2023 School Year in Photos

What a school year! Confluence’s education team organized more school field trips than ever this year, including a round dance at the Confluence Listening Circle at Chief Timothy Park, along with stick games and visits to Tsagiglalal (She Who Watches) at Columbia Hills State Park. And we have another first in the work this summer—find out more towards the end of this newsletter. But first, let’s look back at the 2022-2023 year!

20 partnering schools and organizations …

Throughout the school year, students experienced culture shares and traditional storytelling from Indigenous educators such as (left to right) Randy Settler (Yakama), Lonnie Selam (Yakama), Rose George (Yakama), and Ed Edmo (Shoshone Bannock).

17 field trips …

Students visited the Cathlapotle Plankhouse and Sacajawea State Park, where they connected with Native Educators such as (from upper left): Sam Robinson (Chinook Nation) and Mildred Robinson and Clifton Bruno (Wasco) and Christine Bruno (Comanche, Basque, Irish), and Confluence Emerging Artist Mersaedy Atkins (Colville). We also had the honor of working with Tiyana Blackeagle (Warm Springs), Jefferson Greene (Warm Springs), Thomas Morning-Owl (CTUIR), Allan Pinkham Sr. (Nez Perce), Josiah Pinkham (Nez Perce), Lonnie Selam (Yakama), Randy Settler (Yakama), Wilbur Slockish (Kickitat/Yakama), and Silas Whitman (Nez Perce). Other field trip destinations included Columbia Hills State Park, Cape Disappointment State Park, Confluence Bird Blind at the Sandy River Delta, Chief Timothy Park, the Port of Ridgefield and the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

Wilbur Slockish (Klickitat/Yakama) visits Dufur High School with educator Pamela Larsen while Emma Johnson (Cowlitz) teaches students from Springwater Elementary Students in Oregon City.

And 175 educators participated in professional development workshops and the Confluence Learning Community…

For a total of 1,832 students and 175 educators served!

Students gathered in May for a “living mural” at the Port of Ridgefield near the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Artist Toma Villa (Yakama) guided students into the image of the famous petroglyph, Tsagiglalal (She Who Watches). Thanks  to the Port of Ridgefield! This is the second time Confluence has done a “living mural.” You can watch a video on the first version of the project here.

And there’s more! This summer marks our first Camp Confluence…

Register here!

We’d like to thank our cultural and education organizational partners: Wisdom of the Elders, Portland All Nations Canoe Family, and the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, who shared multiple grant partnership field trip experiences with us.

Thanks To Our Education Funders!