The American Indian Education Program center, a federally funded Title VII Program Office of Indian Education Formula Grant Project that serves all off-reservation American Indians in Santa Barbara County, is establishing a research and reference library.
The growing book collection, which currently includes a few shelves of volumes, will serve more than 1,500 American Indian children from more than 575 tribes in North America, including Alaska and Hawaiian natives.
Zorro May, community liaison for the center at 1157 E. Clark Ave., suite G, in Orcutt, took on the project so the community could have a major resource for adequate American Indian education. He said the center currently needs books by or about American Indians.
May said that although many institutions of higher education gloss over American Indian history with unsatisfactory texts, the center is also interested in collecting those books that may demean or belittle the American Indian image. Such books could lead to useful and informative dialogue on why the information provided is wrong, he explained.
Doni-Jo Munro, director of the center, said the library will become a place where students can come in and learn about their individual tribes.
“There is nothing more important than teaching a kid their self-identity,” Munro said.
In school, American Indians may be presented in one cultural image that is long gone in North America, but it’s important for students to understand how many traditions and different characteristics each unique tribe or nation possesses to this day, Munro said.
“Even with assimilation and forced removal, our culture is still intact,” Munro said. “Our children shouldn’t have to hide who they are. Our goal is to educate. We’re not combative—we have our views and traditions, and we’re open to other views.”
The library will be divided by region, and books won’t be allowed to be checked out because of the value of some of the limited-edition books written by tribes. All donations are tax-deductible.
For information on how to donate to the American Indian Education Program center, call 938-0868 or (775) 720-2289, or e-mail indianed@sbceo.org.
Intern Sarah Parr compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 5, 2011.