Senate Bill 13 Tribal History/Shared History

General Overview/Talking Points

WHAT: As a result of Senate Bill 13, Oregon Department of Education in partnership with federally recognized Tribes in Oregon developed the Essential Understandings of Native Americans in Oregon.

• The ODE will provide lesson plans to school districts and will provide professional development to teachers and administrators relating to the Tribal History/Shared History.
• These lessons target grades 4, 8 and 10 for implementation to begin within the 2019-20 school year. The goal is to work toward having a complete K-12 curriculum in the near future. Educators will be able to choose from 45 lesson plans to integrate into existing curriculum.
• Subject integration will include English/Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and Health/PE. Educators can choose 2 different subject areas to implement 2 lesson plans per academic year.
• The Tribal History/Shared History curriculum will cover the Native American experience in Oregon, including tribal history, sovereignty issues, culture, treaty rights, government, socioeconomic experiences and current events.
• It will be historically accurate, culturally relevant, community-based, contemporary, and developmentally appropriate; and aligned with the academic content standards adopted under ORS 329.045.

WHY: This is a historic investment in Oregon’s education system. Senate Bill 13 is far more than a state law. It is an agreement between the State of Oregon, its government and the governments of each of the nine tribes that reside here in this state.

• These children that we are teaching this curriculum to will be tomorrow’s leaders and will shape a brand-new future for the state of Oregon and its relationship with each of our tribes.
• We benefit from multiple perspectives in our history.
• We can increase inclusion and make our education system better for all.
• This curriculum initiative supports ODE’s work towards equity for all students and a result of the holistic, collaborative effort of many in our state who knew the value and importance of our students learning about Oregon’s tribes and history.
• Native Americans have lived in Oregon since time immemorial. It is impossible to understand the state’s history—or U.S. history—without having some essential understandings of the rich culture and contributions of its Native people. For decades, however, that contribution has been minimized, mischaracterized, or completely left out of the state’s public-school curriculum. For more information and updates, visit the ODE Tribal History/Shared History webpage.