Increasing number of educators are incorporating Oceti Sakowin teachings into their curriculum

South Dakota educators are making strides in incorporating Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings and Standards (OSEU) into their curriculum, according to recent survey results. The state government’s Department of Education and Department of Tribal Relations conducted surveys over the past two years to gauge the use of American Indian history and culture in schools.

During a teleconference with the South Dakota Indian Education Council, Director of the State Office of Indian Education Fred Osborn shared the positive findings. Osborn highlighted the increase in awareness among teachers and administrators, attributing it to initiatives such as distributing OSEU books, providing online training programs, and tailored education packets.

The surveys revealed that in 2023, 87% of administrators provided OSEU resources to teachers, a significant increase from 2021. Additionally, 45% of administrators reported having a school-board approved policy requiring OSEU implementation, up from 28% in 2021. Educators also reported an increase in teaching OSEU lesson plans in their classrooms.

Despite the progress, Osborn acknowledged that there is still work to be done. While OSEU implementation is currently optional, there have been discussions about making it a requirement for accreditation in K-12 schools. However, Secretary of Education Joe Graves noted that previous attempts to make OSEU mandatory at the legislative level had failed.

Advocates like Brian Wagner emphasized the importance of teaching OSEU to prevent the repetition of history and address issues of racism and discrimination. Secretary Graves highlighted the integration of OSEU information in social studies standards and provided resources like books by S.D. Nelson to support educators in incorporating OSEU into their teaching.