Native Brilliance: ONE and STRIDE Advance DEIB at OSPI
Three WA State Tribal Organizations Featured
Background: The Support Team Reaching for Inclusion and Diversity and Equity (STRIDE) team offers every OSPI employee, from diverse backgrounds, the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to DEIB work that aligns with the agency’s mission and vision.
Members of STRIDE regularly collaborate to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging by fostering cultural understanding, engaging employees as DEIB partners, reviewing practices for inclusivity, and providing resources to build an equitable organization.
The Office of Native Education (ONE) team was invited to give a training to OSPI employees and welcomed the performance and presentations of three organizations during the November 20 virtual event titled "Native Brilliance: Serving Native Communities with Respect, Knowledge, and Impact"
- Inchelium Student Language Group—kwu sqilxw students from Inchelium opened up our training with an honor song in their language for our attendees. We appreciate the students sharing language and song with us to center the importance of our children working with language and culture. Warm appreciation to the language leaders, administrators, and tribal partners for supporting this work in Inchelium for our children.
- UNKITAWA Executive Director—Edna Wyena shared the mission of UNKITAWA which is to “Heal and educate Indigenous peoples through culture and education” UNKITAWA’s breadth of work to support Veterans, elders, women’s wellness, Wellbriety* and food support for our people was impressive!
- United Indians of All Tribes CEO—Michael Tulee shared the work that has been undertaken to support the educational needs of American Indian/Alaska Native students in the Seattle area with literacy supports, additionally specifically responding to the needs of special education students in a unique approach of collaborating with school psychologists and providing training and support to “Indigenizing Special Education” to assist students and staff.
The purpose of this training gave insight to honoring tribal history, culture, and language by uplifting Native led community partners and resources. By the end of the session, participants will have reached the following goals:
1. Understand key cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts of Native communities in Washington.
2. Recognize multigenerational ways of being and strengths within Native communities.
3. Explore practical resources to support Native students, families, and communities.
4. Reflect on their role in shaping equitable, culturally responsive policies and programs.
*Wellbriety is a Native-led recovery movement that combines wellness and sobriety to address addiction and intergenerational trauma in Indigenous communities.
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Tribal Language Program Gratitude
way̓ yaʕyáʕt swit, hello everyone,
The Tribal Language Program would like to thank and commend everyone who assisted in successfully implementing the Tribal Language Grants for the 2025-26 school year. We are happy to share that each of our 26 grant recipients has a strong working relationship with and formal support from their partner Tribe.
From Nsəlxcin to Lushootseed, Ichishkíin to Klallam, Spokane Salish to Makah and Quinault, language work takes a community, and we are proud to be in community with strong stewards and supporters of the many Tribal Languages throughout the State of Washington.
We would love to learn about the Tribal Language wins happening in your school district. If you have a success story or language teacher you would like to highlight, please contact Destiney (skwekwiw) at destiney.petty@k12.wa.us.
limlmtx, and we look forward to continued partnership in the new year.
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WSAC Offers Funding & Tools for Two Tribal Schools
Dear Tribal Schools,
The Native Student Success Program at the Office of Native Education is excited to share a special opportunity for tribal schools to receive dedicated support in boosting financial aid access for Native students.
This year, we can welcome two schools as priority partners, offering $1,000 in funding, planning support, and tools to help your students unlock thousands of dollars in college financial aid. While we cannot take everyone, we are grateful to offer this focused support to two tribal schools ready to deepen their postsecondary pathways.
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Foster Care Education Training for Tribal Child Welfare
The OSPI Foster Care Education team is offering training for those working with Tribal youth involved in the child welfare system. Students in foster care are entitled to state and federal educational stability provisions such as the right to remain in their school of origin, Best Interest Determination meeting, immediate enrollment, and transportation.
This training will cover those provisions along with resources to support students, school staff responsibilities, and services such as transportation and special education. Please join us for one of the sessions below!
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Registration link - https://zoom.us/meeting/register/XUHENFLXTim5R50-Nq-0VA
OR
Monday, January 12, 2026 | 10:00 – 11:30 am
Registration link - https://zoom.us/meeting/register/GFmegdDeQUSzPpmi2SQ3eg
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Register Now for Last G2G Hybrid Training!
ONE Tribal Consultation is offering its last hybrid administrator government-to-government training session. Register early to secure your spot.
December 15, 2025 | 9am – 3:30pm | WSU Vancouver | VDEN Room 129
Register to attend December 15 training in person
Register to attend virtually
This training fulfills the Government-to-Government Relationships with federally recognized Tribes new certificate renewal requirements for all teachers, administrators, including all principals, assistant principals, program administrators, Career and Technical Education (CTE) directors, and superintendents. New requirements are a result of HB 1426 and WAC 181-79A-244.
Contact Maxine Alex if you have questions.
Visit our website for more details.
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WSNAEAC Winter Meeting
The Washington State Native American Education Advisory Committee (WSNAEAC), composed of 22 tribal-nominated members, advises OSPI on promoting leadership and effective practices to ensure academic success and cultural integrity for American Indian and Alaska Native students in Washington’s public, tribal compact, and tribal schools.
WSNAEAC meetings are open to the public, and we invite you join us virtually.
When: January 7, 2026 | 10:30 am–12:30 pm | Zoom
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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
Native Resources for Education
American Indian Community Center provides social and economic development services while preserving the culture and traditions of Native people in the Spokane area.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Huy (pronounced “Hoyt”) provides economic, educational, rehabilitative and religious support for Indigenous prisoners in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the United States.
Investigate West says that data shows Native American kids less likely than others in WA to be offered second chance in juvenile court.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The NATIVE Project provides services that promote wellness and balance of mind, body, and spirit for individuals, staff, families, and communities.
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.
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.
Urban Native Education Alliance (UNEA) was founded in 2008 to engage generations of Native youth through education, culture, and tradition.
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