1. REL Northwest
2. Partnerships
3. Northwest Tribal Educators Alliance

Northwest Tribal Educators Alliance

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REL Northwest is working across the region to increase awareness of effective strategies and programs for serving American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students. Specifically, we are working with the Education Committee of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians through a partnership known as the Northwest Tribal Educators Alliance (NW TEA). Through this partnership, we set goals to increase access to resources that support Native students' academic success, improve public education systems, enhance tribal consultation and collaboration, and honor principles of tribal self-determination in education.

Objectives

The goal of NW TEA is to use culturally relevant data and evidence to promote academic and community success for Native students. Projects include:

• Increasing the accuracy of AIAN student identification in the education system
• Guiding decisions about programs that support Indigenous language revitalization and develop English academic language for AIAN language learner students
• Conducting ongoing needs assessment and listening sessions

Resources

The First Migratory Learners: Identifying and Supporting American Indian and Alaska Native Migratory Students

Strategies for Improving the Accuracy of Native Student Identification

Native Youth Count: A Resource Guide for Families of American Indian and Alaska Native Students

Practicing Native Culture, Building Identity, Fostering Achievement (special feature)

Members

• Patsy Whitefoot, Director (Yakama Nation); Education Chair, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians; Toppenish School District Indian Education & Yakama Reservation Wellness Coalition
• Dawn Barron, Director of Native Pathways Program, Evergreen State College
• Yolanda Bisbee, Executive Director of Tribal American Relations, University of Idaho
• Ross Braine, Tribal Liaison, University of Washington
• April Campbell, Indian Education Advisor to Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, Oregon Department of Education
• Tleena Ives, Director of Tribal Affairs, Department of Early Learning, Washington State
• Cina Littlebird, Attorney, Northwest Justice Project
• Sara Marie Ortiz, Native Education Program Manager, Highline School District
• Jaylyn Suppah, Community Planner for Health and Human Services, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
• Michael Vendiola, Education Director, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community

Contacts