TH/SH Curriculum Professional Development
Professional Development from collaboration with WestED and the Office of Indian Education is now available through Canvas. Please visit the Tribal History/ Shared History Curriculum Professional Learning Modules that will take you through a series of self-paced segments that will help you deepen your knowledge of the TH/SH curriculum and the nine Federally Recognized Tribes in Oregon. The modules will also build your capacity to use best practices to implement the lessons. They offer support for both leaders and classroom educators. The modules were developed in partnership with and Advisory Council of Indigenous educators in Oregon.
Special thanks to Advisory Council Members:
- Brent Spencer, member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Office of Indian Education at the Oregon Department of Education
- Gillian Murr, member of the Walla Walla Band of the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla and Academic Director of Indian Education for Portland Public Schools
- Nicole Butler-Hooton, Citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz & San Carlos Apache Tribe and Equity Coordinator at Bethel School District
- Jen Anderson, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, TOSA at the Beaverton School District
- Kainoa Sandberg, Coquille Indian Tribe, Beaverton School District
K-3rd Grade Curriculum Update
We are excited to announce that we have released Kindergarten through 3rd grade lesson plans and materials including Spanish translated materials on the TH/SH Webpage.
Community of Practice
We have created a TH/SH Community of Practice. Meetings will be held virtually each month and will provide a platform for educators to share best practices when delivering the TH/SH lesson plans. This will be a great resource for educators to share experiences. These meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of the month with the next meeting date on October 8th at 3:00 PM. The zoom link can be accessed by all educators, curriculum developers, and administrators.
Topic: THSH Community of Practice
Time: October 8th, 2025 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join ZoomGov Meeting
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1611484810
Meeting ID: 161 148 4810
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Tribal Attendance Promising Practices (TAPP) have just added a new TAPP site! We welcome Douglas County School District 4 for the 2025-2026 School Year. TAPP projects focused on addressing the root causes of chronic absenteeism in ten Oregon school districts. TAPP will enable participating districts to fund a full-time TAPP Family Advocate position. This person has deep local connections and helps implement a balanced approach to improve attendance co-created by the school district and a tribal partner. To Visit all 10 TAPP sites please visit ourTAPP webpage
On our TAPP webpage we have uploaded "Trainings for TAPP Districts" which include:
- TAPP Learning Series #1
- September TAPP Family Advocate Monthly Meeting
To view past trainings please use the dropdown menu on the TAPP Webpage
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The Next AI/AN Advisory Committee meeting will be held on October 23rd at 1:00 - 3:30pm. If you plan on joining please address your name in the chat for public record and remain on mute until stated that it is now community comment time. Please submit all community comments to Raina.reece@ode.oregon.gov before October 21st at 5:00pm to be reviewed by the committee on October 23rd.
Join ZoomGov Meeting
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1617700895
On October 16, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) will host Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes and their representatives for a historic Tribal Flag Installation Ceremony in the Public Service Building.
This event honors the enduring Government-to-Government relationship between the State of Oregon and the Tribes.
The ceremony will open with remarks from Dr. Charlene Williams, Oregon’s Director of Education. Tribal representatives will be invited to share brief reflections, followed by remarks from the State Board of Education, Assistant Superintendent April Campbell of the Office of Indian Education, and a representative from the Governor’s Office.
Together, these voices will honor this historic occasion as each Tribe’s flag is formally placed within the Public Service Building, symbolizing respect, partnership, and shared commitment to the success of Native students and communities across Oregon. This event is by invitation only. Livestreaming will be available. Please contact Renee.RomanNose@ode.oregon.gov for more information
Rock Your Mocs
By Laurel Goodluck, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight
In this happy, vibrant tribute to Rock Your Mocs Day, observed yearly on November 15, author Laurel Goodluck (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian) and artist Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw) celebrate the joy and power of wearing moccasins—and the Native pride that comes with them. A perfect book for Native American Heritage Month and all year round! For more information on the book please visit: American Indians in Children's Literatureor listen to the Youtube read aloud: Rock your Mocs
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Seeking Future Indigenous Educators! The Sapsik'ʷałá (Teacher) Education Program is currently recruiting applicants for our next cohort, which will begin classes in the summer of 2025 at our beautiful campus at the University of Oregon. The Sapsik'ʷałá Program is a rigorous, 12-month program that prepares future Indigenous educators. Sapsik'ʷałá students earn a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Teaching in partnership with the UOTeach master’s / licensure program while gaining Indigenous methodologies for teaching. Please see our admissions checklist for details on how to apply. Applications are open and priority is given to applications submitted..
See attachments to learn more about program provisions and hear about the student experience from our alumni. Please contact sapsikwala@uoregon.edu or by phone at (541) 346-2454 for program details!
Greetings from the Education Department at the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. We are excited to announce that we will be able to fund students for the Dress for Success Scholarship. This program offers $250 per enrolled CTCLUSI K – 12 student in a tribal household. The Dress for Success program provides financial support to tribal students K-12 to help them prepare for academic success through a $250 payment per student. The tribe’s education department offers this program to ensure tribal students have the necessary resources for their education.
Dress for Success Scholarship Criteria:
Students K-12th Grade that are enrolled CTCLUSI Tribal Members.
Kindergarten age students must have turned 5 by September 1st, 2024 to qualify
All forms must be submitted by October 31st 11:59pm. Late submissions will not be accepted.
To apply please visit: CTCLUSI Dress for Success
The Explore and More Precollege program connects high school students from Siletz Valley School with OSU student mentors to co-develop creative research projects that address community issues using both Western and Indigenous sciences.
This is a paid ($1500 stipend) opportunity open to undergraduate and graduate OSU students. Meetings for Siletz occur on Fridays throughout fall and winter terms at the Hatfield campus in Newport.
Application ends on Fri. October 3 (Week 1).
Final decisions made and notified by Thursday. October 9th (Week 2).
Mentor training will be the afternoon of Monday October 13 (Indigenous peoples day!)
To Apply please visit: Fall 25 Siletz Mentor Application
If you have any questions or need help, please email AJ at amy.mallozzi@oregonstate.edu
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MISSION – In an effort to attract and retain Native American students, Eastern Oregon University (EOU) and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) are offering online Umatilla language classes for college credit.
Thanks to a memorandum of agreement between the CTUIR and EOU, Mildred Quaempts, a Umatilla Master Speaker in the CTUIR Education Department, is teaching Beginning Umatilla I for the Fall 2025 Term for four credits and Beginning Umatilla II in the Winter 2026 Term for another four credits.
“I am honored to have been asked to teach the Beginning Umatilla class in collaboration with Eastern Oregon University,” said Quaempts, who began teaching the class in the Fall 2022 Term. “I am one of five remaining fluent Umatilla language speakers on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The speakers are myself, my brother Fred Hill Sr., cousin Thomas Morning Owl, son Damien Totus Thomas and daughter Annie Marie Kirk. The last elder speaker is Joan Watlamet, who lives in The Dalles, Oregon. Fred, Thomas, Damien and I were raised in Umatilla/Yakama Ichishkiin dialect language-speaking households.”
The online course, held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 – 6:10 p.m., is open to all EOU students with no limit on class size. However, EOU will provide five tuition waivers each term for CTUIR community members who reserve spots in the 11-week courses through the CTUIR Higher Education Program.
Reservations for the five tuition waivers will be on a first-come, first-served basis with enrolled CTUIR members receiving preference. For more information or to RSVP, email LynetteMinthorn@ctuir.org or call 541-429-7819.
The Beginning Umatilla I class began Sept. 23, but participants have until Oct. 17 to register. The closing registration date for Beginning Umatilla II is Jan. 30. To fully engage in the courses, participants must have access to a laptop, tablet, smartphone or other personal device; basic computer skills; and the ability to use the Zoom meeting platform.
“We’re excited to offer this class,” Pepper Huxoll, EOU Native American Program coordinator, said. “Understanding our location and our heritage, especially with our partnerships with CTUIR is vitally important to EOU.”
Quaempts said it’s important to have the Umatilla language taught because it “connects with the culture, beliefs and traditions, especially the First Foods, though our unwritten law and Indian ways.” First Foods are culturally significant staple foods consumed before colonization such as salmon, roots, berries and elk. For more information please visit: CTUIR News
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 and offers compassionate care and support for anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, substance use, or any other kind of behavioral health crisis. You can also dial 988 if you are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
Senate Bill 52 (SB 52, 2019), also known as Adi’s Act, mandates every school district school board to adopt a policy that requires a Student Suicide Prevention Plan. These plans must be made available annually to students and the school district community and be posted on the district's website, if applicable.
District suicide prevention plans that are compliant with state requirements provide procedural planning in the areas of prevention, intervention, and postvention, have equity and racial equity centered supports, and include a staff training process that outlines when and how students and families will be referred to appropriate mental health and crisis services.
This event will take place at the Three Rivers Casino Resort in Florence, Oregon. To stay updated on this even please visit: CTCLUSI Restoration Celebration
Join Portland Indigenous Marketplace (PIM) on Saturday, October 11, and Sunday, October 12, for a celebration hosting 50–100 Indigenous and Black artists and entrepreneurs, promoting cultural resilience, and honoring Indigenous heritage through art and community.
Saturday, October 11 | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday, October 12 | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
PIM supports Indigenous artists and entrepreneurs by providing barrier-free, culturally respectful spaces that encourage cultural resilience and economic sustainability by promoting public education through cultural arts. Learn more at indigenousmarketplace.org or visit: PIM Indigenous Peoples Day weekend
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This event will be held at Rainbow Park in Burns, OR on October 10th - 12th. The Burns Paiute Reservation day pow wow will include Lacrosse Medicine games, raffles, community Feast and more! This event is free to the public - for more information please visit:BPT Intertribal Powwow
By JAMIE HALE/The Oregonian/OregonLive
SILETZ — Each week, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians sends out roughly 25 to 75 food boxes to the community. The boxes — which are free and go to anyone in need — are packed with fresh vegetables and hand-picked herbs that come straight from the grounds of Tel-tvm’.
Also known as the Siletz Farm, Tel-tvm’ (pronounced tell-tum) is a 40-acre property purchased by the tribe in 2020. Since then, the tribe has worked to establish a five-acre farm that has been sustaining the local community in more ways than one.
Zeph Mullins, who runs the farm as the tribe’s food sovereignty program manager, gave a tour on a bright summer day, pointing to all the plants growing from the land, each labeled with names both in English and the tribe’s Nuu-wee-ya’/Siletz Dee-ni’ language.
There are traditional first foods such as camas and yampah; a wide array of vegetables including kale, broccoli, squash and cabbage; seasonal fruits that range from strawberry plants to apple trees; a variety of culinary and medicinal herbs; a wildly diverse flower garden; and even sacred tobacco grown for ceremonial use.
That’s not to mention the roughly 20 acres of forest and wetland habitat at Tel-tvm’, where wild plants such as red alder, elderberry and willow can be harvested to make crafts or medicine in the tribe’s apothecary.
“It’s a lot,” Mullins said with a laugh. “It’s a really young farm, but we all feel like this is an established program. This place is running extremely well.”
The farm, which didn’t have its first growing season until 2023, has quickly become a vital community resource, tribal leaders say. In 2024, it distributed 13,000 pounds of food as well as $116,000 of value in garden starts. All was distributed for free to help people not only eat, but to grow food themselves. To Read more please visit: Lincoln Chronicle
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Native Arts + Cultures Foundation (NACF) iis excited to offer a series of free workshops this fall, open to the public, Native artists, and our illustrious awardees. Workshop attendees can expect to learn from peers and experts in the field, discovering best practices for building professional capacity and bolstering art practices for the long term.
Native Artist Agency and Professional Development Workshop
Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 9-10 AM (PST) Webinar
RSVP here.
Join Hopi curator Polly Nordstrand for a workshop on curatorial collaboration and artist agency. This session will help artists navigate the often-complex terrain of working with museums and provide them with tools to advocate for themselves when interacting with curators and museum leadership. Artists will learn how to negotiate honoraria, require approval of all written, digital, and video promotion and interpretation of their work, and ensure financial support for any production of new work.
Native American Intellectual Property Rights Workshop
Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 1-3 PM (PST) Webinar
RSVP here.
This workshop will explore intellectual and cultural property rights of Tribal Nations in the United States, including federal statutes that have been enacted by Congress to specifically safeguard Indigenous cultural and intellectual property. Attendees of this workshop will also learn how Tribal Nations have begun enacting Tribal laws to govern their own cultural property and Traditional Knowledge. Ben Calabaza (Kewa Pueblo) will share his insights on intellectual property rights and the role of Native American artists, art, design, and community responsibility. Dr. Trevor Reed (Hopi) will guide artists through intellectual property protection and its intersection with Native American rights.
Voices in Contemporary Art - Artist Legacy Workshop
Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 9 AM – 12 PM (PST) Webinar
Space is limited; RSVP here.
Join us for a workshop led by Voices in Contemporary Art (VoCA) that will explore how artists can use interviews as a tool for advocacy, legacy planning, and the long-term stewardship and preservation of their art and practice. Through presentations, pair exercises, and group discussion, workshop attendees will learn various approaches and methods that will empower them to engage in thoughtful dialogue to help shape their narrative. This program emphasizes the importance of the artist’s vision and voice, encouraging participants to consider how interviews can be in service of documenting the historical context surrounding their practice, presenting their work, and ensuring its future preservation. The program will be hosted by the VoCA team, Lauren Shadford, Executive Director, and Margaret Graham, Program Director. The program will be co-led by Jen Mergel and Tessa Shultz.
Building Your Financial Future: Financial Literacy for Artists + Arts Workers
Thursday, October 30, 2025, 10 AM – 3 PM (PST)
In-Person - 800 SE 10th Avenue, Portland, OR
Space is limited; RSVP here.
Join NACF for a free community-based in-person artist training with arts financial advisors Tamara Bates and Elaine Grogan Luttrull, CPA-PFS, AFC.
NACF understands the capacity and the needs of Native artists and creative small businesses and is pleased to offer a free, impactful one-day program. Happening at the Center for Native Arts and Cultures (CNAC), the program would include a morning and afternoon session, continental breakfast and lunch, offering community-building and support among artists and creatives. Each session will allow for Q&A.
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Oregon Department of Education Job Openings
If you're looking for a rewarding career that positively affects the lives of children, you're in the right place! The Oregon Department of Education is the primary agency charged with overseeing K-12 public education in the state of Oregon.
Employment with Oregon state government represents more than just a job. A career in public service is an opportunity to serve fellow citizens across our beautiful state. Professions in state government help to support strong communities, healthy kids, education, economic vitality and a sustainable future.
The Oregon School for the Deaf has the following openings:
For More Information about these listings and further Job Openings, Please visit our Career Opportunities webpage.
ODE Career Chats are LIVE! Would you like to learn more about a position or how our application process works? Join our Recruitment Team during our ODE Career Chat Sessions. We can assist you with all your application and agency questions!
Join us on the 1st Thursday of every month from 11:00 am to 11:45 am (PST)
Join ZoomGov Meeting -https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1618573320
NAYA Job Openings
NAYA has a new look! Please visit NAYA Job openings to view all open positions.
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Indigenous Events of Portland, OR give updated events and activities that are happening in Portland through December 2025!
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Native American Travel lets you explore and learn about Tribes across America. Plan your next trip with suggested destination sites, planned itineraries, travel tips, and experiences.
- Visit the Native American Connections website to stay updated with the North Bend Community resources, available scholarships, community craft culture activities, TAPP, Tribal history/ Shared history and a variety of local services.
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Native American Culture: Celebrate Indigenous Oregon by visiting their website that was created to explore Native American culture around the state of Oregon. This site has trip ideas, historical content for all nine federally recognized Oregon Tribes, cultural activities, and updated Oregon Tribal news. To check out more about this site please visit, Travel Oregon Native American Culture.
Burns Paiute Tribe
Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Coquille Indian Tribe
Klamath Tribes
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Celebrate National Native American Heritage Month. Join a fun-filled day of music, cultural performances, and educational workshops. Listen to the captivating storytelling by Karen Kitchen, the powerful live drumming by Turquoise Pride, watch artists make traditional beadwork, and learn about Native American history and culture.
In partnership with the Portland Indigenous Marketplace, you are invited to explore handmade goods from local Native vendors and enjoy complimentary frybread for the first 200 attendees. Bring your friends and family to celebrate and enjoy this special day. For more information please visit: PDX Fry Break Fest
Do you have events or highlights in your community that you would like showcased in upcoming newsletters? If so, please send submissions to Raina Reece at Raina.Reece@ode.oregon.gov
We have a new email for contacting the Office of Indian Education! Please send any inquiries to ODE.IndianED@ODE.Oregon.gov
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