2ndAnnual_HRC2_FLIPBOOK

Saturday, April 16, 2016
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
San Juan College
Farmington, NM

Registration: www.navajoprep.com

TOPICS:
Gender, Equality and Education
Environmental Issues and Education
Indigenous Peoples and Education

Poverty and Education

“Indigenous Rights ARE Human Rights”

Conference Agenda

8:00-8:30 am 11:50-1:15 pm
On-Site Registration
San Juan College Little Theatre Lunch

Keynote Presentations

 Student Video Presentation:
ConnecTeach
8:30-9:00 am
 Keynote: Zoë Tryon,
Welcome and Introductions Founder of One of the Tribe

 National Anthem by
Radmilla Cody
1:30-2:45 pm
 Tommy Roberts,
City of Farmington Panel Discussion 3

 Betty Ojaye, Gender, Equity and Education
Navajo Preparatory School,
Inc.  Dr. Jennifer Denetdale,
Dine Human Rights
 Bhavani Parpia, ConnecTeach Commission

 Brad Klein, SMU, Embrey  Radmilla Cody,
Rights Program Anti-Domestic Violence
Activist

Moderator: Brad Klein 3:00-4:15 pm

9:00-10:15 am Panel Discussion 4
Panel Discussion 1
Indigenous Peoples and Education Poverty and Education
 ARaWmoonrldMaotnStcahnooo, l –
 Ceceilia Tso, Ontological
An Indigenous Youth Network Indigenous Leadership
 Bhavani Parpia, ConnecTeach Trainer and Coach

 Dr. Amy Merk,
ConnecTeach

10:30-11:45 am 4:15 pm
Panel Discussion 2 Closing by Betty Ojaye

Environmental Issues and
Education

2nd EAthnenl BuraanlchIn, Nteavrnajao Ntioatinonal Conference on
Education as a Human Right

April 16, 2016, Farmington, NM

Welcome

TOMMY ROBERTS On behalf of the City of Farmington I extend
a warm welcome as you convene this
Mayor of City of Farmington important conference.

You have a full day ahead of you – a day
that will provide many opportunities for
discussion, debate, and the exchange of
ideas. At the end of the day, you will leave
with a better understanding and appreciation
of the connective relationship that exists
between the quality of education that is
available to an individual or a group of
people and the quality of life that can be
attained and experienced by that individual
or group. And, hopefully, you will leave
with a clearer vision of the process that must
be undertaken to make that connective
relationship much stronger.

Ya’at’eeh – Our conference theme is
“Indigenous Rights are Human Right.” As
Indigenous Peoples, we not only have the
most basic human rights of physical survival
and integrity, but also the preservation of
our land, language, religion, and cultural
heritage that are a part of our existence as a
people. Our great leader, Chief Manuelito,
saw Education not only a right but a passport
to a better way of life. If used right it opens
doors and expands opportunities and
contributes to fostering peace, equality,
improving health, reducing poverty and
environmental degradation in our nations.

BETTY OJAYE Through this conference we hope young
people will learn the importance of equality

Executive Director and knowing their rights and to understand

Navajo Preparatory School, Inc. how they should be treated and how they
should treat others. We encourage everyone

to explore, discuss, challenge, and form opinions and values through open-mindedness.

Thank you.

Zoë Tryon founded the not-for profit,

One of the Tribe in 2011, which works with
indigenous communities of the Ecuadorian
Amazon to preserve local traditions and
culture. Decades of oil extraction and
millions of gallons of untreated waste
continue to threaten Amazonian ecosystems
and the health of the people.

Zoë’s advocacy career began after attending

‘Be the Change’ environmental and

sustainability conference in London. She was

inspired by the achievements of

ZOË TRYON environmental experts and advocates for
change. Zoë began working for activist and

Activist advocate Lynne Twist at the Pachamama

Founder of One of the Tribe Alliance, an organization that promotes
environmental preservation and empowers

indigenous people. Through this work, Zoë was introduced to the President of the Achuar

indigenous people and in 2006 Zoë traveled to the Ecuadorean Amazon where she lived

with the Achuar to learn about their culture and way of life and taught English to

indigenous leaders.

Zoë has continued to live and work in the Ecuadorean Amazon on and off since 2006 and
leads guided expeditions to remote areas for filmmakers, activists, and celebrities. Zoë
currently serves as an Ambassador for Amazon Watch a leading nonprofit working to
protect the rainforest and advance indigenous rights in the Amazon Basin.

She is a spokesperson and Champion for ClearWater and is a Creative Activist with
Creative Visions foundation.

Many of her photographs have
been used by Amazon Watch and
indigenous organizations and
businesses for publication and she
has also produced and created
short films/pilots in the jungle.

RADMILLA CODY Radmilla Cody is a GRAMMY

Anti-Domestic Violence Activist Nominee, multiple Native American Music
Awards Nominee, international performer,
a former Miss Navajo Nation and the
founder of the “Strong Spirit: Life is
Beautiful not Abusive” campaign which
brings awareness to teen dating
violence. As a survivor of domestic
violence, Radmilla uses her personal
experiences to advocate nationally and
internationally for the importance of
understanding and identifying unhealthy
relationships and recognizing healthy
relationships by incorporating the message
of self-respect, self worth, cultural pride &
identity.

Radmilla is of the Tla’a’schi’i’(Red Bottom
People) clan and is born for the Nahiłii (African-Americans). She is the subject of an
award-winning documentary titled “Hearing Radmilla”, produced and directed by Angela
Webb, which further explores Radmilla’s journey as an activist and performer. Radmilla
has her B.S. in Public Relations with a minor in Sociology and is pursuing her Masters in
Sociology. In 2010, Radmilla was selected for NPR’s “50 Great Voices”, a yearlong
series featuring singers from all over the world. Radmilla was also awarded the “Black
History Makers Award 2012” from Initiative Radio and was selected as the first
Indigenous person to be an awards presenter at the 55th GRAMMY Pre-Telecast Awards
Ceremony.

Besides being an advocate against gender violence and abuse, Radmilla has recently
become very active in addressing issues affecting indigenous people today, such as:
border-town violence, environmental racism and exploitation, LGBTQ rights and
awareness, and settler colonialism.

Ms. Cody is also the co-founder of “For The People”, a grassroots organization that
assists our relatives or communities in need through benefit concerts or “on the ground”
support by providing food and clothing to our unsheltered relatives living on the streets in
border-towns surrounding Dinétah / Navajo Territory.

Bhavani Parpia is the founder and President of

ConnecTeach, an international educational
nonprofit that is committed to breaking the cycle
of poverty by equipping teachers with the skills
needed to give their students a quality education,
and lead in the development of the world’s most
vulnerable communities. ConnecTeach works in
India, Pakistan, Gaza, and Uganda.

BHAVANI PARPIA Prior to committing her time and energy fully to
ConnecTeach, she served as the coordinator of
Founder/President of ConnecTeach Global Initiatives for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford
Independent School District (HEB ISD),
responsible for the Arabic, Chinese, and Hindi
programs. Bhavani has been an educator for over
25 years, beginning her teaching career as a
Montessori teacher, starting the Primary School at
North Hills Preparatory, in Irving, Texas, and then
working as Advanced Academics Coordinator and
Curriculum Director.

She also serves on the board of directors of the Meridian public charter school in Round Rock. In
2011, she led a group of teachers on a Fulbright-Hays project to India as the Curriculum
Development Specialist. In 2013, Bhavani won the World Affairs Council International Educator of
the Year award, and in 2014, was given the Triumph of the Spirit Award by Southern Methodist

University in recognition for her work in
promoting human rights. She is also a recipient of
the Chiapas International Women Who Give
Hope award.

RAMON MONTANO Ramon Montano is a young indigenous

A World at School advocate for human rights and education, he comes
An Indigenous Youth Network from the Kickapoo, Kumeyaay and Pa'Ipai Tribal
Nations and is currently pursuing his B.A. in
Education at National University.

Ramon hopes to be an educator for human rights,
currently he works in a middle school as a
Behavior Specialist and Support Teacher. He is the
Co-Founder of Thinking Indigenous: An
International Indigenous Youth Network,
Ambassador for a World At School and Youth
Advocate for the Global Campaign for Education -
US.

Dr. Brad Klein is a social and environmental

justice educator and activist specializing in

program leadership, curriculum development,

and experiential learning. Klein has taught at the

high school, college and graduate school levels.

Before coming to SMU in 2013, he served as

Coordinator for the Justice and Peace Program

and Adjunct Faculty at the Iliff School of

Theology. Klein has led educational and

economic development projects in the

Dominican Republic, Mexico, and throughout

the United States. He has also participated in

activist efforts related to American Indian

liberation, refugee outreach, restorative justice,

DR. BRAD KLEIN poverty eradication, educational equity, ending
sexual assault and torture, and immigration

Assistant Director of Southern reform. Klein's research has focused on a variety

Methodist University, Embrey Human of topics, including: political ecology; food

Rights Program justice; the pedagogy of privilege; conflict

resolution; cross cultural dialogue, colonialism,

nonviolent activism, the rights of indigenous peoples; and culturally appropriate and sustainable

development.

Klein holds degrees in Religious and Theological Studies from the University of Denver and Iliff
School of Theology (PhD), Peace and Justice Studies (MA) and Pastoral Care and Counseling (MA)

from the University of San Diego and Sociology
and Theology from Marquette University (BA).
He currently serves as Assistant Director of the
Embrey Human Rights Program at SMU in
Dallas, Texas.

DR. JENNIFER DENETDALE Dr. Jennifer Denetdale is a citizen of the

Dine Human Rights Commission Navajo Nation and hails from Tohatchi, New
Mexico. She is an associate professor of
American Studies at the University of New
Mexico. She teaches courses on settler
colonialism and decolonization; Indigenous
feminisms & queer critiques; American
intellectual traditions; and Dine Studies.

Jennifer is the author of Reclaiming Dine'
History: The Legacies of Chief Manuelito and
Juanita (2007), two Navajo histories for young
adults, and numerous articles and essays. She is a
commissioner on the Navajo Nation Human
Rights Commission.

Ceceilia Tso is Navajo/Diné from Farmington,

New Mexico. Her family is from Lukachukai,
Arizona. Grant Writer, Development Coordinator,
Trainer and Life Coach, Ceceilia has worked with
many colleges and tribal entities to strengthen
families and foster support within our
communities.

Previously, she was at San Juan College as

Director of The Resource Network. She has

worked with students over long periods of time to

develop life skills such as Communication,

Leadership and Financial Asset Building. The

curriculum Bridges Out of Poverty, Getting

CECEILIA TSO Ahead, Strengthening Families Program
(a federally register model evidenced based

Ontological Indigenous program) and Ontological Leadership. She has
Leadership Trainer and Coach worked at the University of Utah as a Sponsored
Projects Officer working with Faculty to develop

funding. Prior to that she was at the College of

Education as the Director of the American Indian Teacher Education Collaboration (AITEC), working

with American Indians to become teachers. For over 14 years Ceceilia has works with the

“Strengthening Families Program” as the American Indian Trainer of Trainers/Evaluator. She works

with tribes in Canada and the USA to assist in obtaining funding to implement the SFP Program to

Indigenous communities.

DR. AMY MERK Dr. Amy Merk serves as the Program Director

Program Director for ConnecTeach, an international educational
nonprofit that is committed to breaking the cycle
at ConnecTeach of poverty by equipping teachers with the skills
needed to give their students a quality education,
and lead in the development of the world’s most
vulnerable communities. ConnecTeach works in
India, Pakistan, Gaza, and Uganda. She has over a
decade of teaching experience in grades K- 12,
including work in Special Education, Language
Arts, Mathematics, and Dyslexia.

In 2008, she was a delegate to the Japan Fulbright
Memorial Fund Teacher Program. In 2011, she
participated in a Fulbright-Hays Group Project in
India to study the UN Millennium Development
Goals. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration
from the University of Texas at Arlington and a
Master’s in Sociology from the University of
Houston.

ETHEL BRANCH Ethel Branch is the Attorney General of the

Attorney General, Navajo Nation Navajo Nation. She formerly served as an
Department of Justice attorney at Kanji & Katzen, PLLC, a law firm
solely committed to advocacy on behalf of
  Native Nations. There Ethel advised and
represented Native Nations on a variety of
issues, with a focus on restoring tribal natural
resources and shielding tribal revenues.

Previously, Ethel was an indigenous human
rights attorney in Washington, D.C., where she
helped advance the implementation of the U.N.
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
in the United States and the Americas. Ethel also
served as a tribal finance associate assisting
tribes in gaining access to the capital markets
and in leveraging tribal assets to fund the
development of critical capital infrastructure in
Indian country. Ethel is a graduate of Harvard
University, where she earned her B.A. cum laude
in History, her Masters in Public Policy, and her
J.D.

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