and a member of our tribal council since

1954. I served as a member of the board of education for Flandreau

for about 8 years. And as a former board member, I know that the

facilities are adequate for the numbers of students that are here

now.

I brought along a roster of our students who have attended Flandreau Indian School since 1981. I have a resolution by the tribal

council, dated the 2d day of December 1985; and I have a letter

from our Higher Education Department which I will submit.

Now, just going over briefly, the tribe has supported the Flandreau Indian School because there is a tremendous need for a

boarding school. We have an unemployment rate of 60 percent; 70

percent of the heads of households in Winnebago are female with

an income level of under $5,000 per year. Unfortunately, these factors contribute to a variety of social problems in the homes of our

reservation.

Winnebago students have attended Flandreau since its beginning. Our statistics indicate a total of 176 students from the Winnebago Agency since 1981, averaging 44 students per year.

The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska has found students of Flandreau Indian School to be better equipped academically, socially,

and as adults to have skills and enabling them to secure employment and maintain a higher level in their standards of living.

Therefore, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska comes with an expressed demand that Flandreau Indian School continue to provide

the education to these students.

We ask that you, Senators James Abdnor and Mark Andrews,

find the ways and means which will continue the Flandreau Indian

School. Thank you.

[Ms. Walker's prepared statement, on behalf of the Winnebago

Tribe of Nebraska, and the material referred to in her oral presentation, follow:]
80

Teatlaony of Heola Valker, tfinnebago Tribe of Nebraska,

Winnebago, Nebraska

Subalrted To:

Senator James AbBnor and Senator Mark Andrews Hearing

at Flandreau Indian School, Flandreau, South Dakota

on Feb. 10, 1986

I an Heola E. Walker, an enrolled •ember of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska,

and a Member of the Winnebago Tribal Council since 1954. Three of ay children

have attended Flandreau Indian School.

The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska has education as the priority of the Tribe.

We initiated the firsffprograa under the Poverty Program, as a pre-school program

which has developed into the present Bead Start Program. We have in Winnebago

a public school, a community college, the 638 Higher Education, Vocational

Education Programs and a small budget for a general Adult Education Program.

The Tribe also has a small amount of dollars supporting a tribal scholarship

program for students who do not qualify for the grants under the aforementioned

education programs.

the Tribe has supported the Flandreau Indian School because there is a

tremendous need for a boarding school. We have an unemployment rate of sixty

percent, seventy percent of our head of household are female, with an income

level of under five thousand dollars per year. Unfortunately, these factors

contribute to a variety of social problems in the homes on our reservation.

Winnebago students have attended Flandreau Indian School since its beginning.

Our recent statistics indicate a total of 176 students from the Winnebago Agency

since 1981, averaging 44 students per year.

The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska has found students of Flandreau Indian School

to be better ^qyipuj academically, socially and as adults to have skills enabllqg

them to secure employment and maintain a higher level in their standards of

living.

Therefore, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska comes with the express demand

that Flandreau Indian School continue providing education. We ask that you

Senators James AbHnor and Hark Andrews find the ways and means which will continue

the Flandreau Indian School.
81

1981-82 SCHOOL YEAR

Rodney Anderson

Joseph Fields II

|Clinton Greencrow

^Walter Ewing

Terry Walker

^K Darren Snake

Marlys DuMarce

Mary Henry

Glorine Lovejoy

Elizabeth Miller

Iris Parker

Daniel Morris

John Morris

Darnell Parker

Franklin Saunsoci

Troy Saunsoci

Herman Mitchell

Erik Morris

Scott Tyndall

Stew Turner

Roy Wolfe

April Gladfelter

Joyce Morris

Vera Tyndall

Verna Tyndall

Vivian Tyndall

Lorl Springer

Monica Cook

Bonnie Wolfe

1982-83 School Year - Could find no record

1983-84 School Year

Damian Bearshield

Daniel Bearshield

Ann Hallowell

Lori Hallowell

Todd Ike

Travis Ike

Dewayne Lyons

Sue Ann Merrick

Penny L, Miller

Fletcher Mitchell

Anltia Morris

Alicia Parker

Jacob Parker

Chanon Saiil

^•Gina Snow

Paula Tyndall

Bertha Walker

Susan Dale

-j^, Sharon Frenchman

Tyra Lovejoy

Monica Pappan

Susette Saunsoci

Monica Springer

Dion Tyndall

Chris Walker

Crystal Walker

iiSheila Whitewater

Leanne Ike

Troy Saunsoei

-^fDarren Snake

Ida Springer

Robin Thomas

Vera Tyndall

Roy Wolfe

Glorine Lovejoy

1984-85 School Year

Todd Ike

Travis Ike

Dewayne Lyons

Jacob Parker

^(-Darren Snake

Chris Walker

Roy Wolfe

Rodney Fox

Frank Mitchell

Herman Mitchell

Mark Parker

Joseph Saul

^Chris Snow

Jackie Sargeant

Marlys DuMarce

Fred Springer

Terry Walker

Joseph Saunsoci

Dana Miller

John Saunsoci

Randall Tyndall

^fChris Houghton

^pSharon Frenchman

Leanne Ike

Sue Merrick

Anitla Morris

Monica Pappan

Chanon Saul

Denise Morris

Suzette Saunsoci

j^Gina Snow

Ida Springer

Monica Springer

Robin Thomas

Crystal Walker

)|CSheila Whitewater

j^Regina Ewing

Anna Hallowell

^Kourtney Horn

Tyra Lovejoy

Camllle Morris

Kathy Morris

5CGlennis Philbrick
1985-86 SCHOOL YEAR

82

Frank Mitchell

Kevin Parker

Mark Parker

Chris Walker

Terry Walker

James Beads

Stanfard Garcia

Orlando Ike

Orvllle Morris

Alvin Parker

Joseph Saul

John Saunsocl

Troy Saunsocl

Lawrence Crowe

ikMatthew DeCora

jfltarvin Horn

Rodney Tyndall

Jj^Chria Houghton

Dean Kitto

Dana Miller

Orvllle Monls

Joseph Saunsocl

Tim WhiteEyes

Alicia Baxter

^rRegina Ewlng

Ann Hallowell

Vanessa Hallowell

Sue Merrick

Kathy Morris

Denise Morris

Michelle Parker

Glennis Philbrick

Jackie Sargeant

Suzette Saunsocl

Dixie Aldrlch

Trina Aldrlch

^.Adriane Blackhawk

Berenice Cook

Delberta Frazler

Debbie Garcia

Mary Grant

^Lottie Horn

ffCarla LaFointe

Patrice Levering

Duana Lyons

Donna Wright

Jessica McCauley

Penny Miller

Anitia Morris

Cecelel Fappan

Veronica Parker

ifDeidre Redhorn

^Nicole Redhorn

Terrina Saunsocl

Ramona Sheridan

Yolanda Slfuetez

•^Danelle Smith

Robin Thomas

Vicky Tyndall

^(Stephanie Whitewater

^f Amy Bearskin

Susan Dale

Tyra Lovejoy

Monica Pappan

Michelle Parker

>>Mamle Redhorn

Lehua Sheridan

Becky Tuttle

Michelle Walker
83

RESOLUTION

of the

WINNEBAGO TRIBE OF NEBRASCA

Resolution #86-16

the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska is a Federal Corporation organized

pursuant to Section 16 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat 984)

(25 U5C 476) as aaended by the Act of June IS, 1935 (49 Stat 378),

and

the Vfiimebago Tribe of Nebraska has placed education 1

priority for all tribal •embers, and

: the

VMEREAS, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska finds part of our oeobership in

dire need of the Flandreau Indian School boardii^ institution, and

WHEREAS, wc have had students at Flandreau,for many as their only homes, and

WHEREAS, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska calls to your attention. Secretary

of the Interior Donald P. Model, the need of 600 students each year

who need Flandreau Indian School, and

WHEREAS, the mininuni academic standards for basic Education of Indian children

and National Criteria for Domitory Situations 25 CFR, Part 36,

Sub-Part H, 35-75 * 36-76, that a Grandfather Clause stating that

existing facilities be exen^it from the re©ilations. Without the

Grandfather Clause, the FIS's excellent educational opportunity will

be denied many many an Indian student.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the FIS Board states present sleeping

quarters are more than adequate for the student population,

NOW BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that you Secretary Hodel, do all within your

authority, contact all those on the Senate Select Comnittee on

Indian Affairs the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs;

the Education and Labor Committees; National Congress of American

Indians; National Tribal Chairman's Association to support exempting

existing facilities from the regulations, implementing said

Grandfather Clause.

CERTIFICATION

We, the undersigned officers of the Winnebago Tribal Council, certify that on the

2nd day of December , 1985. at a meeting duly convened, the Winnebago Tribal

Council voted to adopt the above resolution by a vote of 4 for,and 0

with 0 abstentions.

DATED THIS 2nd DAY OF Decenbcr 1985-

'iktejL^&%L^/ <"X^

^CHAIRMAN, Winnebago Tribal Council

SECRETARY, Winnebago Tribal Council

RECEIVED

.DEC 06 885
84

WlNNEBAGO TRIBE of NEBRASKA

•IKMUM IIIUl MMCK. P.: MX 117 WiHHt MGD. MIllatKA MtTI

February 7, 1986

Senator Mark Andrews

State House

Pierre, SD

Dear Senator:

As the Higher Education Director for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

we have found the graduates of Flandreau Indian School to be well

equipped educationally in their pursuit of higher education.

Therefore, we respectfully request that you do all within your power

and authority to do all you can to continue Flandreau Indian School.

Sincerely,

'f-p-j'i.giM'fyjZc^xJz^m^.7

vonne Re inhart

Higher Educat ion Department

Senator ABDNOR. I want to thank you all•students, staff, teachers, others•for your input here today. We have built a very credible record, and I assure you that it will be read with interest by

the other committee members back in Washington.

[Whereupon, at 12:13 p.m., the committee was adjourned.]
85

APPENDIX

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

EARL 010 PERSON. CHAIRMAN

JOHN BUSIER YELLOW KIDNEV, VICE-CHAIRMAN

MVRNA J CALBREATH, SECREIAHV

ELOUISEC COBELL TREASURtR

THE BLACKFEET TRIBE

OF THE BLACKFEET INOtAN NATION

P. O. Box B50

BROWNING, MONTANA 58417

September 10. 1985

TRIBAL COUNCIL

EASL OLD PERSON

JOHN "BUSIER" VELLOW KIDNEY

MYRNA J OALBREATH

ROLAND F KENNERLY

10E J MCKAY

ARTHUR WELLS

LEONARD I MOUNTAIN CHIEF

CARL KIPP, JR

TOM TAIL FEATHERS

Mrs. Cynthia Kipp, Chairman

Flandreau Indian School Board

Randreau Indian School

Flandreau, South Dakota 57028

Dear Mrs. Kipp:

During the General Session of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council held on

September 5, 1985, many concerns were addressed relating to criteria adopted by

the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Indian Education Programs (OIEP) for

admission to federal boarding schools, which is more restrictive than policies

published in the Federal Register. Presented at the meeting was a copy of Resolution #85-1, adopted by the Flandreau Indian School Board in opposition to the

admissions criteria Implemented by OIEP. This admissions criteria has many

detrimental effects to the Flandreau Indian School, Wahpeton Boarding School and

other off-reservation boarding schools to the extent of possible closure of these

schools.

The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council in support of the Flandreau Indian

School Board thereby adopted Blackfeet Resolution #342-85, which is attached.

The Blackfeet Tribe has long advocated education as our "key" to the future, as

the youth of today are our leaders of tomorrow. The effects of admissions criteria

of OIEP severely limits students from the Blackfeet Indian Reservation who are

effected by this policy and forces undue hardship on those families whose children

must attend off-reservation boarding schools. Blood degree quantum adversely

effects all children of this generation as the enrollment requirement of 1/4 degree

becomes more difficult to acquire.

The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council is in full support of the efforts of

the Flandreau Indian School Board in urging the Bureau of Indian Affairs to withdraw

their criteria and procedures effecting admissions to off-reservation boarding

schools and resume operations as established under federal regulations (25 U.S.C.,

Sec. 2013 and 25 C.F.R., Part 32. Sec. 32.4(a)). The Blackfeet Tribal Business

Council also urges the assistance of the Montana Congressional delegation in

support of these efforts.

If we may be of any further assistance in this matter, please contact my

office at (406) 338-7179, Ext. 208.

•M |

m

;

, MyrnS J. Galbfeatli,Secretary '

A-^ VJITIi jM^'cJ* i'BlaclrArtuWbal Businws Council1|*J

m
86

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

[AM. OLD PftSON, CHAIRMAN

JOHN -•urnr VIILOW HONEY, VKE-CMAMTMAN

•mmA x CALUEATH SECRETARV

ELOUISE C COMLL. TKASUKR

HUMBER: 342-85

THE BLACKFEET TRIBE

OF THE BLACKFEET INDIAN NATION

P. 0. Box 850

BROWNING, MONTANA 59417

RESOLUTION

TRIBAL COUNCIL

EARL OLD PEtSON

JOHN "BUSTER VEUOW UOMET

MTRNA J GALBREATH

ROLAND f XENNERLV

JOE 1 WOUY

ARTHUR WELLS

J MOUNTAIN CHIEF

CARL «IPP IK

TOM TAIL FEATHERS

WHEREAS: The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council is the duly constituted governing

body within the exterior boundaries of the Blackfeet Indian Nation, and

WHEREAS: The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council has been organized to represent,

develop, protect and advance the views, interests, education and

resources of the people of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, and

WHEREAS: Federal Law, 25 U.S.C. Sec. 2013 requires the Bureau of Indian Affairs

to establish uniform policies for BIA and Contract Schools, to publish

those procedures in the Federal Register to consult with Indian Tribes

in the formulation and revision of those policies, and

WHEREAS: In the policies published by the BIA in the Federal Register and codified

in 25 C.F.R. Part 32, the BIA has committed itself to consultation with

Tribal Governments in the revision of its education policies, 25 C.F.R.

32.4 (a); and,

WHEREAS: The BIA has defined the criteria for student eligibility in its regulations as membership in a recognized Tribe and 1/4 blood quantum, 25 C.F.R.

32.4 (a); and

WHEREAS: The BIA Office of Indian Education Programs has promulgated criteria for

admission to federal boarding schools that are more restrictive than

those published in the regulations and has, therefore, violated 25 U.S.C.

Sec. 20L3, the Administrative Procedures Act and its own regulations, and

WHEREAS: These admissions criteria were promulgated without consultation with tribal

governments in violation of 25 U.S.C. Sec 2013 25 C.F.R. Sec. 32.4(a); and.

WHEREAS: The Aberdeen Area Office of the BIA has interpreted those admission

policies in such a manner that Agency Education personnel are afraid to

to admit even students who had previously attended BIA Boarding Schools;

(See attached memo), and

WHEREAS: The obsolete, unlawful criteria and new procedures have caused a severe

obstruction to the normal flow of old and new applications to boarding

schools which in turn will cause an artificially low enro^jent at Flandreau

and other boarding schools In the Aberdeen area.

MMImmMiffiz
87

Tribal Re»olutlon # 342-85

Pago Two

WHEREAS: The Plandreau Indian School Board views the actions by the Bureau of

Indian Affairs as another surreptlcious attempt to close the Flandreau

Indian Boarding School and other off-reservation boarding schools by

administratively preventing certification of students by Intimidation,

NOW

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Flandreau Indian School Board demands that the

Bureau of Indian Affairs Inmedlately withdraw and retract the Illegal

criteria and procedures and adhere to the law as specified In 25 U.S.C.

Sec. 2013 and 25 C.F.R. Part 32 Sec. 32.4 (1), AND

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Flandreau Indian School Board requests that all

Tribes whose students are represented at Flandreau to Immediately contact

their respective Congressional delegation for their Immediate, active

and earnest support In urging the Bureau to withdraw their Illegal

criteria and procedures, AND

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That because boarding schools will open within a few days

and tine Is of the essence, the Flandreau Indian School Board hereby

authorizes and directs Ms. Cynthia 0. Kipp, Chairman of the Flandreau

Indian School Board to Immediately contact the Native American Rights

Fund, Denver, Colorado, for legal advise and hereby requests and authorizes

HARF to represent the Flandreau Indian School Board in an injunction against

the BIA or any other litigation against the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That copies of this resolution be sent to the National

Congress of American Indians and the National Tribal Chairman's Association

to request their active support, NOW

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council wishes to include

the Wahpeton Boarding School as another entity which is directly affected

by the illegal actions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs,

BE IT RESOLVED FURTHER: That copies of this Resolution be immediately transmitted

to the Montana Congressional Delegation, Senator John Melcher, Ron Marlenee,

Pat Williams; Hark Andrews, Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs;

Congressman, Sidney Yates, Chairman, House Committee on Indian and

Insular Affairs, and request their support of this resolution,

HOW BE IT RESOLVED: That the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council of the Blackfeet

Indian Nation hereby supports and endorses the Flandreau Indian School

Board Resolution No. 1-85.

'' ^-,' •••;

THE BLACKFEET TRIBE OF THE BLACKFEET

INDIAN NATION

^Stes^ATH, Secretary

Blackfeet Tribal Business Council

CERTIFICATION

X hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the Blackfeet Tribal

Business Council in a duly called, noticed and convened Regular Session, assembled

the 5th day of September, 1985, with SIX (6) members present to constitute a quorum.

V

•ifcttate^i VV^.q->3» t^- ^ hjMYNRA^J. GALBREA^H. Secretary

Blackfeet Tribal Business Council

(SEAL)
88

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

Flandreau, S. D. 57028 Phone 997-3891

February 10, 1986

Senator James Abdnor

S.H.-309 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Senator Abdnor:

The cont inued operat ion of the Flandreau Indian School is vital to the education

of our Indian people. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe supports the cont inued

operation of the Flandreau Indian School and feels that if efforts are successful

to close the school, the trust and treaty rights of the Native Americans would

be violated.

We are therefore request i ng that Senator James Abdnor take al1 necessary act ions

to insure the continued operation of the Flandreau Indian School.

Respectfully.

Elmer H. Weston

Tribal President

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

Samuel H. Allen

Secretary/Treasurer

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

Larry D. Lbvejoy

Vtce-President

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

SHA/1 b

030
89

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

Flandreau, S. D. 57028 Phone 997-3891

RESOLUTION NO. 86-05

WHEREAS, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe is a federally recognized

organization with a Constitution and By-Laws approved by the

Secretary of the Inter ior and Commiss ioner of Indian Affairs

on April 2^, 1935, amended February 7, I9AI and revised on

November 15. 1967, and

WHEREAS, Article VIM of said revised Constitution and By-Laws provides

that the governing body of the Tribe shall be the Tribal Council

which is empowered to negotlate with federal, state and local

governments, and

WHEREAS, the treaty rights of the Native Americans would be violated

If the Flandreau Indian School should be closed, and

WHEREAS, the contInued operat ion of the Flandreau Indi an School is vital

to the continued education of our Indian children, and

WHEREAS, the economy of the F landreau area is depressed through low farm

pr ices, and

WHEREAS the closing of the Flandreau )ndian School would further

contr Ibute to the dec 1 ine of the economic base of the Flandreau

area.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,

that the Flandreau Santee Sloux Tr i be supports the cont i nued

operation of the Flandreau Indian School and requests that Senator

James Abdnor take al 1 necessary act ions to insure the cont inued

operation of the Flandreau Indian School.

CERTIFICATION

The foregoing resolution was duly enacted and adopted on this 10th day of February,

1986 by the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Council at which a quorum was present by

a vote of k for, 0 against and 1 not voting.

f^aZz^^^U-' ^zL Elmer H. Weston, President

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

Samuel H. Allen, Sec./Treas.

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

002
90

lndian Tribe of ^l^h^

* 1 ^^ ^ M

P.O. Box 397 « T J Teiephone

Keshena, Wisconsin 54135 uft * 1-715-799-3341

January 21, 1986

Principal

Flandreau Indian School

Flandreau, SD 57028

Dear Sir:

Enclosed is a copy of Resolution 85-65 from the Menominee

Tribal Legislature which we hope helps in the fight about

room-size regulations being now imposed by the BIA.

If we can be of further assistance please let us know.

Sincerely,

-tfbryi^, £&****-£%*.f/tfyn

Lynn Skenadore

Tribal Chairperson

LS/njd
91

MENCMINEE NATION

MENCMINEF. TRIBAL LEGISLATURE

Tribal Resolution Mo. 8S-6S

WHEREAS, the Tribal Legislature is the governing body of the Menominee

Tribe with all powers thereto pertaining; and

WHEREAS, the Tribal Legislature has determined that continued operation

of Flandreau Indian School is in the best interests of Menominee

students and anything that threatens such operation would pose a danger

to the students' well-being; and

WHEREAS, the Tribal Legislature has further determined that proposed

BIA School Rule changes on dormitory limits would severely limit the

enrollment of Indian students including Menominees;

NOW, TOEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Menominee Tribal Legislature that

the proposed BIA regulations governing dormitory situations

specifically exempt Flandreau Indian School so as to allow the school

to continue to serve a maximum number of students at a minimum of cost.

CERTIFICATION

We, the undersigned, do hereby certify the foregoing resolution was

duly presented and approved by the Menominee Tribal Legislature at a

meeting duly held on November 7 , 1985, with a quorum

present, by a vote of 7 for; o against; o abstention: and a

absent; and the said resolution has not been amended or rescinded in

any way.

ylvta Wilber, Secretary

HINEE INDIAN TRIBE

Date: Novernber 7, 1985
92

Cfestw««

5t»xl^ 1&>c(J 5c(«x "W*

December 2, 1985

Senator James Abdnor

United States Senator

SH-309 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 50210

Dear Senator Abdnor:

Please find enclosed the Standing Rock.Siqux Tribe's

Resolution Np',ri,)463-'85, "expressing diir^ ^(^jpepn relative

to the Bureau'of Indian Affairs' Final. Rulet^on its

Education Stahdards^and ,the Boarding.School .Standards.

We feel th'ese standards'on trie dormitories ar§ biased

and does _hot reflect the^exlsting boarding schools such

fioo'l located, in Flandreau, South

Dakota and the Wahpetoh Indian School located in Wahpeton,

as Flandreau'Indian So

Dakota and

North DaTcot

Your assistance is being appreciated in directing the

Bureau of Indian Affairs to prpyide for adequate funding

if they intend.to implement .these. Regulations on already

existing schools. We feel this^is 'another effort by the

Bureau of Indian Affairs to undermine the Indian Boarding

Schools in our respective states. '.•'jr

Thank you!

Charles W. Murphy

Chairman

CWMialm

attachments
93

Faga Two

Resolution No. 463-35

3E IT RHTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairman and the Secretary of the Tribal

Council are hereby authorized and instructed to sign this resolution for and on

behalf of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

CERTIFICATION

Vve, the undersigned, Ciair/nan and Secretary of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal

Council, hereby certify that the Tribal Council is ccniposed of 16 nenibsrs, of

which 16 , constituting a quorum were present at the meeting thereof, duly

and regularly called, noticed and convened and held this 7th day of

MOVE.MBER , 1935, and that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the

affinrative vote of 15 nsnbers, with 0 opposing, and with 1 not

voting,

Dated this SEVe.vi'H day of NOVEMBER 1985.

ATTEST:

t-erry/tianvSt^rtaing Sock Sioux Tribe

(OFFICIAL SEAL)

Charles vi. Murphy, Chaiir

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

V*:
94

SFSOUJriON

• No. 463-35

MEREAS, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is aft unincorporated Tribe of Indians,

having accepted the Indian Reorganization ftct of June 18, 1934, with the

exception of Article 16, and the recognized governing body of the Tribe is knowi

as the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council; and

VHEREAS, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council, pursuant to the amended

Constitution of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, firticle IV, Section 1(a) and

1(c), is empowered co negotiate with Federal, State, and Local governments on

behalf of the Trite and is further empovaered to promote and protect the health,

education and general welfare of the members of the Tribe; and

WiEREAS, the education of our Indian youth is a treaty•trust responsibility of

the Federal goveraiient and the mission is to provide quality education

opportunities frcm early childhood through life in accordance with the Tribes'

needs for cultural and econcmic well-being in keeping with the wide diversity of

Indian Trites, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs shall mnifest consideration of

the WHOLE person, taking into account the spiritual, nental, physical, and

cultural aspects of the person within family and tribal contexts; and

iiiEREAS, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, located in both North and South Dakota,

is in receipt of the Final Rules provided for in the Federal Register, Vol. 50,

Mo. 124, Msnday, September 9, 1985, establishing minimum academic standards for

the basic education of Indian children for Bureau-operated schools and for those

Indian-controlled contract schools which adopt these standards and to establish

national criteria for dormitory situations for schools operated by the Bureau of

Indian Affairs and for Indian-controlled contract schools operating dormitories;

Bna ••. ^^^TMII '':••? P ^^1 i

KnEREAS, the Bureau or Indian Affairs' Office of Indian Education Programs in

issuing the "national criteria for dormitory situations for schools operated by

the Bureau of Irriian Affairs" failed to correct those projected dificiencies

which will be found in EXISTING dormitories; namely, Flandreau Indian School and

Wahpeton Indian School; and.-- : \,,i' ,;.. '•-•\'-,Sj t

MffiRfiAS, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe does have enrolled marnbers attending the

above named board schools each school year and does urge quality education be

taught at these schools, but does not support the new Rules and Regulations

applicable to the above schools IF these rules and regulations are designed to

diminish the enrollment of Indian students at Flandreau and Vahpeton Indian

Schools; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe strongly urges

the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Office of Indian Education Programs to provide

appropriate correspondence for a "grandfather" clause applicable to the

Flandreau Indian School and the Wahpeton Indian School stating that these nsw

rules and regulations shall not be applicable to their respective boarding

schools unless appropriate funds are provided for the remodeling of the sleeping

space and other living areas; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Congressional representatives be cade aware of

the new regulations as applicable to the Flandreau Indian School and to Wahpeton

Indian Schools; if the new regulations are found to be applicable, then, it is

reqissted that additional funds be provided for construction of new darmitories

at these respective schools.
95

i.^OR/^

Jaraes Abdnor

UNITED STATES SENATE

SH-309 Hart Si

Washington, DC 20310

Dear Senator Abdnor,

ianic you for asking ltlo•s abo,lt tha nandr£au j^.^ Scf

Is School should stay open for the following re.,

The l^angerr

<V'°"h;; f"" honeSi

ad ^"« "^re they are

toai Leaders (in our Sia

".d they unanimously see

(Cession of "Education"

CAR FOR INDIANS;
96

tg a %.i

i \. H ^i

i

1

AS*

ESHAH.CK CENTEIl

I I

or

•i

b

Tl! 8 lett r is

Ve "?trely

many t isies with, sf:. .ur ,Reservations. I

•hearcedly support your efforts in keeping Flandreau

Indian School open.

.ry 10th, unless prevented by weathe

•.-n (r anticioation of the Hearing on that date.

K/VY Stanislaus Maudlin. OSB

'OX'.:-

us Wosen in yo

to asV you tosuccess in Indi

INDIANS: PEV. STftWSUUS MAUDU
97

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

IOI$CJPLES OF CHRIST)

13lh Siteet and Duluih Avenue

Sioux FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA

Zip Code 57 104

Telephone 33S9174

N. CAYLE FISCHER, P«tor

January 31, 1986

Senator James Abdnor

Hart Senate Office Bldg., SH-309

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Abdnor:

Flandreau Indian School Hearing,

February 10, 1986

We appreciate so much all you have done to keep the Flandreau Indian School

functioning in rendering a vital educational service to the Indian youth of

the upper midwest area.

With so many problems we have in our state with trying to help the Indian

population, one of the bright spots is what is being done for the Indian young

people by such institutions as the Flandreau Indian School. Anything that is

done to cut down the participation and education service to them should be

opposed.

From the administration and persons who work in this facility, we believe that

enforcement of the BIA dormitory restrictions would curtail the enrollment and

eliminate several hundred young people from the educational opportunity of this

school. We have never heard any complaints from students, their families, nor

faculty nor administration that the number of students occupying the dorm rooms

has ever been a problem. We do not believe that it is in the best interest of

Indian youth to make changes now that would prevent seme from having this education.

From this action, and other events in the past, we have the impression that

the administration seeks to discourage this facility and its work and to

eventually eliminate it altogether. We believe that this would be a serious

mistake and we would promote just the opposite. Let's strengthen the education opportunity, not discourage it.

Thank you for all you are doing to try to keep this school going.

Sincerely,

N. Gayle Fischer, Pastor

NGF:d5
Ku?!!,

Flandreau Indian School Board

Flandreau Indian School

FUndreau, South Dakota

5702a

February 11, 1986

Honorable Jaaes Abdnor

Daltcd States Senator

309 Bart Eulldlng

Haafalagton, DC 20515

Dear Senator Abdnor:

Please Include the attached testimony which 1 neglected to leave with you

on February 10.

I want to thank you again for your efforts In working with our dormitory

space problea. We are confident that the Senate Select Committee will be

able to overcome this difficulty for us, but the tlmeframe is of major

concern. The Flandreau Indian School has received a memo from the Education

Office stating that they must come into compliance by the Fall of 1986.

In addition, we know you are aware that we are not looking for a compromise

but want our facilities grandfathered in. At the time they were built, they

were reviewed by the Bureau of Affairs and the Indian Health Service and they

were deemed large enough for 4 students and have been successfully operating

since 1963.

Thank you again. Senator Abdnor, for taking time out of your busy schedule

to come to the Flandreau Indian School and conduct the Hearing. Your

concern is greatly appreciated.

Cynthia C. Kipp

President

Flandreau Indian School Board

Attachment
99

Testimony at Public Bearing

J* Flsndreau Indian School

Flandrcau, South Dakota 2/10/86

To the Chairman

Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs

The Flandreau Indian School dormitories were buUt In 1963. At the time

they were built, they were reviewed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the

Indian Health Service, and It was decided that sleeping rooms of approximately

190 square feet were deemed large enough for 4 students, and they have been

operating with 4 students from 1963 to 1986. He have closely monitored the

Home Living operation and visited with students for their Input. The

conclusion has been unanimous that there Is ade(tu«te room for 4 students.

The Bureau -was aware of the drastic affect the square footsge requirement,

.; la Its present form, would have on the Flandreau Indian School.

The sleeping rooms are sleeping rooms. There Is square footsge available to

students within the dormitories, at the Canteen, the Auditorium, and two Gyms

(see attachment).

Retention of students has been mentioned Indicating- that with fewer students

per room, retention would improve,. Again, after evaluating all aspects of

• student retention, we feel changing the number of students per sleeping roon . ...

.'•:• would have absolutely no affect on student retention. Each student ;

uho attends Flandreau Indian School must have either a social or an .

educational reason for being here. A large percentage of our students have

erperlenced lack of opportunity due to a number of educational or social

reasons; therefore, we feel our present rate of retention Is not out of the

ordinary when sll things are taken Into consideration. On the average, we

are successful with two out of three students.

m osny cases, the Flandreau Indian School is the last chance for a student

to obtsln a high school diploma. Of the students who leave Flandreau Indian

Sihool before graduating, only about 50Z attempt to go to school elsewhere.

Students leave here for a number of reasons. Hone have stated their reason
100

for leaving Has due to lack of sleeping room space. When ve do lose students,

this does not Indicate the school has not offered both a complete academic

and hone living program. In fact, the structure and Intensity of our programs

are difficult for some students to adjust to. Before coning to Flandreau,

many of our students had a high rate of absenteeism. In addition, as was

stated before, each of our students are eligible to attend Flandreau Indian

School only because of social and/or educational reasons. If these reasons

change at home, parents often request their, students to return home.

Many, many tines, after these students get home,' they contact us by telephone

or by letter stating they regret not staying at the Flandreau Indian School,

and many of these students re-apply and are accepted back and are successful

the next time they come to Flandreau. To cut Flandreau Indian School enrollment

yould In fact take away .the opportunity for many students to graduate from . .

high school.

The Flandreau Indian School Facility was designed to meet the educational and

home living needs of 600 students.

Cy.

Yldent

Flandreau Indian School Board
101

SQOARB FOOIftGE:

BuUding #3 - Old Gym: 9,891

Building #85 - New Gym: 17,043

Building #53 - Canteen: 13,091

1st Floor (9,328)

Basement (3,713)

Building #86 - Auditorium: -14,733

Building #84 - Boys Dormitory: ^41,905

1st & 2nd Floor (38,094) •

Rec Area Basement (3,811)

Building #83 - Girls Dormitory: SAME AS BOBLDING #84
102

BOYS DORM SQOARE FOOTftGE

Total sleeping square foot Including isolation - 14,768

Sleeping square foot - 13,984 . .

Total isolation square feet - 784

1st and 2nd floor

GUtLS DORM SOOARE FOOTaGE

Total sleeping square foot including isolation - 14,768

Sleeping square foot - 13,984

Total isolation square feet - 784

1st and 2nd floor
103

Total rooms In each dormitory 150

Total square footage of all rooms 28,500

Square feet in each room for furnishings 150x61....9,150

Total left for sleeping space 19,350

But actually:

Approximately 190 square footage per room

Minus 61 square footage for furnishings

Equals.. 129 meaning the way regulations are written, there could

only be 2 students per room
104

''*T-' M^JtSrtjj

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

South Dakota Conterence Council on Ministries

1331 West University Mitchell, S. D. 57301

P. O. Box 460 Phone 605-996-6552

30 January 1986

Senator James Abdnor

SH-30 9 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Jim:

I am pleased to know that you will be holding a public hearing in February relating to the Flandreau Indian School. I

cannot attend that meeting, but wish to affirm the value of

the school and its importance to American Indian people in

the upper mid-west.

This school, and its program, continue to provide a valuable

off-reservation education experience for a number of Indian

youth. In many instances, there is little hope for them to

get a good education in their home environment. They need

the supervision and care and encouragement that Flandreau

provides.

The school offers a broad spectrum of nurture for the students. From classroom academics to socio-cultural affirmation to ethnic and contemporary religious care, it exists

for these young people. I am personally acquainted with

the coordinator of Religious Affairs, Tony Firman, and know

the importance of the school through his testimony and witness.

I would hope the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs

will see fit to continue strong and appropriate support for

this school.

Respectfully,

Bob Roth

CCOM Director

BR/bc

cc: Tony Firman
105

^- 9- Sr(*

Qx^. Qjlr<jL/^(i5 AJ ^t^zj^Aji vjooJJJK o^UKiyv^

v-^ULA^O-YAj Q»_w-\d OtMoO OOAil KJTCX^XH. Ott- CJnCJUY^CUl , I

"^vAjxiia. ocXcw^ vJtOlKs "tJKlAi C>AVLL> dVat^LC

I
106

408 South Wind St.

Flandreau, SD 57028

February, 5. 1986

Honorable James Abdnor

United States Senator

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Senator Abdnor:

My name ia Arthur R. Cartwright, I am an alumni of the Flandreau Indian

School, class of 1975.

I am writing this letter in concern with the regulation on square

footage in the dormitory. 1 feel that there is ample space now for our

students as there was when I was a student at Flandreau Indian School.

Since I have graduated from Flandreau I have attended three different

colleges where the rooms were not as good or as spacious as at Flandreau

Indian School. And to go one step further I was in the military where there

was hardly any room for a person to have any privacy to oneself.

I feel that the real topic here is Education! And that is what we are

here for. If we cut our enrollment there will be a lot of students who will

not be given the chance to complete their education. Flandreau Indian School

is a last resort for a lot of our young Indian people. And I know this

because I was once one of these students for four years and I enjoyed being

a part of the Flandreau Indian School curriculum. The staff here at Flandreau

Indian School are professionals at what they do and they do it well!

So I feel as far as the square footage is concerned it was good enough

a decade before I got here and a decade after I have been gone. It should be

efficient enough for the years to come. After all, these students are no larger

now than when we were students ourselves.

I certainly appreciate your time in coming to the Flandreau Indian School

and hearing our side of the issue. Thank You!

Sincerely,

Arthur R. Cartwright

Business Technician

"Class of 1975"
107

SUBJECT: The proposed closing In 191ij-15a'* of the ;PJandreau Indian

School. • ..•

As a retired teacher who has worked for twenty-one years with

students at the Plandreau Indian School, I have seen the many

problems and needs of the Individual conlmc to this school. I have

also seen their satisfaction from achievements, the strong bonds

of friendship with their peers, and t'.ie feeling of belonging.

Belonging Is a key word.

Students come to Flandreau for various reasons: social,

economy, apathy, inability to get along with others In predominately

white schools, isolation, discrimination in the city or trouble

with the law. With these reasons or problems in mind I do not feal

that the BIA has good alternatives to offer the student now enrolled

or for those expecting to attend this school in the future, X'w

afraid in spite of the suggested public school, reservation boarding

school or foster homes as suggested we will find the alternate

schools will be jails, state prisons, detoxification wards, drug

rehabilitation centers and welfare offices.

By going as a chaperone on bus trips I have met and talked with

parents or relatives on the reservation and I found that many of the

students lived in an atmosphere where the family structure harmed thai

far worse than being separated from their families for approximately

four months at a time. A breakdown of the family system with poverty

and high unemployment results in alcoholism, child abuse and neglect.

In such situations where is the incentive for an education? Often

no one makes the teen-ager go to school, so even though a school

may be close by he does not attend.

While some children come from broken homes, many others come

from good homes, but for some reason the teen-ager does not conform

to the local school. In talking with students many claim they can't

make it in a white school or they may have difficulties in their

home setting and need to be away from bad Influence.

I have seen grandparents who have been left with the responsibility of raising a grandchild but when this child reaches high

school age he almost becomes a burden in spite of the love the

grandparents feel. Therefore, it is a comfort and satisfaction

to those grandparents if they have the alternative of a place like

Flandreau where they know their grandchild will be sheltered and

protected from a severe climate for nine months as well as trained

in higher education and vocational skills. I remember one

incident involving a grandparent. We had a freshman girl who was

not met by her grandfather at the bus station in Montana. Since

she had a trunk she asked if we would drive her to her home on the

edge of town. We were directed to the city dump and grandpa

rushed out of an old building to welcome his granddaughter. She
108

would spend the summer there, but for the next three years he had

her return to Fiandreau and I understand this girl then went on

to a college in Montana. It Is obvious however why she refused

to attend the public school within walking distance.

Many students who come from ten states and represent 32 tribes

show individual learning problems and need the trained personnel

and the special programs offered by the Plandreau Indian School.

Why not utilize these trained personnel and special programs•

expeoially since the school facilities are in very good condition

and the future capital outlay would be kept at a minimum. A plus

for Flandreau is that stress is placed on teachers trained to

teach the disadvantaged. This special training is not always

found in all high schools. Recognition is given the desire of

many Indian people to return to the reservation if that is their

choice.

The students attending this school have special needs and I

strongly feel that an injustice beyond recognition will be done

If this school is not-available to them.

VA' "^tO **^91*&••^

Vera R- Smith (Mrs. J. A.)

602 Fipestone Avenue East

Plandreau, South Dakota 57028
109

Honorabls Jmma Abdnor

United States Senator ' '

Washington, D.C.

Dear Senator Abdnor:

As a former Flandreau Indian School graduate 1951-1955 which were those most

precious years of my life while attending school here. You were given an

education, to venture out into this world of ours. At this time we did not

have the new dormitories. I have had two children that graduated from this

school and lived in the dorms, with no complaints of any kind. They also

were given an education and both now have Jobs. Without this school for

any student, without an education they will not survive. Students being

forced to remain at home and attend school because of cutting down the

enrollment and will be one of the worst things that can happen to our

school and our students. We know from past experience these students

that have tried to make an effort to attend school at home, did not and

could not succeed. They did not attend school for reasons. Flandreau

Indian School is here to give our students an education.

Thank you.

ona H. Walker

Administrative Officer

Flandreau Indian School

Flandreau, SD 57028

O

11187 237