Across the country, K12 schools and universities stand on the ancestral lands of the Native nations. While the history of these tribes has often been whitewashed and misrepresented in the classroom, much-needed curriculum changes have allowed the voices and stories of Indigenous people to re-emerge and inspire today’s learners.
Even with these positive developments, more must be done to support and uplift American Indian and Alaska Native students. Culturally relevant curriculum is still limited in the classroom, Indigenous students continue to lack the in-school resources they need, and AI/AN chronic absenteeism and drop-out rates remain the highest among ethnic and racial groups.
Unfortunately, with the anti-DEI push coming out of D.C., the strides schools have made could soon take a huge step backward.
For the 15,000 students in the North Thurston Public Schools in western Washington, however, Native Studies continues to be a pillar of a rich and diverse education curriculum. Designed in collaboration with the Nisqually Tribal Council and guided by our students, this evolving, multidimensional program provides for the needs of our AI/AN students while introducing all learners to tribal history and sovereignty.
Thanks in part to the community-wide support of this innovative community partnership, the high school graduation rate for North Thurston’s AI/AN students has skyrocketed to 89.6%, compared to the nationwide average of 75%t. District-wide, Native students continue to graduate at a higher rate than their classmates.
A collaboration built on trust and communication
In 2015, legislators in Olympia passed SB 5433, requiring all K-12 schools to teach “Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State,” which honors the 29 federally-recognized tribes in Washington. Districts currently consult with local tribes on curriculum, but at North Thurston, we wanted to build a true partnership with Nisqually leaders to better serve every student in our schools.
What began as a review of our curriculum to ensure it was culturally relevant and culturally sensitive has grown into a comprehensive and immersive learning environment that engages students in kindergarten through high school. Our goal is to empower Native American students with a stronger sense of pride in their identity and equip their classmates with the knowledge to become steadfast allies.
Today, North Thurston’s school board and the Nisqually Tribal Council meet bi-annually to discuss how to improve and expand growth opportunities for AI/AN students, and once a month, an “Since Time Immemorial” Committee of administrators, educators and tribal members recommends in-school and out-of-school learning options to enrich the curriculum.
In addition, the district offers place-based professional development for educators at Nisqually village sites. Through this partnership, North Thurston has built on “Since Time Immemorial” education with enriching and engaging educational experiences that celebrate the diverse culture of the Native American community:
- Each year, fourth- and seventh-grade students travel to the Nisqually Reservation to learn about tribal history and sovereignty directly from tribal leaders. During their visit, educators take traditional STEAM education and guide it through a cultural lens. For instance, our hands-on Salmon, Cedar, Canoe: Stewards of the Ecosystem course lets students simulate a salmon migration, test out their green thumbs in the Nisqually Community Garden and learn about the history of the Nisqually Delta from the bed of a genuine tribal canoe.
- At the high school level, North Thurston has expanded our “Since Time Immemorial” initiative into a dual-credit Native Studies program that includes five courses over four grade levels. In addition to district teachers, the classes welcome college professors, tribal leaders, and community members who share experiences and welcome open and honest discussion.
- Since 2019, North Thurston and the Nisqually Tribe have hosted the Billy Frank Jr. Annual Celebration, honoring the Native American environmental leader and advocate of treaty rights. This community-wide event includes student artwork and exhibits, music and dance performances, and presentations from Nisqually leaders.
Because students are more likely to succeed in academics and attendance when they have a positive relationship with their school, North Thurston launched the Native Student Program to directly engage and assist the AI/AN community. Offering academic support, cultural programs and activities, family outreach and post-high school planning assistance, the program ensures students find a place of belonging within our school doors.
Student-centered, student-led
The most critical component to the success of our Indigenous education efforts has been the students who continue to advocate for their culture and history. They are the ones ultimately most invested in their futures and we want to elevate their voices and allow them to pass their knowledge forward.
As we expanded our Native American curriculum, we’ve also expanded our conversation with student leaders through community cafes where they are welcome to share their suggestions on shaping instruction. Classes are centered less on lectures and tests and more on peer interaction and discourse that promote bonding and understanding.
In addition, Native Studies students are invited to share their insights on culture, contemporary Native issues and social-emotional learning with future educators through our partnership with Evergreen State College and Pacific Lutheran University.
We have discovered that the more we put students in the driver’s seat of future leadership, the stronger the influence on instruction and the better the academic outcomes for all students.
The impact on every North Thurston student
While innovative partnerships and curriculum have helped reinforce stronger college and career pathways for AI/AN students, its success has set the foundation for an expansion of culturally congruent education programming district-wide.
Since launching our Indigenous education program, we’ve expanded our Latinx, Korean and African-American studies programs and continue to hold community cafes for cultural and ethnic groups in our district. And because we’ve been able to demonstrate the success of culturally relevant programming, the support of the community has been incredibly positive.
By being intentional about our work, engaging our students and inviting the community to the table, we’ve created more than classroom lessons—we’re cultivating an experiential learning environment that embraces history and builds memories that last a lifetime for our amazing students.
(Photo: Nisqually River Education Project)
