Governor Ferguson Signs 2025 Proclamation
Join us in honoring Native American Heritage Month and Day (November 29) 2025. We invite you to read Governor Ferguson’s official proclamation, recognizing the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Native peoples.
Explore These Resources in Observance of Native American Heritage Month & Day
Unkitawa uses traditional art, culture, and ceremony to assist and support Indigenous communities in South King County, Washington State, and beyond to protect and heal the Earth for the benefit of all.
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation provides educational, cultural and social services that reconnect Indigenous people in the Puget Sound region to their heritage by strengthening their sense of belonging and significance as Native people.
Urban Native Education Alliance (UNEA) was founded in 2008 to engage generations of Native youth through education, culture, and tradition.
Mother Nation is a non-profit organization that delivers social and cultural healing services for Native women that nurture, create stability, and inspire growth through sisterhood.
Chief Seattle Club is a Native-led agency providing housing and human services, guided by Native values to end homelessness and nurture the spirit of urban Native people.
The NATIVE Project provides services that promote wellness and balance of mind, body, and spirit for individuals, staff, families, and communities.
American Indian Community Center provides social and economic development services while preserving the culture and traditions of Native people in the Spokane area.
Həłmxiłp Indigenous Birth Justice is an indigenous-led movement empowering community members through culturally rooted care across life stages—from pregnancy to menopause—while addressing systemic inequalities in health.
Native Action Network is a nonprofit advancing Native women’s leadership and representation across all levels of government while affirming Native identities and fostering community-driven justice.
Na'ah Illahee Fund is an Indigenous-led intermediary advancing climate justice, food sovereignty, and self-determination by moving resources to grassroots leaders and strengthening Indigenous communities across the Pacific Northwest.
Outdoor Learning School & Store is a nonprofit rooted in Indigenous knowledge, building authentic relationships with diverse Indigenous communities to elevate their voices through outdoor education.
Course: Indian Country 101 is an online tribal engagement training series designed with Natural resource practitioners in mind and is built from the premise that you can’t work with tribes in the United States without first outlining the long and complicated history of tribes and governments.
Pacific Northwest Native Lacrosse empowers Native youth through culturally rooted lacrosse programs that honor the Creator’s Game, foster leadership, and strengthen tribal community connections.
Children of the Setting Sun is a nonprofit that shares stories rooted in Indigenous heritage to foster gratitude, honor ancestral responsibilities, and inspire a more connected and hopeful future.
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Honoring Native American Veterans: From Code Talkers to Today’s Tribal Leaders
Native American Veterans (American Indians and Alaska Natives) have a profoundly significant legacy of service, maintaining the highest per-capita involvement of any population in the U.S. military across every major conflict for over 200 years.
Historically, Native Americans volunteered for service at a much higher rate than other U.S. demographics, with their contributions being critical, including the use of Native languages for unbreakable military codes during WWI (Choctaw) and WWII (Navajo code talkers). Despite this proud service, many face difficult conditions like lower incomes and higher unemployment upon returning to reservations.
We share vital resources to help ensure they receive their earned benefits: The VA (Veterans Affairs) consults with tribal governments to enhance access to a wide variety of benefits, including the Native American Direct Loan (NADL) Program for financing homes on Federal Trust Land. Furthermore, the National American Indian Veterans, Inc. (NAIV), which advocates across 14 regions, recently achieved a Congressional Charter to strengthen its platform in policy discussions. Direct community support is provided by the Native American Veterans Assistance (NAVA), a non-profit of Native Veterans delivering essential aid—such as stoves and Tempur-Pedic Mattresses—on reservations from Pine Ridge to Northern Cheyenne.
Centennial Accord Education Panel:
Strengthening State-Tribal Partnerships in Education
At the 36th Annual Centennial Accord, held October 20–23, 2025, tribal and state leaders gathered to reaffirm commitments to government-to-government relationships and advance shared priorities. Governor Bob Ferguson signed Executive Order 25-10, setting a new standard for state-tribal relations. The order requires agencies to adopt formal consultation policies, expand sovereignty training, and incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into decision-making. Tribal leaders hailed this as a historic step toward meaningful engagement.
A key highlight of the accord was the Education Conversation, co-facilitated by Honorable Leonard Forsman, Chairman of the Suquamish Tribe, and Henry Strom, Assistant Superintendent for the Office of Native Education at OSPI.
The session focused on the theme:
“The State-Tribal Relationship and Its Impact on Education.”
Panelists were: Co Facilitators Chairman Leonard Forsman and Assistant Superintendent Henry Strom, Susan Lathrop, Kris Peters-Chair of Squaxin Island Tribe, Dr. Zoe Higheagle Strong (WSU), Monica Tonasket—Secretary of the Spokane Tribal Business Council,
Discussions centered on:
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Tribal Education Priorities and Challenges—Chairman Forsman emphasized the need for culturally grounded education systems that honor sovereignty and strengthen identity.
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Tribal Education Leaders Summit (TELS) Report—Henry Strom shared insights from the recent summit, highlighting strategies for closing opportunity gaps and aligning educational efforts with tribal visions.
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Native Education Opportunity Gap Study—Dr. Zoe Higheagle Strong (WSU) presented findings on disparities impacting Native students and recommendations for systemic change.
Key Takeaways
- Tribal leaders called for authentic consultation and shared decision-making in education policy.
- OSPI reaffirmed its commitment to data sovereignty, language revitalization, and closing opportunity gaps.
- The conversation underscored the importance of collaborative frameworks to ensure educational systems reflect tribal values and priorities.
Why It Matters
This panel exemplifies the Centennial Accord in action—moving beyond symbolic commitments toward practical strategies that honor sovereignty and improve outcomes for Native students
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Reported Layoffs within the U.S. Department of Education
The Federal Government Shutdown: Longest in History
The current federal government shutdown has become the longest in U.S. history, with significant impacts across agencies.
Reported Layoffs within the U.S. Department of Education
Recent reports indicate that the U.S. Department of Education has issued layoff notices to numerous employees within the Office of Indian Education (OIE) and nearly all staff in the Impact Aid Program Office. According to testimony before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, both offices have been “gutted,” likely to result in major disruptions to grant administration, tribal consultation, and technical assistance for Native education programs.
These developments underscore the profound challenges facing tribal communities and education systems that rely on federal support. As the shutdown continues, stakeholders are calling for urgent action to restore stability and uphold commitments to Native students and sovereign tribal nations.
 Empowering Indigenous Educators:
Nakia Academy’s First Cohort Begins
The Office of Native Education is proud to announce the launch of Nakia Academy’s first Indigenous Educator Cohort, developed in partnership with WEA, BEST, and WSCA. This milestone brings to life the intent of RCW 28A.300.105, strengthening support for American Indian and Alaska Native educators through culturally grounded mentorship and leadership.
Read more about the launch and reflections from Nakia and ONE leadership.
Pictured above: Nakia Academy's first Indigenous Educator Cohort, October 25, 2025
Tribal Language Update:
Honoring Educational Sovereignty
Way', limlmtx, and greetings to our Tribal education partners. This Native American Heritage Month, we celebrate the continued growth of Washington's First Peoples' Language, Culture & Oral Traditions Certificate program. When this program began as a pilot in 2003, the entire list of certificate holders fit on a single standard page.
Today, we honor 229 certificates held by 126 unique educators across 14 Tribal nations. The First Peoples' certificate empowers our ancestor-built, community-educated language and culture keepers to hold an educator certificate as concrete as any other in Washington State. With course codes spanning Indigenous Language, Arts, Culture, Music, Physical Education and Health, Science, and History, this program demonstrates how Indigenous Knowledge Systems are foundational to Native student wellness and brilliance.
Limlmtx to our Tribal education leaders and language warriors for your dedication to this sacred work. Read the full article here.
Photo: Dr. Martina Whelshula, an original member of the First Peoples' committee, watches footage of herself proposing the original WAC in 2003. This moment from May 2025 honors over two decades of dedication to Tribal language revitalization.
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 $10,000 scholarship for TELL-MEd at UW Tacoma
haʔɬ sləx̌il Wonderful Relatives and Friends,
OPPORTUNITY—Our team at the School of Education at the UW Tacoma has received a last-minute continuation of a federal grant for multilingual teacher development. We are offering thirty $10,000 scholarships for our 36-credit program, which is 95% online. Qualified state employees can enjoy a further tuition exemption for four core courses. This Master's program will also lead to a WA English language endorsement. Due to the time constraints of this continuation federal grant, teachers need to apply now and begin taking courses in January 2026.
COHORTS—We are interested in learning hubs that work together to offer distance learning opportunities, where small cohorts collaborate with a stipend for a liaison lead in your area. We want to further the expertise at your location.
Check out our flyer and program for more information. Please do not hesitate to contact our excellent Dr. Belinda Louie and our fantastic Student Advisor Lead, Ashley Walker, M.Ed., if you have any questions. JOIN US!
CONTACT
Belinda Louie, Ph.D.
Professor, School of Education
Director of the Master of Education (MEd) for Practicing Educators Program
Director of Project TELL-PD and Project TELL-EQUITY
University of Washington Tacoma
1900 Commerce St
Tacoma, WA 98402
253-692-4434
blouie@uw.edu
Ashley Walker, M.Ed.
Advising Lead, School of Education
University of Washington Tacoma
1900 Commerce St | West Coast Grocery (WCG) 324
Tacoma, WA 98402
253-692-4367
aew7@uw.edu
SHARE—Please share this opportunity with your contacts or forward this to anyone who may be interested.
ťigʷicid (Thank you),
Dawn
dawnes@uw.edu
DAWN HARDISON-STEVENS, PHD (Omushkeg Cree-Metis/Anishinabek Ojibway/Cowlitz/Steilacoom)
Assistant Professor | Native American Education | School of Education | University of Washington-Tacoma / təqʷuʔməʔ
Washington State Native American Education Advisory Committee (WSNAEAC)
2024 Higher Education Native Teacher of the Year
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