Superintendent Tom Torlakson to Discuss Emerging Models to Educate State Students on California’s Native Peoples


San Manuel Reservation (Near Highland, Calif.) September 23, 2011–The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will host State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, for a tour of the San Manuel Education Department prior to his keynote address at the 13th Annual California Native American Day luncheon today at 1:00 p.m. in the Santos Manuel Student Union Events Center.  The luncheon is an extension of the 13th annual celebration of Native American Day and the California Native American Day program through which teachers have participated in a day long conference on the San Manuel Reservation prior to bringing their students to Cal State San Bernardino for hands on instruction in the culture of California’s indigenous peoples.

Superintendent Torlakson will visit the San Manuel Education Department prior to delivering his keynote address to discuss innovative models to bring the historical and contemporary accounts of California Native Americans into the classroom.

“This is a time of great opportunity for California Native Americans to be directly involved in how our history and culture is presented in schools,” said Chairman James Ramos. “Over the course of this last decade, we have worked hard to engage educators to bring the factual accounts of our peoples into the classroom.”

The luncheon will include city and county superintendents of public schools, regional school board members and local elected officials. Speakers will include Richard Bray of San Bernardino City Schools and Gary Thomas, Ed.D. of San Bernardino County Schools who will highlight successes in implementing curricula developed jointly by school districts and tribal communities through the California Native American Day program.

Since 1999, nearly 40,000 students and teachers from schools in San Bernardino and Riverside counties have participated in the weeklong conference in celebration of the Native American Day holiday.

Gov. Ronald Reagan signed a resolution in 1968 that designated the fourth Friday of September as American Indian Day. In 1998, the California Legislature passed AB 1953, by then-Assemblyman Joe Baca, establishing Native American Day as an official state holiday.


For more information visit www.nativeamericanday.com.