"Pewha, Pewha, the students recite in unison, blowing the final words of a traditional Paiute prayer to the ears of a Creator. Heads rise from a position of reverence and with a sip of water the blessing is concluded.

Allowance for prayer is one of many exceptions taking place in this public school classroom. It is here that an indigenous language parched for speakers is slowly being hydrated back to health on the tongues of the youth. And it is here that the educational inequities plaguing American Indians are being shown a model for reform.

At the behest of several American Indian students attending Spanish Springs High School, the Washoe County School District began offering a Paiute language course as part of the World Language credit program during the 2006-07 academic year.

They didn t see themselves reflected in the curriculum, said Lynn Manning, Indian education program coordinator for the school district, whose ancestry includes Paiute, Shoshone, Chippewa and Cree blood.

These student organizers hailed from the Hungry Valley Community, located in the high desert sagebrush country north of Reno. They pushed for this education initiative despite the historical distrust of the public education system within many American Indian communities.

Education became an imposed thing, Manning said. So for a lot of older people, they don t really trust education. The process of becoming assimilated by becoming too educated is perceived as a negative."

Get the Story:
Joshua H. Salivent: Bows and arrows of education (The Oklahoman 9/27)