Sapsik’ʷałá, which translates to “teacher” in Ichishkíin/Sahaptin, represents our program’s cultural values for self-determination of education for Tribal people. The Sapsik’ʷałá Program is based on the belief that Education Strengthens our People. Our program began in 2002 to address the dire need for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) teachers and to date has 96 alumni from 47 Tribes teaching in Tribal communities. Our program collaborates with all Nine Federally Recognized Sovereign Indian Nations of Oregon and UOTeach Master’s to deliver a pathway for Indigenous people to become teachers within their communities, and to provide a cohort–within–a–cohort model for program participants to obtain Oregon teacher licensure and Indigenous methodologies for teaching. Under the guidance of our Tribal Advisory Council, consisting of education leaders from the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon, we aim to provide a culturally sustaining model to support Tribal Nations’ Indigenous and Treaty rights with an emphasis on growing our own Native educators.
Sapsik’ʷałá Program participation includes Northwest Indian Language Institute Summer Institute to learn indigenous language revitalization methods; a yearlong Sapsik’ʷałá Indigenous Teaching seminar with Elders and Indigenous faculty scholars; access to community and cohort support; and a tribal community student teaching placement option.
For more information contact sapsikwala@uoregon.edu. Using the following section of questions, please confirm that you meet eligibility requirements, as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
[embeddoc url=”https://uoteach.uoregon.edu/files/2019/07/Title-VI-ED-506-Indian-Student-Eligibility-Certification-Form-ext.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google” ]
UO Sapsik’wala Education Program | 541-346-2454 | sapsikwala@uoregon.edu