How do schools support the well-being of students from a range of backgrounds?

This event will explore culturally sustaining curricula and its impact on students, including students from Native American backgrounds and other BIPOC minority identities, as well as White students.

Language-keepers, educators, students, alumni, administrators, and mental health professionals will share their insights about the deep connections between culture and well-being.

The newly published book, Learning to Survive: Yurok Well-Being in High School, explores how Native American youth are impacted by formal educational experiences, through the insights of students and teachers working to revitalize the Yurok language. Sharing stories of Native American resilience amidst toxic school and community cultures, the book examines the consequences of the misrepresentation and suppression of Indigenous culture in secondary education. In this event, participants in the book research will share their reflections and testimonies about the impact of Yurok language. School success is directly connected to well-being, and cultural validation is a significant component of well-being. The book calls on adults, including policymakers, teachers, families, and others, to consider what changes we can and should make in our daily work to promote Native American well-being in schools.

District superintendents, administrators, Title IV staff members, Native Language teachers, Native Linguists, Tribal Education Departments, Tribal leaders, Tribal youth serving organizations and students grades 8-12 currently enrolled in Native American Language classes are encouraged to participate.