Menominee 7th Grader's Mother Calls for School Staff to be Disciplined

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

Miranda 'Ketapanen' Washinawatok

SHAWANO, WISCONSIN - Tanaes Washinawatok, the mother of Miranda, wants something more from the Sacred Heart Catholic Academy than an apology. She is not happy on how the matter has been handled this far.

Seventh grader Miranda, who was publically reprimanded on January 19th for speaking in Menominee, her Native language, with two other students who are Menominee. They were talking to each other when Miranda told her how to say "Hello" and "I love you" in Menominee.

Because of how things unfolded that day, Miranda was suspended from playing in a basketball game later the same evening. The basketball game forever lost to Miranda and her parents was the "parents' recognition" game.

Courageous Mother

“Three weeks after this incident, I am probably more angry and hurt than I was right after it happened,”

stated Washinawatok to the Native News Network in an interview on Wednesday evening.

"I don't think it was handled properly. I think we were lied to about how things happened. We were promised a public apology and that never happened. The principal put a letter in the teachers' file, and I was told there would be no further reprimands for the staff involved and no public apology."

Late Thursday afternoon, the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay which operates Sacred Heart said it would not comment on what further actions will be taken against the school personnel, until further investigation of the circumstances.

This week alone, there have been eight hours of meetings that have involved family members, school personnel and diocesan officials. Miranda and her mother participated in a three hour meeting on Monday.

Menominee Language

posoh - hello

ketapanen - "I love you."

Yesterday, family representative Richie Plas spent five hours with officials that the diocesan offices in Green Bay discussing how to move forward in a positive way that would allow respect for American Indian students in the schools operated by the diocese.

“I am waiting for more information on what further disciplinary actions will be taken,”

said Tanaes Washinawatok on Thursday evening to the Native News Network.

The story of Miranda has received tremendous attention from readers from all around the globe.

“We have received emails, facebook messages and letters from all seven continents in support of Miranda,”

stated Karen Washinawatok, Miranda's grandmother, who is the director of the Language and Culture Commission of the Menominee Tribe.

posted February 10, 2012 6:00 pm est