|
ANA partnered with the ACF Office of Early Childhood Development to explore of culturally responsive practices and innovative strategies in early childhood development across Indian Country.
The CPC plenary session brought together Katie Hamm, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Early Childhood Development at the Administration for Children and Families, Dr. Melissa Lewis, director of Little Cherokee Seeds, and Philana Thinn, director of the Gila River Indian Community’s Early Education Childcare Program.
The discussion centered around the benefits, challenges, and strategies for implementing high-quality ECD programs within Native communities, highlighted the importance of integrating cultural practices and language with evidence-based strategies into the ECD curriculum.
Key insights revealed how Native ECD programs provide crucial building blocks for lifelong success and reinforce community bonds by empowering Native families through culture.
The Native Language Workshop delved deeper into the practical applications of these principles with presentations from Rhonda Yankton, Lakota Language Coordinator and Lead Teacher for Early Head Start at the Rural America Initiatives Lakota Language Program, Ka’iulani Laeha, Chief Executive Officer of ‘Aha Pūnana Leo, and Dr. Curtis Chavez and Celeste Naranjo from the Keres Children’s Learning Center.
Rhonda highlighted the benefits of integrating Lakota language and cultural practices into early education, emphasizing its role in preserving family well-being.
Ka’iulani discussed how ‘Aha Pūnana Leo advances Native Hawaiian language and culture through its early childhood programs, showcasing the impact of culturally enriched education many decades on since its founding.
And Curtis and Celeste shared insights into the Keres Children’s Learning Center’s strategies for creating a culturally nurturing learning environment, illustrating how these approaches contribute to holistic child development.
| 
