Harvard involved in Shinnecocks' day care

As it moves closer to opening the first day care center on its reservation, the Shinnecock Indian Nation is working to ensure that future enrollees leave with a greater sense of cultural identity.

Last Friday, the tribe announced a partnership with Harvard University's Native American Program that will make the Shinnecocks' Early Learning Daycare Center a field research site for the university to help develop learning programs tied to the tribe's traditions, culture and language. Groundbreaking for the center will take place in September.

"We'll have an opportunity to teach our children our cultural values" from the earliest age, said Shinnecock educator Lauryn Randall, project coordinator for the Shinnecocks' Early Learning Center. "It will help them to be strong, loving, caring Shinnecock people."

She said the tribal language will be part of the curriculum.

Shinnecock tribal chairman Randy King said in addition to helping reinforce strong cultural values in the youngest Shinnecock tribal members, the center will also help parents who are juggling work and child care.

"It will take the burden off working parents and help free up some revenues," he said, noting cost of the center will be based on income.

The center, expected to open next year with the help of federal housing grants, will accept children from 6 weeks to 5 years old.

Elizabeth Thunder Bird Haile, a tribal elder and former teacher, said the center would address the concern that Shinnecock youth traditionally had experienced an outside-in educational culture.

"Education on the reservation was traditionally brought to us from the other society, to teach us about the other society," she said. "It didn't have a thing to do with the nation's identity itself. This will be our school."

Two Harvard graduate students, Haley Tuttle and Nitana Hicks, will conduct research to develop the program at the reservation this month, and beyond.