Native, AAPI Activists Urge Riverside Unified School District to Mandate Indigenous Cultural Training

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2021

Media Contact:
Andrew Peng, Communications Associate
andrew.peng@ocanational.org

Orange County, Calif. — The Orange County chapter of OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates joined with the National Urban Indian Family Coalition in urging the Riverside Unified School District to mandate Indigenous cultural training for all teachers and administrators on Friday after a math teacher was filmed mocking Native American culture.

In a letter delivered to the Riverside Unified School District Friday morning, OCA urged Superintendent Renee Hill to “take proactive measures to prevent future occurrences, such as by taking this opportunity to educate your students about Indigenous histories and culture.” The full letter is available here.

Clips of John W. North High School educator Candace Reed “war hooping and tomahawk chopping” around her classroom quickly went viral on Wednesday, according to CBS8. The video also showed Reed wearing a fake headdress, creating visible discomfort among students. She has been placed on leave amid an ongoing investigation into her conduct.

The National Urban Indian Family Coalition (NUIFC) and the Resurgence Practitioner Network (RPN), a national collective of leading Indigenous schools, released the following statement:

“On behalf of the Resurgence Practitioner Network and the National Urban Indian Family Coalition, we strongly condemn the racism displayed by Riverside teacher Candace Reed. We commend the Riverside Unified School District on their choice to suspend this educator while an investigation is conducted and recommend that the district not only investigate the racist actions of one teacher, we strongly recommend that there be immediate Indigenous cultural training for all teachers and administrators in the district. Over 90% of Native students attend public schools across the country, they deserve better.”

“In the past year, Asian Americans have been fighting surges of anti-Asian hate incidents, which have ranged from racial bullying and mockery to physical attacks,” said OCA-Orange County President Jhemon Lee. “We recognize that the Native American community has experienced this type of violence long before our community, and that we must stand together against racial profiling and discrimination.” 

“This is incredibly disgusting and infuriating,” said OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates’ National Deputy Executive Director Thu Nguyen. “This is violence against Native Americans and terrifying to marginalized communities. This kind of action by a teacher, and the school allowing it, tells other students and parents that it is okay to commit such vulgar acts of racism against, not just Native Americans, but also Asian Americans, Pacific Islander, Latinx, Black, disabled, and many other students of color and of marginalized identities.” 

“We absolutely cannot allow this kind of behavior to continue, and certainly not in an educational institution,” said OCA’s National President Linda Ng. “OCA stands with the Native American community. We are joining Illuminatives, the National Urban Indian Family Coalition, and the Resurgence Practitioner Network in calling on Principal Jodi Gonzales to take action to hold the teacher accountable, and Superintendent Renee Hill to enforce cultural competency training.”

For more information, see statements from Illuminatives and the Resurgence Practitioner Network.

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OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates

Founded in 1973, OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national, member-driven social justice organization of community advocates dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Learn more about our work at ocanational.org/about.

About the National Urban Indian Family Coalition

Founded in 2003, the mission of the NUIFC is to elevate a national voice and sustain Indigenous values and culture through a strong network of urban Indian organizations. The goals of the NUIFC are to build a movement that promotes advocacy, enhances resources, and mobilizes systems to integrate Urban Indian issues in policy discussions and implementation and to sustain indigenous values and culture within urban communities. Learn more by visiting www.nuifc.org.