2ndAnnual_HRC_lowres

Sponsored By:

Thank you for your Support! 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 Ethel Branch is the Attorney General of the Nav-
On-Site Registration
San Juan College Little Theatre Lunch and Keynote ajo Nation. She formerly served as an attorney at
Presentations Kanji & Katzen, PLLC, a law firm solely committed
 Student Video Presentation, to advocacy on behalf of Native Nations. There
Ethel advised and represented Native Nations on a
8:30-9:00 am ConnecTeach variety of issues, with a focus on restoring tribal
natural resources and shielding tribal revenues.
Welcome and Introductions  Keynote: Zoë Tryon,
Founder of One of the Tribe Previously, Ethel was an indigenous human rights
National Anthem by attorney in Washington, D.C., where she helped
 Radmilla Cody advance the implementation of the U.N. Decla-
ration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the
 Tommy Roberts 1:30-2:45 pm United States and the Americas. Ethel also served as
 Betty Ojaye, a tribal finance associate assisting tribes in gaining
 Bhavani Parpia Panel Discussion 3 ETHEL BRANCH access to the capital markets and in leveraging tribal
 Brad Klein assets to fund the development of critical capital
Gender, Equity and Education Attorney General, Navajo Nation infrastructure in Indian country. Ethel is a graduate
Department of Justice of Harvard University, where she earned her B.A.
 Dr. Jennifer Denetdale, Dine cum laude in History, her Masters in Public Policy,
Human Rights Commission and her J.D.

 Radmilla Cody, Anti-Domestic
Violence Activist
Moderator: Brad Klein

9:00-10:15 am 3:00-4:15 pm

Panel Discussion 1 Panel Discussion 4

Indigenous Peoples and Education Poverty and Education
Ceceilia Tso, Ontological
 Ramon Montano, A World at  Indigenous Leadership Trainer
School –An Indigenous Youth
Network and Coach

 Bhavani Parpia, ConnecTeach  Dr. Amy Merk, ConnecTeach

10:30-11:45 am 4:15 pm

Panel Discussion 2 Closing by Betty Ojaye

Environmental Issues and
Education

 Ethel Branch, Navajo Nation

2nd Annual International Conference on

Education as a Human Right

April 16, 2016, Farmington, NM

Welcome

Ceceilia Tso is Navajo/Diné from Farmington, Welcome to the 2nd Annual International
Conference on Education as a Human Right.
New Mexico. Her family is from Lukachukai, We are very happy to have you as a participant
Arizona. Grant Writer, Development Coordinator, in this conference. The four corners area is a
Trainer and Life Coach, Ceceilia has worked with vital community that supports diversity and
many colleges and tribal entities to strengthen commitment to human equality and dignity. The
families and foster support within our communities. “Civility First Four Corners” was created by the
City of Farmington Community Relations
Previously, she was at San Juan College as Director Commission to promote public awareness and
education that focuses on ten character traits
of The Resource Network. She has worked with that promote positive interactions, mutual
respect, and social harmony. We hope this
students over long periods of time to develop life conference will provide engagement and
empowerment to address humanity’s greatest
skills such as Communication, Leadership and challenges in the areas of education, equality,
poverty, environmental and indigenous rights.
Financial Asset Building. The curriculum Bridges

Out of Poverty, Getting Ahead, Strengthening

Families Program (a federally register model

CECEILIA TSO evidenced based program) and Ontological
Leadership. She has worked at the University of

Ontological Indigenous Utah as a Sponsored Projects Officer working with TOMMY ROBERTS
Leadership Trainer and Coach Faculty to develop funding. Prior to that she was at
the College of Education as the Director of the Mayor of City of Farmington

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 Ya’at’eeh – Our conference theme is

works with tribes in Canada and the USA to assist in obtaining funding to implement the SFP Program “Indigenous Rights are Human Right.” As

to Indigenous communities.

Indigenous Peoples, we not only have the

Dr. Amy Merk serves as the Program Director most basic human rights of physical survival

for ConnecTeach, an international educational and integrity, but also the preservation of our
nonprofit that is committed to breaking the cycle
of poverty by equipping teachers with the skills land, language, religion, and cultural heritage
needed to give their students a quality education,
and lead in the development of the world’s most that are a part of our existence as a people.
vulnerable communities. ConnecTeach works in
India, Pakistan, Gaza, and Uganda. She has over a Our great leader, Chief Manuelito, saw Educa-
decade of teaching experience in grades K- 12,
including work in Special Education, Language tion not only a right but a passport to a better
Arts, Mathematics, and Dyslexia.
way of life. If used right it opens doors and
In 2008, she was a delegate to the Japan Fulbright
Memorial Fund Teacher Program. In 2011, she expands opportunities and contributes
participated in a Fulbright-Hays Group Project in
India to study the UN Millennium Development to fostering peace, equality, improving health,
Goals. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration
from the University of Texas at Arlington and a reducing poverty and environmental degrada-
Master’s in Sociology from the University of
Houston. tion in our nations.

BETTY OJAYE Through this conference we hope young peo-

DR. AMY MERK Executive Director ple will learn the importance of equality and
Navajo Preparatory School, Inc. knowing their rights and to understand how
Program Director they should be treated and how they should

at ConnecTeach treat others. We encourage everyone to explore, discuss, challenge, and form opin-

ions and values through open-mindedness. Thank you.

Zoë Tryon founded the not-for profit, Dr. Brad Klein is a social and environmental

One of the Tribe in 2011, which works with justice educator and activist specializing in program
indigenous communities of the Ecuadorian leadership, curriculum development, and experiential
Amazon to preserve local traditions and culture. learning. Klein has taught at the high school, college
Decades of oil extraction and millions of gallons of and graduate school levels. Before coming to SMU in
untreated waste continue to threaten Amazonian 2013, he served as Coordinator for the Justice and
ecosystems and the health of the people. Peace Program and Adjunct Faculty at the Iliff School
of Theology. Klein has led educational and economic
Zoë’s advocacy career began after attending development projects in the Dominican Republic,
Mexico, and throughout the United States. He has
‘Be the Change’ environmental and sustainability also participated in activist efforts related to
American Indian liberation, refugee outreach,
conference in London. She was inspired by the restorative justice, poverty eradication, educational
equity, ending sexual assault and torture, and
achievements of environmental experts and immigration reform. Klein's research has focused on a
variety of topics, including: political ecology; food
advocates for change. Zoë began working for justice; the pedagogy of privilege; conflict resolution;
cross cultural dialogue, colonialism, nonviolent
ZOË TRYON activist and advocate Lynne Twist at the DR. BRAD KLEIN activism, the rights of indigenous peoples; and
culturally appropriate and sustainable development.
Pachamama Alliance, an organization that Assistant Director of Southern

Activist promotes environmental preservation and Methodist University, Embrey Human
Rights Program
Founder of One of the Tribe 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 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
indigenous leaders. 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.
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 Dr. Jennifer Denetdale is a citizen of the
currently serves as an Ambassador for Amazon Watch a leading nonprofit working to
protect the rainforest and advance indigenous rights in the Amazon Basin. Navajo Nation and hails from Tohatchi, New
Mexico. She is an associate professor of American
She is a spokesperson and Champion for ClearWater and is a Creative Activist with Studies at the University of New Mexico. She
Creative Visions foundation. teaches courses on settler colonialism &
decolonization; Indigenous feminisms & queer
Many of her photographs critiques; American intellectual traditions; and Dine
have been used by Amazon Studies.
Watch and indigenous
organizations and businesses Jennifer is the author of Reclaiming Dine' History:
for publication and she has The Legacies of Chief Manuelito and Juanita
also produced and created (2007), two Navajo histories for young adults, and
short films/pilots in the numerous articles and essays. She is a commissioner
jungle. on the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission.

DR. JENNIFER DENETDALE

Dine Human Rights Commission

Bhavani Parpia is the founder and President of Radmilla Cody is a GRAMMY Nominee,

ConnecTeach, an international educational nonprofit multiple Native American Music Awards
that is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by
equipping teachers with the skills needed to give their Nominee, international performer, a former
students a quality education, and lead in the
development of the world’s most vulnerable Miss Navajo Nation and the founder of the
communities. ConnecTeach works in India, Pakistan,
Gaza, and Uganda. “Strong Spirit: Life is Beautiful not Abusive”

campaign which brings awareness to teen

dating violence. As a survivor of domestic

Prior to committing her time and energy fully to violence, Radmilla uses her personal
ConnecTeach, she served as the coordinator of Global
Initiatives for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent experiences to advocate nationally and
School District (HEB ISD), responsible for the Arabic,
Chinese, and Hindi programs. Bhavani has been an internationally for the importance of
educator for over 25 years, beginning her teaching
career as a Montessori teacher, starting the Primary understanding and identifying unhealthy
School at North Hills Preparatory, in Irving, Texas, and
then working as Advanced Academics Coordinator and relationships and recognizing healthy
Curriculum Director.
BHAVANI PARPIA RADMILLA CODY relationships by incorporating the message of
self-respect, self worth, cultural pride &
Founder/President of ConnecTeach
Anti-Domestic Violence Activist identity.
Radmilla is of the Tla’a’schi’i’(Red Bottom

She also serves on the board of directors of the Meridian People) clan and is born for the Nahiłii
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 (African-Americans). She is the subject of an award-winning documentary titled “Hearing
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 Radmilla”, produced and directed by Angela Webb, which further explores Radmilla’s

recipient of the Chiapas International Women Who journey as an activist and performer. Radmilla has her B.S. in Public Relations with a minor
Give Hope award.
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

Ramon Montano is a young indigenous advocate GRAMMY Pre-Telecast Awards Ceremony.

for human rights and education, he comes from the Besides being an advocate against gender violence and abuse, Radmilla has recently become
Kickapoo, Kumeyaay and Pa'Ipai Tribal Nations and is very active in addressing issues affecting indigenous people today, such as: border-town
currently pursuing his B.A. in Education at National violence, environmental racism and exploitation, LGBTQ rights and awareness, and settler
University. colonialism.

Ramon hopes to be an educator for human rights, Ms. Cody is also the co-founder of “For The People”, a grassroots organization that assists
currently he works in a middle school as a Behavior our relatives or communities in need through benefit concerts or “on the ground” support by
Specialist and Support Teacher. He is the Co-Founder providing food and clothing to our unsheltered relatives living on the streets in border-towns
of Thinking Indigenous: An International Indigenous surrounding Dinétah / Navajo Territory.
Youth Network, Ambassador for a World At School
and Youth Advocate for the Global Campaign for
Education - US.

RAMON MONTANO

A World at School
An Indigenous Youth Network