Greetings Relatives,
SDEEC is excited to announce a call to action regarding the upcoming public hearings for the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understanding Standards (OSEUs) revisions. The South Dakota Board of Education Standards (SDBES) will hold these hearings on:
- Sioux Falls: December 19th, 9 AM CST
- Pierre: February 10th, 9 AM CST
- Rapid City: April 14th, 9 AM MST
We need your voices to advocate for essential testimony, as there has been insufficient authentic Oceti Sakowin input during the revision process. Key concerns include a lack of tribal consultation, reliance on Wikipedia as a source, and an underrepresentation of Dakota and Nakota perspectives.
To get involved, please answer the short questions below to help us understand who is willing and able to provide verbal testimony, at which hearing, and how we can best support you:
- In what capacity do you currently serve (school board member, TED, parent, etc.)?
- Are you willing to provide verbal testimony? If yes, please provide your phone number so we can reach out directly.
- Which hearing(s) are you able to attend (Sioux Falls, Pierre, Rapid City)?
- How can we best support you in preparing for your testimony?
In the coming days, you’ll receive a call from us about getting involved. We’ll provide resources to help guide your testimony, ensuring your unique perspective is heard. Your participation is crucial in influencing the SDBES to consider vital changes before finalizing the new standards.
We kindly encourage you to share this call to action throughout your communities. By coming together, we can amplify our voices and ensure that Oceti Sakowin input and expertise are fully acknowledged.
Thank you for being a driving force in our coalition! If you have questions or need support, we’re here for you.
In solidarity,
The SDEEC Team
