Seattle Public Schools

Departments

Native American Education

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.


Family Culture Night Holiday Celebration Tuesday, December 17th 5-7pm

Please join us Tuesday, December 17th from 5-7pm for our annual Family Culture Night Holiday Celebration at Meany Middle School, where we will come together in community to celebrate the holiday season!

-Delicious food by Chef Olivia from Liiv For Flavor
-Free books and goodies for the kids from The Seattle Public Library
-A gift give away sponsored by Toys for Tots
-Craft making activities
-Holiday selfie booth with Santa

We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating in the holiday season!

Meany Middle School: 301 21st Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112

Pleases contact: Kym Hogan at kmhogan@seattleschools.org for questions or if you would like to volunteer to help at the event!


Free Holiday Meals & Turkey Give Away!

The Native American Education department has a limited supply of free turkeys to give away to our Native families in need. If you would like to request a turkey, please contact Kym Hogan @ kmhogan@seattleschools.org or call: 206-252-0858.

We will have a pick up option from the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence or delivery to your home the week of Thanksgiving.

For those that would like to attend a local community celebration offering free holiday meals, see the link below:

Free Holiday Meals: Thursday, November 28th


Native Education Updates

December 2024

November 2024

Native American Heritage Month Resources


Family Culture Nights

Please join us for our first Family Culture Night of the 2024-2025 school year! We will be coming together in community to celebrate the holidays on Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 5-7 p.m. at Meany Middle School. Food and beverages will be provided as well as a Toys for Tots gift distribution. We look forward to seeing you there! Questions? Please contact: Kym Hogan at 252-0858 or email kmhogan@seattleschools.org

Check back for future culture night opportunities!


Making Natives Visible

The 2024 logo for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Week of Action

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


Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Week of Action

Ask your teachers about Schoology classroom resources provided by Native American Education!

Learn about the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center


Native American Poets and Pop Culture

National Poetry Month is April


Billy Frank, Jr. Day

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.

What do Tina Turner, Crispus Attucks, Jimi Hendrix, and James Earl Jones have in common? They have Native American Ancestry!

Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day graphic with two hands holding a bird with text Every Child Matters

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…


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…

Victoria Plumage, Assiniboine and Native Hawaiian, tells the Licorice Fern Story and explains its significance. Learn more about her work.