Evergreen Native Pathways Students Learn Through an Indigenous Lens
Education plays a vital role in advancing the lives of tribal members and their communities. Through education, today’s native students will become tomorrow’s tribal leaders. Yet the historical relationship between Native Americans and the U.S. education system has left a legacy of mistrust. Recognizing this, a growing number of educational institutions are offering programs aimed at supporting native students’ success by emphasizing tribal culture and identity. One such example is the Evergreen College’s Native Pathways Program (NPP).
For more than 30 years, NPP has supported Native American students in higher education by offering a degree program for students interested in “expanding knowledge through an Indigenous lens.”
Students participate in a cohort model of learning—a community working together towards a bachelor’s degree. The core academic curriculum is focused on research, writing, and critical thinking with an emphasis on leadership, building community, and cultivating Indigenous values. NPP uses works by Indigenous authors and scholars, engages in place-based learning that tells the stories of the lands we live on, and provides lessons centered on Indigenous cultural knowledge. The program includes diverse course offerings such as Rooted: Legacies of Food Justice; History of Federal Indian Law and Policy; and Native American Film Representation.
The NPP operates at several locations, including the main Evergreen campus in Olympia, the Longhouse at Peninsula Community College, and a new online/hybrid option, called “Salish Sea,” which allows the program to reach students who would otherwise be unable to participate.
The Native Pathways Program celebrates its class of 2024 with a graduation ceremony on Sat., Jun. 15, 2024.
Learn more on the Native Pathways Program website.