Native American Education
SPS’s Native American Education Program is a Referral Service
We work with students, parents and guardians, teachers, principals, and SPS departments on a case-by-case basis to address the broad scope of needs our Native students face.
We want every family to understand how to navigate the district’s resources and support all schools in understanding the unique experience Native students face interacting with our system. Our goal is to ensure all Native students have a high-quality educational experience and reach the goal of graduation.
- Whitman Middle School Raises Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
- Observe Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Week of Action, April 29 – May 5
- Celebrate Native American Poets and Pop Culture during National Poetry Month in April
- March 9 is Billy Frank, Jr. Day
- 2024 is the 50th Anniversary of the Boldt Decision
- February is African-American History Month
- November is Native American Heritage Month
- Wear Orange on September 30, 2024
- Social-Emotional Learning Through Plant Teachings
Culture Nights Update
We are currently planning culture nights for school year 24/25. Exact dates are coming soon…
Making Natives Visible
Whitman Middle School Raises Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
Thank you to Principal John Houston and art teacher Dever Dunnett for an amazing Multicultural Night that featured Native artists and student art. Students created faceless dolls to bear witness to the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous people within the borders of the United States.
Learn more about the Faceless Dolls Project
Learn more about the Red Dress Project
Observe Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Week of Action, April 29 – May 5
Ask your teachers about classroom resources provided by us!
Learn about the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center.
Celebrate Native American Poets and Pop Culture during National Poetry Month in April
- Native American Poetry and Culture (Poetry Foundation)
- A Tribe Called Geek (entertainment, art, media, lit, and culture links, reviews, and news)
- MovieWeb – Native American TV Shows
- Native America – PBS series on contemporary Indian Country
- 12 TV and Streaming Shows about the Native American Experience and That Celebrate Indigenous Culture [the title is unfortunate, but the resource is worthwhile] – Rotten Tomatoes article with links
- Native American Music Awards – Explore contemporary and traditional music from Indian Country
- Indigenous Futures – Storytelling Project that highlights resiliency of Native peoples
March 9 is Billy Frank, Jr. Day
- Learn more about Billy Frank, Jr.
- Teacher Resources (Requires login)
2024 is the 50th Anniversary of the Boldt Decision
Boldt at 50 Community Events and Resources
February is African-American History Month
Learn about the past, present, and future of Black Indians, also known as Afro-Indigenous, African American Indian, and African and Native American.
November is Native American Heritage Month
Wear Orange on September 30, 2024
In 1973, Stwecem’c Xgat’tem First Nations citizen Phyllis (Jack) Webstad’s new orange shirt, given to her by her grandmother, was taken away the day she arrived at Mission School. She was six years old. In 2013, she founded the Orange Shirt Society as part of her healing journey.
Learn more…
- Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
- Residential Schools in Canada Education Guide
- Orange Shirt Society
- Cultural Survival
Social-Emotional Learning Through Plant Teachings
Native American Education collaborated with Social-Emotional Learning to prepare activities for SELtember. These activities promote social-emotional learning using plant teachings. Listen to Victoria Plumage tell the Licorice Fern story…