I'm with you on that.
It's all heritage, and tribal and personal history, and if it helps the kids build context and context, that's good for everyone.
The reservation nearest me produces many a young man who eagerly joins and serves the U.S. military. Sure, they see themselves as belong to a certain tribe, but a hell of a lot of them are proud, brave Americans as well.
When I lived in Hawaii I helped with a couple fundraisers for the “Punana Leo o Maui” program. IIRC, it immersed pre-schoolers during the school day to immersion in the Hawaiian language. At home, they’re back to English (a little pidgin sometimes). As long as English is primary, learning a second language is positive, I think.
“The reservation nearest me produces many a young man who eagerly joins and serves the U.S. military.”
There was an Indian family at my son’s graduation from Marine boot camp a few weeks ago.
They were better dressed than most of the people there.