The long-time director of the 4J School District’s NATIVES Program is officially retiring this month.
Brenda Brainard has headed the cultural and educational activities for its Native American students for 29 years.
In that time, she’s seen Oregon pass laws regulating the use of Indian mascots, allowing feathers to be worn at graduation ceremonies, and create a curriculum of Indigenous history and culture for public schools. A member of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, Brainard recalls early struggles to get such issues addressed by the community.
“So as I sit and reflect, it’s very emotional for me," Brainard told KLCC.
"It’s very moving that we started out with so much difficulty and so much resistance, and now as I’m moving on, these things are all coming to happen. And it’s been very rewarding and very heart touching for me.”
Cultural instruction for program participants included drumming, dancing, and totem pole carving. Many 4J schools feature totem poles on their campuses, carved by NATIVES staff and students.
The 4J District honored Brainard this week (6/3) with its ACE CHAMPION Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Brainard says she originally planned to direct the 4J NATIVES program for just a couple years, but stayed because she fell in love with the program and kids. Her last day is June 18th.
Copyright 2021, KLCC.
