Education: 4-H gets STEM grant to mentor underserved youth in Washington state - A new grant will bring more science education to youth in Washington state. Children and teens in five counties and three tribal nations will have increased access to a wide variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) activities along with more opportunities for youth/adult partnerships. Comment Most college degrees are worthless. STEM degrees are among the few that are worthwhile. The student loan bubble is the main factor in the skyrocketing cost of college degrees. If you go to college make it count, get a degree in STEM.

Education: Turmoil in Port Townsend over elimination of mascot - Nearly two weeks have passed since the Port Townsend School Board voted unanimously to abolish the “Redskins” mascot, putting an 87-year-old tradition to rest.

Education: Oregon Legislature passes bill allowing Native American mascots in face of veto threat - A bill allowing schools to retain Native American mascots, in spite of a statewide ban, if they obtain the permission of a nearby tribe is heading to Gov. John Kitzhaber, who is expected to veto it.

Education: Tribal teens to get the lowdown on renewable energy - Some 60 Native American teens will get an up-close look at the way energy systems work toward the end of July. The first Intertribal Energy and Technology Tour will host young members from 21 regional tribes. The July 28-Aug. 2 events are touted as the “first summer camp committed to educating tomorrow’s tribal leadership on energy, technology and partnership potential.”

Education: Native mascots dishonor Oregon's tribal people - Gov. John Kitzhaber has gone on record as saying he will veto Senate Bill 215. This bill, which has passed the House and Senate, would effectively overturn the Oregon Board of Education's 2012 decision to eliminate the use of Native American mascots in Oregon schools.

Education: Powwow teaches traditions - Men beat on a large drum with mallets and cried out a Native American song as dancers of all ages in vibrant regalia circled inside Gill Coliseum, moving their feet to the rhythm as their bells and bangles harmonized with the drum at the Oregon State University’s 37th annual Klatowa Eena Powwow.

Education: Native American mascot bill running out of time in Oregon Legislature - Proponents of a bill that would allow some schools in Oregon to avoid a statewide ban on Native American mascots are facing a difficult time crunch in Salem.

Education: Making students feel at home - After 40 years of meeting in a prefab Quonset hut, Oregon State University’s Native American Student Association at Oregon State University has a new home it can really be proud of.

Education: Experience tribal traditions at EdCC powwow - Powwows are social ceremonies that celebrate American Indian traditions so the whole family can attend the 28th annual Edmonds Community College powwow starting May 3, 2013.

Education: Tribal mascots harm Native students - Reyn Leno wanted to set the record straight on the use of tribal mascots in Oregon schools, yet his remarks as chairman of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde were based on his opinion rather than on facts.

Education: Powwow Bridges Culture Gaps - Bear Den at Moscow Middle School was an explosion of color, culture and traditions during the 14th Annual Tutxinmepu Powwow on Saturday and Sunday, hosted by the University of Idaho Native American Student Association.

Education: Oregon tribal leaders split on mascot ban, bills to reverse it - Oregon lawmakers are considering overturning a statewide ban on Native American school mascots adopted last year, but it’s unclear if the effort will advance. Reyn Leno, chairman of the Confederate Tribes of Grand Ronde Tribal Council, said he respects the opinions of tribal leaders who supported the ban last year, which included the Coquille Tribe and the Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Tribe. A representative for the Confederated Tribe of Siletz Indians told lawmakers that without action, they'll lose their own school mascot, the Siletz Warriors, which would have to go under the ban.

Education: Northwest Indian College continues work on new campus library - Northwest Indian College plans to begin construction on its 12,710-square-foot Coast Salish Institute Building in May, while work continues on a nearly $3 million library and technology building that broke ground in February.

Education: Evergreen students carve wood, imprint culture in arts program - The new carving shed at The Evergreen State College is hosting its first artist-in-residency program: carving cedar bentwood box drums.

Education: The Case for Indigenous-Based Education - he most critical and radical contemporary approach to schooling today is culturally based education. Its virtues and drawbacks are many. Briefly put, culturally based education recognizes and supports cultural diversity, language and community relations. It regards students as individuals and focuses on how they are socialized into a culture or society. It extols multiculturalism.

Education: Celilo: What Was It Like? - Ocean Kuykendall, one of 15 teachers in the Mid-Columbia region to receive a $3,000 grant from Confluence Project’s Gifts from Our Ancestors, gathered 180 middle school students to hear Native American voices of today share how their culture, customs and the Columbia River continue to be a strong current in their lives.

Education: Evergreen to celebrate opening of Longhouse Carving Studio - An eventwas held to celebrate new artwork and the official opening of The Evergreen State College Longhouse’s new Carving Studio.

Education: American Indian Student Alliance receives $10,000 - The American Indian Student Alliance presented a $10,000 check for matching grant at a Board of Director’s meeting Jan. 7. The $10,000 grant is matched by the American Indian Education Foundation, totaling $20,000 for the Che’nshish Scholarship.

Education: Portland Students Connect to Their Roots at Winter Powwow - For the Native American students of Oregon’s Portland Community College (PCC), powwows are not just about drumming, dancing, and fun but an annual tradition of giving, sharing, and connecting to their roots.

Education: PCC powwow honors Native American culture on Jan. 19 - More than 1,000 people from all over the Northwest plan to partake in Portland Community College’s “Wacipi” (“They dance”) Winter Powwow to celebrate Native American culture and tradition. The powwow, which is free and open to the public, is from noon to 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19, in the Health Technology Building, Sylvania Campus, 12000 S.W. 49th Ave.

Education: Annual Powwow Responsible for Native Student Enrollment Growth at Lane Community College - Every year the Native American students of Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon join together to host a one-day powwow to celebrate their education and the support given to them by their families, friends, tribes and school faculty. The student association on Lane's website says the powwows have facilitated an increase in Native Americans students attending Lane. “This increase in Native American students has helped to produce community support for the longhouse project.”

Education: Tribal curriculum available to Washington schools - Adopted by the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the tribal sovereignty curriculum that covers the history, culture and governments of tribes across the country with an emphasis on Washington tribes is available to school districts across the state. The curriculum can be used in elementary, middle and high schools, and to satisfy social studies credit requirements. Education plans in the curriculum can be modified to fit each school district and corresponding tribe.

Education: Local tribes receiving government funding for Save the Children - Twelve community organizations and school districts, including Save the Children at Lake Quinault and Taholah Elementary Schools, will split $4 million a year for five years to give students academic help after and before school. The money is being awarded through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. The program, which is funded federally, offers money for academic and enrichment opportunities in high-needs neighborhoods when school isn’t in session.

Education: Washington state Board of Education pushes schools to replace their Native American mascots - The state Board of Education is making another attempt at encouraging Washington schools to replace their Native American mascots. The state board passed a resolution on Wednesday urging districts to stop using Native American mascots, but as board spokesman Aaron Wyatt acknowledges, it does not have the authority to mandate this change.

Education: Washington STEM announces $1.2 million in new investments to discover and advance better teaching methods in science, technology, engineering, and math across the state - Washington STEM, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to improving education in science, technology, engineering, and math, announced more than $1.2 million in new investments today, ranging from simple kits that help young children build STEM skills at home to an ambitious plan to spread a proven strategy for improving math and science instruction for disadvantaged students. One of the smaller investments will help central Washington teachers create simple interactive kits that families can use to boost young kids' knowledge through easily-followed, hands-on learning experiences. Initially the kits will be distributed to families in the Yakama Nation and the Colville Federated Tribes, but the long-term goal is to prepare students from other high-need populations to enter kindergarten ready to thrive.

Education: Former dean becomes president of Northwest Indian College - For the first time in nearly 10 years, Northwest Indian College has a new president. Justin Guillory, former dean of academics and distance learning for the college, began serving in the top post July 27. The 37-year-old replaces Cheryl Crazy Bull, who has been appointed president and CEO of the Denver-based American Indian College Fund.

Education: Northwest Indian College to offer second bachelor’s degree in fall 2012 - The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities in May approved NWIC’s plan to offer the bachelor’s degree in native studies leadership, which college officials said would give students a chance to pursue a four-year degree rooted in tribal knowledge. It is the second bachelor’s degree for the regional tribal college, which has its main campus on the Lummi Reservation and six extended campus sites at other reservations in Washington state and Idaho. The first is a bachelor of science in native environmental science that NWIC has been offering since 2008.

Education: American Indian College Fund Names New Leader - Cheryl Crazy Bull, or “Wacinyanpi Win” (They Depend on Her), president of Northwest Indian College, in Bellingham, Washington has been named head of the American Indian College Fund (AICF). Crazy Bull, Sicangu Lakota, has been the first woman president since 2002 of Northwest Indian College, the regional tribally chartered institution of the Lummi Nation which serves tribes in the Pacific Northwest.

Education: Coupeville girl honored for History Day project - Imagine being sent away from home, punished if you spoke your native language, and taught that everything you had learned in your village was forbidden and wrong. That’s what 12-year-old Riley Borden did for her History Day project, “Indian Boarding Schools: A Revolution Against Native American Culture.”

Education: Native teaching methods open doors to new learning - For the past few months I (Kathryn Ovenell-Carter) have been studying within the Indigenous Perspectives Teacher Education Module at Simon Fraser University. The module explores indigenous issues and perspectives in education, incorporating these concepts into our core teacher courses. In the teacher education module I was introduced to indigenous understandings of teaching and learning, which focus on connectedness, reciprocal relationships and a sense of place.

Education: Native American high schoolers motivate to lead through Indigenous learning workshop - The Indigenous Ways of Knowing summer academy is funded with $100,000 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and hosted by Lewis & Clark College in southwest Portland. Students are learning from Native American professionals and elders to help them look forward to leadership. Comment: I hope it will also lead them to avoid the pitfalls that trap too many tribal leaders into confusing their personal interests with the best interests of their respective tribes and of Indian Country as a whole.

Education: ODE bans mascot: Warriors may keep name, art sculpture - The State Board of Education voted 5-1 at its May 17 meeting to ban the use of Native American mascots in all K-12 Oregon schools that receive public funding. Schools must comply with the rule by July 1, 2017, or face loss of funding. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians released a statement May 18 against the decision.

Education: Oregon votes to ban American Indian mascots - The state Board of Education voted 5-1 Thursday afternoon to adopt a rule prohibiting all Oregon public schools, kindergarten through 12th grade, from using Native American names, symbols, or images as school mascots.

Education: Warrenton School Leaders Count Potential Cost Of Mascot Controversy - The Oregon Board of Education will likely hold a vote Thursday on whether to ban the use of Native American mascots in schools. Diane Collier, chairman of the Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated Tribes, recently sent a letter to the board of education in opposition to the ban. “I think it’s just fine,” said Collier about the Native American images in the district. “We look at it like we’re honoring the Warriors. It’s not slandering; it’s honoring the people.”

Education: CK schools honor Native American graduates - The Klahowya Secondary School Auditorium hosted Monday the 6th Annual Native American Honoring Ceremony for 14 Central Kitsap School District graduating seniors with tribal heritages. Klahowya principal Ryan Stevens, from the Jamestown S’Klallam and Elwah tribes, said leaving home after high school can be lonely and sad at times.

Education: Tribes speak on mascot - The Oregon Board of Education heard testimony about the proposed ban on Native American mascots for four and half hours at the state Capitol on April 27. Out of the 36 people who spoke, 11 were in favor of the ban, 23 were against, and two identified themselves as neutral. Kathleen Tom, a tribal council leader in the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, also said she was against the proposed ban because it is one-size-fits-all.

Education: Let schools, tribes agree on name - Opponents of a proposal to ban all American Indian names and images from use as high school mascots strongly supported a suggestion from Rep. Sherrie Sprenger to allow waivers for districts that work out a mutually acceptable mascot use with local tribes.

Education: Edmonds Community College to host Powwow - Edmonds Community College’s Native American Student Association hosts a powwow “Echoes of Our Ancestors,” May 4-6. The powwow brings together students, families and communities to celebrate American Indian singing, drumming, dancing, and arts and crafts in Seaview Gym, 20000 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood.

Education: North Idaho College celebrates American Indian Heritage Week - A red and blue glow rose behind the stage, and an array of lights faded in like stars when the pipe music began—ethereal and dreamlike, floating through the auditorium like the music of another world. Members of the audience held their breaths, transfixed. Bill Birdsong Miller was the man behind the pipes. Purple lights drifted over the three-time Grammy winner as he opened his show at NIC for the InterTribal show, part of American Indian Heritage Week, a celebration of culture and history April 2-6.

Education: EdCC to host Powwow - Edmonds Community College’s Native American Student Association hosts a powwow “Echoes of Our Ancestors,” May 4-6. The powwow brings together students, families and communities to celebrate American Indian singing, drumming, dancing, and arts and crafts in Seaview Gym, 20000 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood. Dance and drum ceremonies start at 7 p.m., Friday, 1 and 7 p.m., Saturday, and 1 p.m., Sunday. During intermissions, 5-7 p.m., Saturday, enjoy Native storytelling.

Education: Schools Give Native Students English Proficiency Tests - School districts in Washington state have been singling out Native American students for testing. The Washington Indian Civil Rights Commission is looking into the statewide practice of giving English proficiency tests to Native American students.

Education: Eastside Native American Education Program promotes cultural awareness - American Indians have played a major role in U.S. history, but quite often, textbooks will cover just the basic facts and leave out many details. In teaching students about their culture, (the Eastside Native American Education Program) has a "Know the Facts" component during which students learn about American Indian history in various topics ranging from casinos to fishing rights. The also learn about the general history of specific tribes

Education: Tribal youths to gather for career day at University of Washington - About 100 Native American youths, young adults and tribal educational leaders from the tribes of the North Olympic Peninsula will gather today for a University of Washington Native Career Planning Day. Members of the Makah, Quileute, Hoh, Quinault, Lower Elwha Klallam and the Jamestown S’Klallam tribes will take part in the event today from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1455 S. Forks Ave., said Ellen Matheny, Olympic National Resources Center director of education and outreach.

Education: 10th annual social powwow held at Willamette University - The 10th annual Social Powwow featured a colorful mix of locals and visitors Saturday at Willamette University. The event consistently attracts more than 1,000 spectators, and in addition to dancing and colorful regalia, features an array of vendors with native artwork, jewelry, crafts and food.

Education: The state education board revisits a possible ban on the use of American Indian school mascots - For decades, many Native Americans have said that names such as Redskins, Savages, Indians and Warriors demean them and promote stereotyping, while many white community members and sports fans have argued that the names celebrate and honor Native American culture. However, Native Americans fall on either side of the debate.

Education: Essay Writers Asked to Tackle Crucial Issues - This year, for the seventh annual Young Native Writers Essay Contest, Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation is asking participants to write about crucial issues facing their tribal communities. But the task doesn’t stop there. Students are also being asked to explain how they hope to help tackle that crucial issue to improve their community’s future.

Education: 'I think it's more of a respectful thing' - The Oregon State Board of Education is re-examining an issue that could cost the Roseburg School District thousands of dollars. Susan Ferris, spokesperson for the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians says the school and the tribe have a good relationship and a mutual respect.

Education: Mascot issue rises again - Lebanon High School readied itself for a change five years ago when the state Board of Education drafted a recommendation to eliminate American Indian logos and mascots from public schools. Nothing happened at the time. But with the topic set to come before the state board again at a meeting in Salem on Thursday, Lebanon is once again trying to mentally prepare for a change to its Warrior image.

Education: Native American Culture - The Shelton School District is hosting “Native American Culture and History Part Two” this Friday at Shelton High School. The professional development opportunity is in partnership with the OSPI Indian Education Department, the Skokomish Tribe, the Squaxin Island Tribe and Olympic College. It runs from 8 a.m. to noon.

Education: State to re-examine schools' use of Native American mascot names - There are starkly diverging views of the issue. Some see the mascots as community tributes to Native American culture. Others see them as offensive stereotypes.

Education: A Revolution in Higher Education is Underway - A few days ago, I reported on how MITx could revolutionize higher education by offering free online classes along with a new benefit: credentials. Beginning this spring, students will be able to take free, online courses from MIT, and if they prove they've learned the materi­al through an assessment, they can pay a fee and receive a certificate from MITx. In a related recent development, Felix Salmon and The Chronicle of Higher Education report this week that Stanford University professor Sebastian Thrun, who taught an online artificial intelligence course to more than 160,000 students in the fall through Stanford, has given up his tenured teaching position there to go full-time with Udacity, a new start-up firm he co-founded that offers low-cost online classes.

Education: MTV’s Latest Facebook App is About Scholarships, Not Snooki - MTV, home to television shows like “Jersey Shore” and “Teen Mom,” might be the last place many students would think to turn for guidance about financial aid. But on Wednesday the network is launching a Facebook application to help students efficiently navigate the financial aid morass. The application, called "My College Dollars," is a joint project of MTV, the College Board, the Get Schooled campaign and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A search using this reporter’s Facebook account turned up 225 results, including the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship (worth $4,000-$60,000) and the Yakama Nation Tribal Scholarship (worth $3,000-$6,000).

Education: MIT Summer Research Program Seeks Diverse Candidates - The Summer Research Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) started in 1986 to address the underrepresentation of minority students, including Native Americans, in engineering and science fields in the United States. The program is meant for sophomores, juniors and non-graduating seniors who could benefit from spending a summer on the MIT campus, working in a research laboratory with experienced scientists and engineers.

Education: Apple, tribal education leaders discuss new technology uses - The Tribal Leaders Congress on Education met Friday (Jan. 6) at the Suquamish House of Awakened Culture. Francine Swift, council member of Port Gamble S'Klallam and an academic coach at Kingston Middle School, said she sees a number of her tribe's students showing increasing interest in using music and language to perpetuate their culture. Technology like iPads can record what they develop. Joe Davalos, superintendent of the Suquamish Education Department, said he wants to incorporate more technology in the classroom, especially as Suquamish tries to reestablish the Early College High School. The education congress meets six to 12 times a year to discuss policy and advocacy of tribal education with the state. The tribes represented are Colville, Lummi, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Skokomish, Squaxin, Suquamish and Tulalip, as well as representatives of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the National Indian Education Association.

Education: Departing Peninsula College president remains focused on work at hand - Of all the projects that departing Peninsula College President Tom Keegan oversaw, the House of Learning Longhouse stands out. "I saw six tribes, local community, faculty, staff and students, all come together in the spirit of sharing," Keegan said. The Peninsula College Longhouse House of Learning, the only facility of its kind built on a college campus, was opened on Oct. 15, 2007, in conjunction with the Jamestown S’Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Hoh, Quileute, Makah and Port Gamble S’Klallam tribes.

Education: Ceremony of Hope concludes successful Tribal Lecture Series - Five-part series, featuring representatives of the Nisqually, Grand Ronde and Umatilla tribes, addressed the concerns of the American Indian community.

Education: Lane Community College Powwow provides a different kind of healing

Education: Sherman Alexie Plays in HooPalousa Basketball Tournament to Raise Funds for Native Writing Fellowship

Education: Gala Honors Native American Youth

Education: Restoring trust is key mission

Education: Clark College hosts Native American heritage celebration

Education: Tribal lectures continue tonight at Pacific