Bill requiring schools to teach Native American history heads to Senate floor

By NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois nschoonover@capitolnewsillinois.com

SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers advanced a measure that would require public elementary and high schools to include a unit of Native American history in their social studies curriculum, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.

House Bill 1633 passed out of a Senate committee this week with a 10-3 vote after passing the House 75-32 last month. It now heads to the full Senate for consideration before it can head to Gov. JB Pritzker.

The measure also requires the State Education Equity Committee, which provides recommendations for advancing equity in education, include a representative from an organization that works for “economic, educational, and social progress for Native Americans.”

According to Andrew Johnson, executive director of the Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, the lack of Native American representation on the committee was a “serious oversight” that didn’t reflect the state’s diversity.

“This is one of the many examples where the lack of proper education has deprived our citizens of discovering the full extent of the complexity, interrelations and impact of the people who originally inhabited this land and who continue to live here today,” Johnson said in committee.

While the legislation does not actually create curriculum for the history course, it does specify the unit should include Native American contributions in “government and the arts, humanities, and sciences, as well as the contributions of Native Americans to

PUBLICATION NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE (MINORS)

There will be a court date in Cook County on my request, MICHELLE U. KOGER, to change the names of my minor children, from GABRIELLE MARIE LAWS to GABRIELLE MARIE LAWS The court date will be JUNE 2, 2023 at 9:00am at 16501 S. Kedzie Parkway, Markham, IL 60426, in Courtroom 0207, in Cook County. Case number 23M6003113.

Lawless

Linda Lea Lawless, age 72, of Dyer, IN, passed away Sunday, April 16, 2023. Sister of James (Rick) Lawless, Pamela (Scott) Haser, and Phyllis (Brian) Jensen. Loving niece of Diane (late Phil) Husband. Dear aunt of Traci (Philip) Mazur, Kristen (Matt) Meyers, and Ashley (Louis) Gerchikov. Also survived by the loves of her life Kailey Mazur, Allison Mazur, Noah Sipple, Henry Sipple, and Luke Sipple, and by her Dewey Lake friends. Linda was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew her and loved her. A private service will be held at Riverside Cemetery – Dowagiac, Michigan. In memory of Linda, memorial contributions may be given to the American Lung Association ( American Lung Association.org ). Arrangements entrusted to Smits Funeral Home – Dyer, IN. For further information, please contact 219-322-7300 or visit our online guestbook at www.SMITSFH.com

Scudella

Mary T. Scudella, nee DeLaurentis, age 38, late of Dyer, IN, formerly of Lansing, IL, passed away peacefully at her home Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Loving wife of John Scudella. Devoted mother of Jack, Henry, and Nora Scudella. Dearest daughter of Richard and Barbara DeLaurentis; daughter-in-law of Victoria (Keith) Morris and the late Adrian Scudella. Dear sister of Joseph DeLaurentis. Mary was loved by many and will be dearly missed. Visitation Friday, April 21, 2023 from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service to be held at 6:30 p.m. at Smits Funeral Home, 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane (Rt. 30/Pleasant Springs Ln.), Dyer, IN, with Deacon Jim Renwick officiating. Memorial donations to Becky’s Warriors (www. beckyswarriors.org), appreciated. For further information, please contact 219-322-7300 or visit our online obituary and guest book at www.SMITSFH.com the economic, cultural, social, and political development of their own nations and of the United States.”

The bill also requires the unit of instruction to include descriptions of large urban Native American populations in Illinois and, for grades 6 through 12, a section on the genocide of and discrimination against Native Americans.

While the Illinois State Board of Education would provide instructional materials and guidelines for the development of the curriculum, each school district would be required to develop it on their own. Additionally, each school board will have to determine the minimum amount of time that qualifies as a unit of instruction.

It was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, who said in committee that teaching the subject matter has been “overlooked for far too long.”

Joseph Rupnick, chairman for Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, said in committee that Native Americans experience higher suicide rates because of cultural disconnection, alienation and pressure to assimilate. He added the inclusion of their history in school curriculum may help them feel further connected to their community and history.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. suicide rate increased 33 percent from 1999 to 2017. Over the same period, the suicide rate for American Indian or Alaska Native women increased by 139 percent and 71 percent for men.

“Integrating Native history in our education system will help discriminatory myths about Native Americans in an inclusive environment free of caricatures of our families, parodies of our tradition and words that diminish our worth,” Rupnick said.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.

Mauro

Sharon R. Mauro, nee Bernardy, age 70, of Crown Point, IN, passed away peacefully Monday, April 17, 2023. Beloved wife of Ron Mauro. Loving mother of Jim Mauro, Jeremy (Kristin) Mauro and the late Stacy (Tony) Castaneda. Cherished grandmother of Matt Castaneda, Alyssa Castaneda, and Emma Mauro. Dear sister of the late Veryl (Deborah) Bernardy and the late Jerry (late Eileen) Bernardy. Preceded in death by her parents Melvin and Geneva Bernardy. Sharon was dearly loved and will be missed by all who knew her. A visitation will be held Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Smits Funeral Home, 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane (Rt.30/Pleasant Springs Ln.), Dyer, IN. For further information, please contact 219-322-7300 or visit our online obituary and guestbook at www. SMITSFH.com

Grimler

Edward C. “Silver Fox” Grimler, age 94, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Monday, April 17, 2023. Beloved husband of 70 years to the late Lillian L. Grimler, nee Lewandowski. Devoted father of Roxanne (David) Kaminski, Kathy Grimler Natzke, and Greg (Mary) Grimler. Loving grandfather of Kimberly (Matt) Fink, Jeffrey (Erin) Kaminski, Amanda (Wally) Vukadinovich, Mike (Gea) Natzke, Gregory (Magen) Grimler, and Allie Grimler. Cherished great-grandfather of Evelyn, Alayna, and Henry Kaminski, Xaiden Natzke, Nathan, Evan, and Koda Vukadinovich, Noah, Lilliana and Helena Fink, Roland and Harper Grimler; step-great-grandfather of Dylan and Alexis Bales. Dear brother of the late Margaret (late Will) Gaskell, the late Robert (Dolly) Grimler, the late Vern (late Annette) Grimler, and John (late Carol) Grimler. Kind uncle and great-uncle to many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents Edward J. Grimler and Amanda Grimler, nee Daehn. Edward was a proud Veteran of the U.S. Army and proudly served his country in the Korean war. Edward was dedicated to his family, friends, church, and his country. His presence was a treasure and will be deeply missed by all. Visitation to be held Tuesday, April 25, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Smits Funeral Home, 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane (Rt. 30/Pleasant Springs Ln.), followed by a prayer service at 12:15 p.m. A Funeral Mass will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 440 Joliet St. Dyer, IN, at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Edward’s name are appreciated. For further information, please contact 219-322-7300, or visit our online obituary and guestbook at www.smitsfh. com.