Corvallis SD 509J rolls out Native American curriculum lessons and land acknowledgements

Sarah, a staff member with Corvallis SD 509J, told the board the district this year pushed a cultural‑awareness program that asked teachers to deliver lessons from a Native American history and culture curriculum during Native American Heritage Month.

The push came from the district’s JEDI committee, Sarah said, which challenged teachers to teach “at least 2 lessons using the curriculum” during November. “I used it as a teacher myself, and I found it very valuable and, and very, honest,” she said. Sarah said some teachers had previously used parts of the curriculum and others had not; this year’s effort was intended to make implementation less “piecemeal.”

The district reported adapting the lessons for younger grades. Sarah said one kindergarten teacher described the package as “basically a lesson in a box” that is “wonderful” and “perfect for our place based because of the place that we are in.” As part of the rollout, staff also worked on a land acknowledgement and have been using it at all‑school meetings, Sarah said, adding that the practice is meant to prompt students and staff to “learn more about the people to whom it also belongs.”

The transcript did not specify the curriculum’s formal title, the vendor or developer, nor whether the district consulted local tribal nations in developing or approving lessons. Sarah described classroom adaptation and local place‑based application but did not name which tribes or tribal entities the land acknowledgement references.

Board members thanked Sarah for the update and asked for a progress report next year. The discussion was informational; the board did not take a formal vote on curricular adoption or on any policy change during the meeting.

Looking ahead, staff and board members said they will revisit this work in future updates; there was no formal deadline or next‑step motion on the record.