What's New

IllumiNative has partnered with the National Indian Education Association and Amplifier to create Native Education for All, an initiative providing online lesson plans, tools and resources for Pre-K through 8th grade students. Each lesson—available as a downloadable pdf—guides teachers and students through learning about Native American art, culture, history and contemporary life.

Each fall since 1992, the Salmon Homecoming Celebration commemorates the return of salmon to our local waters and introduces attendees to Coast Salish cultural activities. Access videos, activities and download the Salmon Homecoming student workbook by visiting Salmon Homecoming Virtual School Days. Videos include:

In recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we celebrate notable Northwesterners who are of Native American and Asian/Pacific American descent: Preston Singletary (Tlingit, Filipino), Bernie Whitebear (Colville, Filipino), Sondra Segundo (Haida, Filipino), Louie Gong (Nooksack, Chinese) and Bob Santos (Filipino, Indipino/Native American). Read their bios below to find out about their activist and artistic achievements.

In addition, listen to KNKX's recent story about Bainbridge Island's Indipino community to learn about local Native Americans who are also of Filipino descent: For Bainbridge Island's Indipinos, it's time to 'Honor thy Mother'

On April 30th, author Joy Harjo (Muscogee Creek), the first Native American U.S. Poet Laureate, was appointed for a second term. She will focus on her project, "Living Nations, Living Words: A Map of First Peoples' Poetry"—an interactive map of contemporary Native poets.

SPS American Indian Studies educators are curating online resources for continuous learning during the COVID-19 closure. Visit the American Indian Studies webpage to access social studies curriculum and other resources for learning about Washington State Tribal History.

The spring issue of American Indian, the magazine of Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMA), features Robert Eagle Staff Middle School and how they are transforming the teaching of Indian history and tribal sovereignty with the NMAI's Native Knowledge 360º and Since Time Immemorial curriculum. Read the article: Native History is American History: NMAI is Bringing Indigenous Perspectives into the Classroom

On March 9th, we honor Billy Frank Jr., a Northwest Native American (Nisqually) activist, who played a key role in the “Fish Wars” of the 1960's and 1970's, resulting in a landmark decision affirming tribal fishing rights.

Learn more about this influential leader in our Billy Frank Jr. collection of websites and articles: 

Billy Frank Jr. Online Collection

Written by student: Lucy W. The following article is from the Jane Addams Middle School Pawprint Newspaper, November 2019

Jane Addams and Nathan Hale share a class a class for Native kids to learn about their culture. The class teaches the children to have pride in their culture and to be successful in life. When I visited their classroom I was taught that they believe “for each young person that grows up strong and healthy, they bring health and healing to seven generations ahead of them and seven generations behind them.”

By Isabel S., Sentinel Staff Writer; Ruby W., Guest Writer; Olivia C., Sentinel Spread Writer

Origin of the month

In 1990 President George W. Bush approved and designated the month of November as “National American Indian Heritage Month” (some other names the month is called includes “Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month”).

Why it's important

Native American Heritage Month is a time to recognize and remind current day Americans of the people who were here first.

It exists to acknowledge native people and their contributions to the past and present day, in an attempt to amend the gaps in the traditional education system.

By Isabel S., Staff Writer, The Sentinel, Nathan Hale High School

Candy corn. Ghosts. Scary movies. Pumpkin patches. The Halloween season is upon us and with it comes many exciting activities. An important decision during Halloween is your costume. Will you be a ghost? A celebrity? A pun? Maybe you want to dress up as something from another culture. If you do want to wear a costume from another culture, be careful because what you choose to wear could affect others.

For Native Americans, having long hair is culturally relevant and significant. The importance of having long hair differs from tribes and nations. Some tribes believe long hair gives them power and knowledge, others feel connected to the cosmos, and some grow it long to honor their ancestors and culture.

May 10, 2018

Huchoosedah Native Education applies annually for federally funding through the Title VI Indian Education Formula Grant program that assists Native American, Alaskan Native, and American Indian students in Seattle Public Schools in grades K-12. We believe that the academic success of Native students is grounded in a strong sense of cultural identity and belonging.

NOTICE: May 10th, 2018

On Friday, June 2, Gail T. Morris received the Enduring Spirit Award. Presented by the Native Action Network for lifetime achievements of Native women who, through their commitment of time, energy, and volunteerism contribute to healthy communities. The issues they champion are varied and include environment, education, youth and family, holistic health (mind, body, spirit), continuation and retention of culture, preservation of treaty rights, sacred sites, and economic empowerment.

NAYLA Sizzle Reel from Sky Bear Media on Vimeo.