“We have over 4,000 books. We have books from all our 12 federally recognized tribes.”
Amy Westcott is the Title VI Indian Education Coordinator for the Native American Education Program at Straight School in Grand Rapids.
“We also have books from tribes that are outside of our Michigan tribes, because we service all Native American federally recognized students throughout the United States.”
The Grand Rapids Public Schools elementary is opening its Native American Education Library this week. The book and artifact collection highlights the histories and cultures of tribes from across the country.
“We had students in our program that were asking, ‘How come we don’t see our tribe in the library?’ and I’m like, ‘Wow! You know what? I never thought about it like that.’ So, we started identifying books that pertain to our students who were tribal affiliated here at GRPS, so that’s what’s in our library.”
Many books are written in 16 different languages. Students in the Native American Education Program and teachers across the district can borrow library materials, including games, coloring and comic books.
The federally funded program serves more than 200 GRPS students representing 29 tribes.
The public is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, March 31st at 5:30 p.m.
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