And the Culture and Language of the People Shall Continue

Written by Denise Gonez-Santos, School Improvement Specialist, RBERN West

My teacher in elementary school once told me, “Patience is a virtue.”  As a child I was very impatient.  As an adult, I realize that this is a virtue that remains the most challenging of all.  It was a nine-year journey of patience for a group of local educators, their perseverance, and their networking with colleagues who sought the same goal across New York State, that lead to the creation of a teacher certification in Indigenous culture and language studies.  On June 13, 2023, the New York State Board of Regents approved the creation of this new certification area.  This certification was needed not just for the teachers who will seek this certificate or the students who will receive instruction.  Today, many Native American languages are in danger of extinction.  This certification comes with an immense responsibility we all share to help ensure that the languages of Seneca, Tuscarora, Onondaga, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Shinnecock and Unkechaug survive as Indigenous languages in our state.  
 

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About Us The Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network West is part of a statewide system of support, funded by the NYSED Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBE-WL). Mission: Collaborate with educators, parents, and community members to promote academic excellence and ensure high school graduation for all multilingual learners. Vision: A community that provides access to an excellent and equitable education for multilingual learners that prepares them to be prosperous participants of a free and democratic society. Follow us on Twitter: @RBERNwest