Milestone Moment for GRPS Native American Students

The Native American Education Program Library, which opened on March 31, features thousands of books in 16 languages. The collection includes resources on Anishinaabemowin, Potawatomi, Choctaw, Cree and dozens of other tribal languages.

It was a milestone moment for Grand Rapids Public Schools when the district's Native American Education Program unveiled its brand-new, centralized resource library, wrapping up a project that has been a decade in the making.

Located in the NAEP's main hub at 850 Chatham Street NW in Grand Rapids, the library houses 4,000 books in 16 languages, with texts exploring the stories of Native American tribes throughout the country.

Today we gather to honor history and to make history

Superintendent Leadriane Roby said to the crowd of students, educators and community supporters during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

A Federally Funded Program Serving 200 Students

The NAEP is a federally funded program that offers academic support, mentorship and cultural opportunities to the district's Native American students.

At GRPS, the program serves upwards of 200 students from 29 different tribes.

The ripple effect of this resource will be powerful

NAEP Program Coordinator Amy Westcott told attendees about the library's significance.

For years, NAEP staff have been working to consolidate their vast and ever-growing collection of books, articles, artwork and other resources into one central location. Now, that work has paid off, and the NAEP Library is open for business.

The library will be a resource for students and teachers district-wide.

I'm incredibly proud of the work of the NAEP, noting that the program is the only one of its kind in West Michigan, and that it stands as a powerful example of what it means to value and uplift every scholar that we serve

Superintendent Leadriane Roby said during the opening celebration.

A Commitment to Belonging

The opening of the NAEP library reflects a deep commitment to ensuring that Native American scholars see themselves reflected in the stories they read and the history they learn.

This is a place where history is preserved, and where young people can discover who they are, as well as who they can become

Roby said the library serves as a bridge connecting scholars to their heritage, connecting families to schools, and connecting the entire community to the rich history and ongoing contributions of Native people.

GRPS Board President José Rodriguez said the opening of the library is emblematic of a move toward acknowledging, embracing and honoring people who have historically been cast aside.

Across our country, stories of indigenous people, whose land we inhabit, have often been told incompletely, inaccurately or not at all, and today we are changing the narrative

Rodriguez said the space creates an opportunity for all scholars to learn from authentic and diverse voices.

This library is a commitment to belonging

When scholars walk into the library, they will see reflections of themselves, their families and their communities.

Students Helped Build the Collection

The library features around 4,000 books, with more arriving each day. It's not just the number that makes the space extraordinary, it's the representation and authenticity.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 31, around 50 people came out to commemorate the unveiling of the library.

The event featured:

• A smudging ceremony led by Southwest Elementary sixth-grader Moises Juan
• A drum performance by NAEP's Circle of Life Singers youth drumming program
• Student speakers sharing their experiences with the NAEP program

City High junior Willem Odykirk Garcia of Apache descent spoke about the impact the NAEP has had on him.

The Native American Education Program has helped me stay on track with school and continue working toward my goals

Through the program, he has broadened his cultural awareness and learned more about Native traditions and ceremonies.

These experiences help me better understand my identity and appreciate the strength and history of our communities

Expanding Beyond Federally Recognized Tribes

Amy Westcott told the audience that the library will broaden visibility and awareness of tribes beyond the 12 that are federally recognized, allowing more Native American students to connect their own background to what they learn at school.

Our kids would come to the after-school program, and they would say, How come I don't see my tribe in here?

Westcott explained that students were not seeing Apache, Cree or other tribes represented in the original collection.

Well, you know what, they're not in here. We see the 12 federally recognized tribes but we didn't see Apache, we didn't see Cree

The NAEP Library features around 4,000 books, with more arriving each day.

It's not just the number that makes this space extraordinary — it's the representation and the authenticity

Westcott said while addressing the crowd.

The collection highlights the histories of tribes from across this country, including many that are often overlooked.

A Welcoming Space for All

William Odykirk, a parent committee chairperson for the Title VI Native American Education Program for GRPS, says a large portion of the library focuses on tribes in West Michigan.

There's a large portion of it that does relate to federally recognized tribes of this area

But he noted one of the big values of Native peoples is a welcoming and respect of other peoples.

Here that's demonstrated by bringing in and housing books that have knowledge from other tribes

The program is really looking forward to being a welcoming and safe place for people to find out more about themselves.

I'm hoping that they feel that this is their place, that they feel safe and welcomed here, and that they welcome others here

Odykirk said students should begin to see themselves and their cultural identity as just a normal part of the landscape.

That they begin to see themselves and their cultural identity as just a normal part of the landscape, that it has special aspects of being in the landscape, and that it's just part of recognizing where we are now and helping to put a foundation down to develop more education and to move further into the future

A Historic First for Michigan

This library represents a significant milestone as Michigan's first Native American Education Library. The collection includes resources in languages such as Anishinaabemowin, Potawatomi, Choctaw, Cree and dozens of other tribal languages.

The NAEP Library stands as a powerful example of what it means to value and uplift every scholar that the district serves, with the opening reflecting a deep commitment to ensuring that Native American scholars see themselves reflected in the stories they read and the history they learn.

This is a place where history is preserved, and where young people can discover who they are, as well as who they can become

Superintendent Leadriane Roby said the library serves as a bridge connecting scholars to their heritage, connecting families to schools, and connecting the entire community to the rich history and ongoing contributions of Native people.