Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Chrisjohn.
Hi Donna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My journey began before I was born. The policies established to assimiliate the original people of this land has had direct impact on my life and how I came to be. My mother and my father are boarding school survivors. My mother (Sicangu Lakota) was in South Dakota and my father (Dine) was in Arizona. They were then part of the Relocation Act in the 60s that took them both to San Francisco. They met on a blind date and were married. They were part of the AIM movement that took over Alcatraz. My mother had my two brothers while in San Francisco before moving to Denver to be closer to her family. Within three years of establishing themselves in Colorado and adding one more child to the family (me), my parents divorced. My mother took the three of us to live in Nebraska while she helped our grandmother. My mother met my dad (stepdad) and remarried. My dad was a white man who grow up in the Sandhills of Nebraska. He encouraged my mom to share her knowledge. So, in 1977, my mom and I began this educational journey in presenting the Indigenous perspective to schools and organizations throughout Nebraska. I was five years old when we began. Since that time, my mom has presented to every school in the state of Nebraska and has received many accolades for her work in education. I was with her for most of her presentations, learning along the way. As soon as I graduated high school, I left Nebraska. I have lived in California, Arizona, Washington DC, New York, and Colorado. I started a legal career over 25 years ago and it has sustained me and my family. I had my first child in 1993. Once she began going to school, I was quickly reminded of the work my mom and I did in Nebraska. My mom’s goal was to change the curriculum in schools for her grandchildren. There I was almost 2o years later with my own child, and the curriculum had not changed. The curriculum I am talking about is the truthful story about the history in this country and how it includes Indigenous people. So, I began talking to classrooms again and sharing our story. At first, it was mainly the classrooms my kids were a part of. But over time, it grew. Once we moved to Colorado in 2015, my involvement in community became central. I was asked to be on a steering committee in Cherry Creek School District. One of the directors asked me what he could do to help me with sharing the Indigenous perspective. I said, “invite me to every meeting.” Our perspective is missing in every conversation and we need to be heard. I was then approached with developing an immersion course for teachers, administration, and staff in the district. I worked with another Indigenous educator who is also my relative to develop the first class we called “Indigenous Voices”. I have now taught this course every semester for the past 4 years reaching more 100 teachers. Each class participant is required to give a reflection at the end. Every participant has said this course should be mandatory for all teachers, administrators, and staff. According to a report conducted in partnership with the National Congress of American Indians and Illuminatives, 70% of educators feel uncomfortable teaching Indigenous curriculum in the classroom. For over 40 years, I’ve been presenting on the Indigenous experience and perspective and the needle hasn’t moved much in terms of changing the curriculum. Since reading that data 2 years ago, I’ve asked myself why. More importantly, I ask the teachers in my class why. How do you call yourself American if you exclude us from its history? And how do we (Indigenous People) call ourselves American if we are excluded from its history? It’s two-pronged. My mom may not see this change happen in her lifetime, and I may not make this change before my kids get out of school. But I am determined to make this change for my grandchildren. Indigenous students deserve to feel whole and accepted in their learning environments. We have to understand the policies that were created to not only oppress Indigenous people but were put in place to commit genocide and eliminate Indigenous people. I am a product of those policies. My existence is resistance. It has been said that we (Americans) need to learn the truth of this history before we repeat it. I say the genocide has not stopped. It continues through invisibility, appropriation, romanticization, and stereotypes. It continues through policies that still exist to harm Indigenous peoples. Genocide exists in schools by ignoring Indigenous history and our contributions to this land.
I have started my own Consulting firm called Inyan Consulting. I am an Indigenous Education consultant. My aim is build an education consortium to implement Indigenous education in schools across the US. I want to accomplish this by employing Indigenous educators and utilizing Indigenous books and resources that have been developed regionally. I want teachers to not only feel comfortable with the curriculum but embrace it as their own. The Indigenous perspective needs to be the norm in classrooms.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Curriculum change has not happened. For over 40 years I’ve been working to make this change. The curriculum taught in schools is from the dominant norm and perspective. That does not mean that is the only perspective that needs to be heard or taught. I have had teachers get mad at me and walk out of my presentation. I’ve had teachers tell me that I’m wrong and that I’m a liar.
We tell ourselves the old saying “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it”. I’ve heard a lot of teachers tell me that “this is the way it’s always been done”. I am telling you; the system and the curriculum are broken. Also, just because it’s always been done this way doesn’t mean it’s right. We can do better; we can be better humans. All we have to do is try.
The other saying that I hearing a lot is “use your voice”. Well, I’ve been using my voice for over 40 years, why aren’t you listening? There is responsibility in listening to the truth being told. The responsibility to carry that truth forward.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Inyan Consulting?
I am Sicangu Lakota and Dine. I am an Indigenous Education Consultant. I have been doing this work for over 40 years. I have developed an immersion course for teachers, administrators, and staff to learn about the Indigenous perspective. I also work with companies and organizations to establish DEIA in their policies and workplace.
The most important role in my life is being a mother to five beautiful children. My life experience as a mother is ever-evolving and I love to share these stories most.
What do you think about happiness?
My kids make me happy. Everyday. Their love means so much to me. Laughter also makes me happy… I love love love to laugh and am constantly joking with friends and family. I think happiness and laughter have kept me young at heart.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Other: https://www.cpr.org/2021/09/30/colorado-students-arent-supposed-to-graduate-without-learning-about-indigenous-history-and-culture-are-they/
Image Credits
Trang Tran Studios
The Red Road Project
Carlotta Cardana
