At first glance, Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act appears to address solely discrimination in employment because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
But it also contains language requiring education of Native American children to address culturally related issues as well as high-quality basic instruction.
Two teachers in Durango School District 9-R strive to carry out that mission for children from 27 tribes in kindergarten through high school. Lucinda Long-Webb looks after kindergarten through fifth-grade; Teri Nuhn works with grades 6 through 12.
Classroom work and cultural events aren’t all that’s on the mind of students this week. They’re thinking about the fundraiser coming up Saturday. It’s a 5K/1-mile run/walk to support programs beyond the classroom.
The run/walk will be held at 9 a.m. in Rank Park and along the Animas River Trail behind Durango High School. Long-Webb is coordinating the event.
“It strengthens mind, body and spirit,” said Long-Webb.
“We work with the federal government to provide additional resources to students and to engage their families with the school,” said assistant superintendent Victor Figueroa. “Some families chose not to participate in Title VII, and some don’t qualify.”
The Durango School District has 412 Native American students, but only 195 are in Title VII programs, Long-Webb said.
The school district received $35,854 from the feds for this school year. The grant varies according to the number of youngsters served.
Sufficient communalities exist among Native Americans to allow all 27 tribes represented in the district to benefit, Figueroa said. But some activities focus on a specific tribe.
“One goal is to work with the most needy students to shore up their literary skills and develop sensitivity through the context of culture,” Figueroa said. “We also engage families through events.”
Elementary and secondary students may interact with Native American clubs at Fort Lewis College, hear visiting speakers or attend “feasts” that cover various aspects of a culture.
Nuhn and Long-Webb share communalities. They’re Diné, the Navajo word for “The People” and the name Navajos use to identify themselves. Both are new to Title VII outreach education this year. Each graduated from Fort Lewis College and earned a master’s degree in reading at the University of Northern Colorado.
Nuhn has taught for 12 years, Long-Webb for 25. Nuhn has lived in La Plata County for 20 years. Long-Webb has been a resident of Durango for 25 years.
Nuhn and Long-Webb work on activities that supplement regular school curriculum, Long-Webb said. They turn to programs that further reading and writing, enrichment activities that focus on problem-solving and thinking, activities that promote cultural awareness and sensitivity, and use tribal elders as resources.
Among visiting scholars or authors:
Shonto Begay, a children’s book author and painter.
Luci Tapahonso Johnson, a Navajo poet and lecturer.
Louie Gong, a Canadian artist, activist and educator.
“We want to increase literacy skills through reading and writing to close the achievement gap,” Long-Webb said. “We we want to educate our children, not only academically, but also by strengthening their mind and spirt using our cultural teachings and family tradition.”
daler@durangoherald.com
If you go
Title VII 5K/1-mile run/walk: 9 a.m., Saturday, Rank Park behind Durango High School. The event is a fundraiser for Durango School District’s Title VII program. For more information, call Lucinda Long-Webb 946-1751 or email llong-webb@durango.k12.co.us.
