My final presentation for EDCI 803, Curriculum Development, Summer 2009 with Dr. Kim was a movie of the interview with Dr. Russell Blackbird. The movie can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/edci803. These documents supplement the movie and the final paper.

1. Interview with Dr. Russell Blackbird
Haskell Indian Nations University
Joelyn K. Foy
July 16, 2009
Some facts about Dr. Blackbird:
Omaha (pronounced oom-a’-ha) of Nebraska tribal member
Taught in the Lawrence Public Schools early in his career
Asst Principal and then Principal (10 years) of South Junior High
Received his Ph.D. from Kansas State University in 2004
Retired in 2005 after 31 years in the Lawrence Public Schools
Dean of the School of Education, HINU, for four years
Currently oversees the School of Education, School of Business,
and the College of Arts & Sciences, HINU
Also currently Acting Vice President of Academic Affairs, HINU
Some facts about Haskell Indian Nations University:
Started out as a boarding school in 1884
Became a junior college in 1970
Became Haskell Indian Nations University in 1993
Part of the Tribal College System
Over 300 nations are represented in its student body
One of the few TCUs that offers four year degrees
School of Education NCATE certified for K-6 in 2008
How is the teacher education curriculum defined?
How is the teacher education curriculum different from
other universities? Emphasis on culture
How is it different to serve the Native K-6 population?
Must take into account the tribal cultural perspective
Do Haskell graduates face different challenges with non-
Native K-6 populations? Dysconscious racism
Copyright 2009 Joelyn Katherine Foy; this material may not be used or copied without the
explicit permission of the author.

2. What kinds of issues or challenges does the School of Education
at HINU face in curriculum development?
KSDE’s and NCATE’s hesitancy around HINU’s need to
focus on tribal sovereignty and maintenance of tribal
culture
Preparing HINU graduates for non-Native public schools
Who are involved in planning and developing the teacher education
curriculum? Dr. Blackbird, other faculty, and students
Who decides when/how the curriculum is changed? (NCATE,
faculty involvement, outside influences such as the state
curriculum and standardized tests)
The last three weeks in May the curriculum is reviewed and
evaluated
Adjustments are implemented in the fall semester
How are the changes implemented? By each faculty member in
the fall
What curriculum approaches are taught (i.e., Tyler vs Eisner)?
Holistic
What are the focal points of curriculum? (subject matter,
society, individual)
Subject matter is aligned with the state subject standards
Society is embedded within the cultural focus and perspective
The School of Education uses a cohort model that supports
each individual within an extended family (also culturally
driven)
Copyright 2009 Joelyn Katherine Foy; this material may not be used or copied without the
explicit permission of the author.