Student Support Services

Welcome to the Hoquiam School District's Title VI Native Education Program Page!

The Title VI Native Education Program is in place to support students who are American Indian or Alaska Native. In order to qualify for program services your student must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized or state recognized tribe OR have a parent or grandparent that is enrolled. If your child is a member of a terminated tribe or otherwise organized Native group, further documentation is required to determine eligibility. Every child who is interested in participating in the program must have a Title VI 506 Form on file with the district Native Education Liaison whose office is located on the second floor of the library at the high school. The 506 Form can be downloaded from this site, please see PDF file attachment below.

What is Title VI?

This legislation calls for culturally responsive teaching and learning services that supplement and enrich the regular school program. Title VI requires that grantees identify goals or "objectives" for their local project that are (1) based on a needs assessment and (2) developed in an open consultation with parents, teachers, and representatives of Native tribes. Local project objectives could include, for example, increasing American Indian and Alaska Native students' academic achievement, knowledge of cultural identity and awareness, and school attendance. 

This program provides support in:

  • Supplementing existing student support programs and qualifying students for specialized academic services

  • Non-academic support to students, staff who support Native students, and families of Native students (e.g.... placement support, transfers, truancy, discipline, accessing behavioral/mental health and chemical dependency support specifically for American Indian/Alaska Native people)

  • Post-secondary/career guidance 

  • Culturally responsive leadership development 

  • Coordinating and implementing programs and activities to increase awareness and instill pride in American Indian history, traditions, and culture 

Indian Parent Committee 

An important component of this program is the Indian Parent Committee or IPC. For Native Education formula grants it is required that the program be developed and approved by a parent committee. This must include parents and family members of eligible Native children enrolled in the district. For more detailed information on the IPC please download the PDF attached below. 

For any questions or general concerns about the program please contact the district's Native Education Coordinator Sandy Ruiz Greenway via phone at (360) 538-8210 EXT: 3522 or by email at saruiz@hoquiam.net

 

“What our Seventh Generation will have is a consequence of our actions today.”

Winona Laduke  

   Activist/Author, Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe)

Forms:

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"Grizzly (bear) Pride, Native style. Hoquiam"

Link Library:

Right to Tribal Regalia Act

Statement and link to House Bill 2551 affirming Native students' right to wear tribal regalia for commencement ceremonies, from the Office of the Superintendent and the Office of Native Education for Washington state.

"Bouncing Back from Setbacks"

A message for Native Youth

So What Exactly Is 'Blood Quantum'?

A brief history and background on blood quantum and how it currently affects different tribes through enrollment, citizenship, and sovereignty. Given by NPR. 

Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State

This site is from the Washington office of the superintendent of public instruction. It provides information on the Since Time Immemorial curriculum that was mandated in 2015 as needing to be taught in our schools with the goal of teaching from a place of inclusion regarding Tribal sovereignty in Washington state. 

STI

Native Land

This is an interactive site that gives information about Tribal lands, treaties, and languages. It can be explored to learn more about territory acknowledgement and the ancestral lands of local tribes. 

Photo Gallery

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WeRNative

See link below for article from WeRNative on scholarship preparation.

6 Tips for Applying for Scholarships

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Scholarship Opportunities

Announcements:

Last Day of School is June 18th!

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Congratulations to All Our Graduates!

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Hoquiam is Proud to Welcome QIN Singers and Drummers Back for Graduation!

Hoquiam Native Education is happy to announce QIN drummers will be opening the HHS graduation ceremony for the third time this year. Graduation takes place on June 14th @ 7pm. Congratulations to all our seniors!!

A special thanks to Aliza Brown for all her work and support to keep this going. We love you Aliza!

QIN drummers

Some Facts on Frybread

We had an event at the middle school in April where we served Indian tacos for the teachers. I took this moment to share some knowledge on the origins of frybread, and its roots in government commodities during Indian removal and the implementation of the reservation system.

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Upcoming Events

QIN

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Puyallup Tribe to Host Power Paddle to Puyallup Youth Canoe Journey 2024 this Summer

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SOFT LANDING: July 30, 2024
LANDING: July 31, 2024
PROTOCOL: August 1 - 5, 2024

See link below for more info.

Power Paddle to Puyallup Youth Canoe Journey 2024

Community Self-Determination Grant Now Open

The Community Self-Determination grant program invests in the self-determination of Indigenous People working in their community to Defend, Develop, and Decolonize; fortifying efforts to create a just, equitable, and sustainable world for all people and Mother Earth. 

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Native Ed. Class Schedule by School:

HHS: Mondays from 9:05-9:35 am

HMS: Every other Friday during homeroom

Lincoln Elementary: 2nd Wednesday of the month from 11-11:30 am

Central Elementary: Every 4th Wednesday of the month from 8:45-10 am

Emerson Elementary: Every first Monday of the month at 10:00 am

*Last classes of the year take place in May

Something to Think About...

The Makah Whale Hunt of 1999 and what it means for a new hunt in 2024

Our most recent Spotlight article takes a look back at the Makah Whale Hunt of 1999. The anger and controversy from activists and protestors that surrounded the hunt only served to underscore the ignorance and disregard for Indigenous sovereignty and of treaty rights. Since 1999, the Makah have been unable to achieve another successful hunt. The tribe currently awaits a decision from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) on whether or not they will be able to conduct another hunt this summer.

If the Makah's request to honor their heritage and treaty rights is successful we can likely expect a similar public outcry to the 1999 hunt. The video below from FOX 13 Seattle explains the difficulties surrounding the Makah's request to continue to hunt the Gray whale.

Native Ed. Bi-Monthly Newsletter

Spotlight on American Indian History

Our Native Education Program is proud to present a new monthly article series, "Spotlight on American Indian History" that highlights important moments and contributions to American history by American Indian and Alaska Native peoples. Please click on the links below for our current and past articles. 

Note: Due to the growth of the program Spotlight articles will now be released quarterly to allow for more time for other program activities/focus.

Qtr. 3, yr. 2024 Topic: Treaty Rights and Controversy: The Makah Whale Hunt of 1999