Recorded On: February 21, 2020
Air Date: February 24, 2020
From the City Club of Eugene:
Senate Bill 13 was passed into law in the 2017 legislative session. It calls upon the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to develop a statewide curriculum relating to the Native American experience in Oregon, including tribal history, tribal sovereignty, culture, treaty rights, government, socioeconomic experiences, and current events. Early in winter 2020, ODE began the roll out of the curriculum developed in collaboration with the nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon. What does this curriculum include? Why is this new curriculum strand important for all children in Oregon? What are the hopes and challenges of this new mandate? This program will give us a preview of this law and accompanying curriculum, and share why Tribal History/Shared History curriculum is an important initiative that offers students a more accurate and critical representation of Oregon and the tribal nations within.
Speakers:
Brenda Brainard is the Director of the NATIVES Program in Eugene SD 4j, and has been leading this work in 4j for more than 25 years. NATIVES is an acronym for “Native Americans Towards Improved Values in Education and Society.” Through classes, family events, summer camps, field trips, tutoring, and presentations, NATIVES helps students and their families preserve Indigenous heritage and succeed in school. Brenda grew up in Coos Bay and is Miluk Coos and an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians. She studied history at Portland State and earned a JD at the University of Oregon School of Law.
Leilani Sabzalian is an Assistant Professor of Indigenous Studies in Education and the Co-Director of the Sapsik’wa?á Teacher Education Program at the University of Oregon. Her research focuses on creating spaces to support Indigenous students and Indigenous self-determination in public schools, and preparing teachers to challenge colonialism in curriculum, policy, and practice. She also serves on the American Indian/Alaska Native State Advisory Council. Leilani was born and raised in Oregon and is Alutiiq, from the Native Village of Chignik. She earned BA, MEd, and PhD degrees from the University of Oregon.
Copyright KLCC, 2020
