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ODE supports Native American curriculum, Educator Advancement Council From Education Update, Oregon Depart- ment of Education, February 2017 Feb. 9 was Tribal Government Day at the State Capitol, which was appropriate since Senate Bill (SB) 13 was heard that day in the Senate Education Committee. Deputy Superintendent Salam Noor and Indian Education Specialists April Campbell and Ramona Halcomb were among the dozens of people testifying in support of the bill, which would create a curriculum relating to the Native Ameri- can experience in Oregon and also provide professional development for teachers on the subject. The meeting time was almost doubled in order to make sure that everyone who wanted to support the bill could give their testimony to the committee. Modesta Minthorn, director of edu- cation for the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla and also a State Board of Edu- cation member, testified that having a Native American curriculum will result in increased academic achievement. “It provides an opportunity to tell Oregonians who we are as a people,” Minthorn said. “Native American students will get a reinforced sense of identity, which affects test scores.” Valerie Switzler, Tribal Council rep- resentative for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, told the committee the bill has been a long time coming. “We don’t have connection with com- munities surrounding us anymore,” she said. “They don’t know who we are as Tribes. Because knowledge of who we are isn’t there anymore, it’s getting lost, even with our children. We need to educate all children to recognize who we are as people.” State Rep. Tawna Sanchez, only the second Native American legislator in Oregon history, testified it’s past time to teach about Native Americans. “The history of Oregon deserves to be told from the perspective of all residents, especially its first residents,” she said. “Every day, non-Native kids see them- selves in history. How amazing would it be for our Native students to hear about their culture and contributions?” After nearly two hours of testimony, Noor thanked the Tribal leaders and others who spoke in support of SB 13. “We have heard the clear need for this curriculum in our state,” he said. “From ODE’s perspective, we are excited to work with the Tribes in consultation.” At that same meeting, Noor spoke on behalf of SB 182, which establishes the Educator Advancement Council, created through an executive order by Gov. Kate Brown. Noor said he hears from teachers the need for mentoring and culturally relevant professional development, which the council recommended. Noor also testified on behalf of SB 183, which would establish an Early Indicator and Intervention System to help students get back on track to graduation before it’s too late. He told the committee “This focuses efforts on what works, it validates what we know and makes the commitment to continue investment in what works.” Funding available to rebuild long-lost Tribal housing on Columbia River WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR3), announced on Feb. 13 that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) has dedicated funding to begin the process of replacing long-lost Tribal housing along the Columbia River. The Army Corps will immediately dedicate up to $1.56 million for a village development plan to replace housing that was lost during construction of The Dalles Dam, with plans to dedicate $1.49 million more, depending on congressional fund- ing for the rest of fiscal year 2017. The current funding bill runs through April 28, 2017. “With this funding, we are beginning to right this historic wrong for Tribal members,” Merkley said. “Leaving our Tribes displaced, without relocation assis- tance, was simply wrong. We are another step closer to making good on the federal government’s obligation for housing and infrastructure. I will continue fighting to honor this decades-old promise, ensuring Tribal members have the safe, reliable housing they deserve.” “This is another promising step toward fulfilling the federal government’s obligation to the Tribes along the Colum- bia River, but this is not the end of the road,” said Murray. “I commend the Army Corps for its recent work and urge fast action to use this much-needed funding to develop plans to provide Tribal members with safe, sanitary housing and related infrastructure near The Dalles Dam.” “I am gratified an injustice that’s lin- gered far too long for Native American communities in Oregon will take this **** NEW LOCATION **** needed step to get the resources to reverse a deeply troubling history,” Wyden said. “Native children and families deserve safe housing that can protect them from serious health and safety hazards along the Columbia River.” “It’s about time that the federal gov- ernment put some much-needed fund- ing towards fulfilling its obligations to the Lower Columbia River Tribes,” said Blumenauer. “I’m encouraged that those impacted by the Dalles Dam will be able to move forward, but this is only a drop in the bucket for what is needed. I urge the federal government to move quickly to remedy this situation.” Beginning in the 1930s, the con- struction of the three lower Columbia River dams displaced members of the four Columbia River Treaty Tribes – Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe TRADITIONAL POW WOW formerly at Covington Middle School Natural Resources Department Contractors List Please join us for our traditional powwow sponsored by Evergreen, Vancouver & Battle Ground Schools, Native American Education Program Title VI and Native American Parent Association of Southwest Washington. For more information call NAE Program at 360-604-6757. MC: BOB TOM Host Drum: FOUR DIRECTIONS Color Guard: NIVA Arena Director: ED WULF All Dancers and Drummers Welcome! 12:00 pm - Doors Open to the Public 1:00 pm - Grand Entry 5:00 pm - Presentation/Dinner Break 6:00 pm - Grand Entry 10:00 pm - NIVA Retire the Colors Head Male: TBA Head Female: TBA Vendor Contact: DAVE JOLLIE 360-601-3764 Drug & Alcohol Free Event ~ Committee is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen items. 14 • Siletz News • March 2017 The Tribal Natural Resources Department periodically solicits bids from contractors for a variety of work. If your company would like to be included on our lists to receive requests for bids/proposals for any of the services listed below, please contact Natural Resources Manager Mike Kennedy at 541-444-8232 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1232, to be put on the appropriate list. Tree Planting Precommercial Thinning Hazard Tree Removal/Tree Trimming Mechanical Brush Cutting Logging Road Construction/ Maintenance Logging Log Hauling Timber Falling Herbicide Spraying Concrete Construction Statistical Analysis Macroinvertebrate Identification Water Quality Monitoring/Analysis and Yakama Nation. These Tribes have a treaty-protected right to fish along the Columbia River in their usual and accus- tomed places. The senators and congressman have been fighting to address the urgent need for adequate housing and infrastructure at Tribal fishing access sites constructed by the Army Corps following construc- tion of The Dalles, Bonneville and John Day dams. The Army Corps designed the sites to be used primarily for daily, in-season fishing access and temporary camping. In many cases, however, Tribal members now use the areas as longer-term or even permanent residences. A Fact-Finding Review on Tribal Housing prepared by the Army Corps found that as many as 85 Tribal families who lived on the banks of the Columbia River prior to construction of the Bonne- ville and The Dalles dams did not receive relocation assistance, despite the fact that several non-Tribal communities inundated by dam construction did receive such assistance.
