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Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State

- "Ready to Go" Lesson Resources
- ONE Student Learning Resources
- Seattle Public Schools American Indian Studies Remote Learning Resources
In 2015, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 5433 modifying the original 2005 legislation, now requiring the Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State or other tribally-developed curriculum be taught in all schools. The use of the Since Time Immemorial curriculum has been endorsed by all 29 federally recognized tribes.
- Early Learning
- Elementary
- Middle School
- High School
- STI-Connected Tribal Sovereignty Curriculum Resources
- Videos
- Partnering with Tribes
- pK-12 Implementation Resources
- Higher Education Teacher and Administrator Preparation Programs
Ready to Go Lessons
To support the continuous teaching and learning you are providing your students, these “Ready to Go” lessons have been shared by Tribes and educators to provide you with quick access to a variety of complete lessons to implement along with or in addition to the Since Time Immemorial tribal sovereignty curriculum. If you have lessons you would be willing to share, please contact Laura Lynn.
- Seattle Public Schools - American Indian Studies Remote Learning (Fall 2020)
- Long Before We Were Born - Regional Learning Project
- Native Homelands - Regional Learning Project
- Talking Without Words - Regional Learning Project
- Salmon Homecoming - Story-based Curriculum for Primary Environmental Education
- A Northwest ABC Coloring Book
- Salmon Homecoming Activity Book (2001)
- Salmon Homecoming Alliance Student Workbook (2015)
- Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum (Salmon) Activity Book
- Ancient Civilization History and World History Tool: American Indian History Timeline
- Seattle Public Schools - American Indian Studies Remote Learning (Fall 2020)
- American Indian Urban Relocation developed by Shana Brown
- Native American Boarding School Lessons developed by Shana Brown (click, then scroll to resources)
- River of Kings shared by Jerry Price
- Tribal Perspectives - Regional Learning Project
- Native Homelands - Regional Learning Project
- Fish Wars: Native Fishing Rights shared by Patty Shelton (Bellevue School District)
- The Trail of Tears shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- PNW Conflict Powerpoint Project shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- Ancient Civilization History and World History Tool: American Indian History Timeline
- Seattle Public Schools - American Indian Studies Remote Learning (Fall 2020)
- Why Do the Foods We Eat Matter? - Native Knowledge 360
- The Fish Wars:What Kinds of Actions Can Lead to Justice? - Native Knowledge 360
- Native Homelands - Regional Learning Project
- Tribal Perspectives - Regional Learning Project
- Contemporary Voices - Regional Learning Project
- Native American Boarding School Lessons developed by Shana Brown (click, then scroll to resources)
- 1969 Alcatraz shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- The Boldt Decision shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- Code Talkers shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- Life Before Columbus Museum Exhibit Project shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- The Nez Perce Trail shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- PNW Conflict Powerpoint Project shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- Ancient Civilization History and World History Tool: American Indian History Timeline
- Office of Native Education Resources
- BINGO | BINGO Answer Sheet | Template
- NW Native American Reading Curriculum (click, then scroll to bottom of the page)
- Seasonal Round Example (shared by Heidi Bohan; The People of Cascadia; 2009 part of K-3 Pathway 3: Giving Thanks)
- A Northwest ABC Coloring Book
- Salmon Homecoming Activity Book (2001)
- Salmon Homecoming Alliance Student Workbook (2015)
- Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum (Salmon) Activity Book
- Native American Stories told by Roger Fernandes: (Click on "Native American Story Connections" and scroll down to "Stories." Mr. Fernandes has been given permission by the tribes to tell these stories.)
- The Burke Museum - Weekly Lessons
- Cedar Box Teaching Toolkit (click, then scroll to bottom of the page)
- Tend, Gather, Grow Curriculum - Our gratitude to Elise Krohn, Mariana Harvey, and the GruB (Garden-Raised Bounty) organization for sharing this resource.
Teacher to Teacher Implementation Videos
Looking for ideas on how to implement the Since Time Immemorial tribal sovereignty curriculum in your classroom? Across your district? Educators across the state share their ideas, lessons, and resources with you.
- All Grade Levels - Making STI Your Own with Shana Brown (Seattle Public Schools collaborates with Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Suquamish Tribe) ElementaryVideo Shana Brown's Presentation
- All Grade Levels - Highline Public Schools: Implementation of "Since Time Immemorial" Curriculum Units (Highline Public Schools collaborates with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe) Presentation by Sara Marie Ortiz and Kayla Guyette Resources: Native Knowledge 360, Indian Reading Series, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe We Are Muckleshoot Video
- All Grade Levels - Adapting "Since Time Immemorial" for Special Education with Toby Jarman (Seattle Public Schools collaborates with Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Suquamish Tribe)
- Elementary - Valerie Mason - 3rd Grade Classroom (Paschal Sherman Indian School in collaboration with the Colville Confederated Tribes) Valerie Mason's Presentation
- Elementary - Jennifer Todd - 4th Grade Classroom (North Thurston Public Schools collaborates with Nisqually Indian Tribe) Jennifer Todd's Presentation
- Middle School - Lori Carossino Integrating Native Knowledge 360 and Regional Learning Project resources with "Since Time Immemorial" (Elma School District collaborates with Chehalis Tribe and Squaxin Island Tribe) Lori Carossino's Presentation
The Since Time Immemorial tribal sovereignty curriculum uses three approaches:
- How does physical geography affect the distribution, culture, and economic life of local tribes?
- What is the legal status of tribes who negotiated or who did not negotiate settlement for compensation for the loss of their sovereign homelands?
- What were the political, economic, and cultural forces consequential to the treaties that led to the movement of tribes from long established homelands to reservations?
- What are ways in which Tribes respond to the threats and outside pressure to extinguish their cultures and independence?
- What do local Tribes do to meet the challenges of reservation life; and as sovereign nations, what do local Tribes do to meet the economic and cultural needs of their Tribal communities?
A place-based approach. Our approach encourages teachers and students to address the essential questions in the context of tribes in their own communities.
An integrated approach. Teachers choose how much time to spend on tribal sovereignty content to complete their units throughout the year. The integrated approach provides three levels of curriculum for each of the OSPI recommended social studies units, each level building on the last. Tribal sovereignty lessons are aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts. Where appropriate, units build toward successful completion of Content Based Assessments (CBA).
The Office of Native Education within the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction frequently schedules Since Time Immemorial tribal sovereignty curriculum trainings.
This work has been created in partnership with private and public agencies and the Federally Recognized Tribes in Washington State. We express our gratitude to all the contributors to this effort. Without their support and expertise, this resource would not be possible. Please be aware that any adaptations should be considered carefully so as not to impact this thoughtfully crafted content design or introduce any unintended cultural bias.
Alternate material licenses with different levels of user permission are clearly indicated next to the specific content in the materials.
If this work is adapted, note the substantive changes and re-title, removing any Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction or Office of Native Education logos. Provide the following attribution: "This resource was adapted from original materials provided by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in partnership with the Federally Recognized Tribes in Washington State. Original materials may be accessed on the Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State website.
Except where otherwise noted, "Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State" by Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in partnership with the Federally Recognized Tribes in Washington State is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. All logos are property of their respective owners.