BISMARCK The House and Senate Education Committees heard several bills Wednesday aimed at improving education for American Indians living in North Dakota.

House Bill 1399, which was heard by the Senate Education Committee, would originally have provided $100,000 for grants to help develop curriculum for teaching Indian languages in schools. The bill was amended in the House to study the issue rather than to provide money.

According to Rep. Kenton Onstad, D-Parshall, who sponsored the bill, learning first languages can provide Indian students with an extra incentive to help them enjoy school, and they could become better students because of it. He urged the committee to change the bill and reinstate the grants.

"Knowing who you are and self-identity leads to a positive self-concept that leads to positive academic outcomes," said Kathryn Froelich, Division of Education chairwoman at Sitting Bull College.

Froelich told how her mother was sent to boarding school when she was seven and lost her ability to speak Arikara.

"She was fluent when she went to school," Froelich said. "Now she understands it but she's not fluent."

Several people testified that the issue is widespread and has a negative academic impact.

Ioane Schmidt, superintendent of schools in White Shield, said becoming skilled at using the English language requires finding ways to connect it to daily life. White Shield is one of the few schools that teach Indian languages.

"They're finding connections in their culture," she said of the students.

Mari Rasmussen, assistant director of bilingual and language acquisition with the Department of Public Instruction, said the state has invested in state history curriculum but not in curriculum to help Indian students learn their own languages.

Rasmussen cited a study demonstrating that Indian students who learn their native language typically learn English no slower than their peers enrolled in English-only programs and generally outperform those same peers on standardized tests.

Sachine White Tail Cross of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said money from the state could go toward helping teachers learn how to teach the languages as well as developing materials.

"Time is of the essence," said Bob Parisien of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission. "We are losing our elders who speak the language."

During committee discussion, Sen. JoNell Bakke, D-Grand Forks, said the state should "invest in the culture before we lose this culture." Sen. Ryan Taylor, D-Towner, and Sen. Gary Lee, R-Casselton, planned to work on an amendment that would bring the bill closer to its original form. Taylor later said the amendment would probably be taken up in the committee next Monday.

In a separate interview, Cheryl Kulas, executive director of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, said having set content and benchmark standards could help address the educational issues and coordinate efforts across the state. House Concurrent Resolution 3004, which was also heard by the Senate Education Committee, would study all aspects of American Indian education and could be one way to initiate this.

The House Education Committee took a look at House Concurrent Resolution 3061, a study resolution that would look only at the organization of schools in relation to Indian education. The primary sponsor, Rep. Merle Boucher, D-Rolette, said it's a complicated and misunderstood situation.

The House Education Committee also heard testimony for Senate Bill 2212, a bill that would give the Department of Public Instruction the ability to set best practices standards for cases when schools might need to begin their own English language learners program. It would also allow schools to apply for grants through the department to get the programs started.