Explore the new inclusion of tribal history in Oregon schools.

What does the future of Oregon look like when our youngest learners are given a more balanced representation of our state history and tribal history to inform their individual and collective identities as Oregonians? The nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon are designing and rolling out curriculum to be utilized by K-12 Oregon schools in order to teach Indigenous knowledge that aligns with state standards and objectives. This invitation to learn Indigenous ways of knowing has come in the form of Senate Bill 13 "Shared History/Tribal History". Our Oregon schools will adopt and implement new curriculum which will give learners a more culturally relevant and accurate representation of our Indigenous communities and shared history.

Justine Lowry is a Bend community member of over a decade and adjunct professor at both COCC and OSU Cascades. Her areas of specialization are Art History, K-12 Art Education and Native American Studies. Growing up in Northern California and Southern Oregon, Justine learned about her European and Native American heritage primarily from her grandfather, Leonard Lowry (Hammawi band of Pit River, Maidu and Washoe). As a Hamawwi band of Pit River tribal member, Justine enjoys leading discussions about visual representations of identity and narrative within Indigenous arts. Justine works towards a reflexive approach to teaching the complex history of the colonization of the Americas and a placed-based pedagogy that enriches the lives of learners.