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.
Please call or email Gail Morris gtmorris@seattleschools.org We are here to help, problem-solve, and inspire.
Save the Dates
- January 11, 5:00 – 6:00 pm: Indian Parent Advisory Committee Meeting (virtual)
- January 16, 5:00 – 7:00 pm: Family Culture Night
- January 30, 5:00 – 7:00 pm: Family Culture Night
- February 8, 5:00 – 6:00 pm: Indian Parent Advisory Committee Meeting (virtual)
- February 13, 5:00 – 7:00 pm: Family Culture Night
- February 27, 5:00 – 7:00 pm: Family Culture Night
- March 12, 5:00 – 7:00 pm: Family Culture Night
- March 14, 5:00 – 6:00 pm: Indian Parent Advisory Committee Meeting (virtual)
- March 26, 5:00 – 7:00 pm: Family Culture Night
- April 9, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm: Regalia Making (9-11 learn to sew; 11 – 3 sew regalia)
- April 18, 5:00 – 6:00 pm: Indian Parent Advisory Committee Meeting (virtual)
- April 23, 5:00 – 7:00 pm: Family Culture Night
- May 7, 5:00 – 7:00 pm: Family Culture Night
- May 9, 5:00 – 6:00 pm: Indian Parent Advisory Committee Meeting (virtual)
- May 21, 5:00 – 7:00 pm: Family Culture Night
- June 5, 6:00 – 8:00: End of Year Student Celebration (check back for updates)
- June 11, 5:00 – 7:00 pm: Family Culture Night End of Year Celebration
Celebrate Native American Poets and Pop Culture during National Poetry Month in April
- Native American Poetry and Culture (Poetry Foundation)
- Native American Poetry (Seattle Public Library)
- 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)
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 29, 2023
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
I Am Native-Video
SPSTV Licorice Fern Story
Native American Education collaborated with Social-Emotional Learning to prepare activities for SELtember 2022. These activities promote social-emotional learning using plant teachings.