American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC)
The purpose of an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee is to form a partnership between the district and parents/guardians of American Indian students to create goals that support the education of our American Indian learners in our district. This committee is parent-driven and is a great opportunity for parents to have a strong voice in their children’s education. 

2023-2024 School Year - Meetings
Members will meet the second Thursday each month from 5:30-7:30p at the Sartell Community Center in the Party Room:

• Thursday, October 12, 2023
• Thursday, November 9      
• Thursday, December 14
• Thursday, January 11, 2024 
• Thursday, February 8
• Thursday, March 14
• Thursday, April 11
• Thursday, May 9

2022-2023 School Year
Monday, May 22, 2023 - Blanket Ceremony for Native American graduates at Sartell High School

In May of 2023, ISD 748’s American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC) in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District honored four American Indian high school graduates with a first-ever Blanket Ceremony.

An elder, Joe Whitehawk, led the ceremony during which each student received an eagle feather and a braid of sweetgrass. Each student was gifted a chief Joseph Pendleton blanket and a book, Braiding Sweetgrass, by author Robin Wall Kimmerer. 

The Red Tree Drum group from Morton also honored the students with several songs. A meal was shared with students, family and school administrators in attendance.

Thank you to:

• Lacey Lokken, Director of the American Indian Center at St. Cloud State University
• Julia Bjerke, ORELC principal and AIPAC liaison
• Shayne Kusler, SHS principal

Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.78, requires that all Minnesota districts and tribal schools with 10 or more American Indian students have an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC). The committee serves in an advisory role to their school/district and help ensure that American Indian students are receiving culturally relevant and equitable educational opportunities. They are critical to the achievement and success of American Indian students statewide.

Julia Bjerke
Principal
Oak Ridge Early Learning Center
320-656-3762