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South Whidbey board workshop centers land acknowledgement and invites tribal input
Summary
Board members and staff described a staff development day with Tulalip tribal representatives, agreed the district should treat its written land acknowledgement as a living practice, and invited tribal partners to advise revisions and guest-read acknowledgements at meetings.
The South Whidbey School Board spent its opening workshop discussing how to keep the district’s land acknowledgement alive and rooted in relationships with local tribal communities. Director Jackson opened the conversation by urging the board to treat the written acknowledgement as ‘‘a chance to be in a relationship of ongoing repair’’ rather than a checkbox.
Board and administrative speakers described a staff program that included testimony from Tulalip tribal members and language demonstrations. Superintendent Dr. Moshe said staff had spent time with presenters on trauma-informed approaches and the time‑immemorial curriculum, and he credited tribal guests with ‘‘sharing their experience in our public schools’’ and helping staff think about classroom connections.
Why it matters: Board members emphasized that wording alone is not sufficient; they recommended continuing active engagement with tribal leaders and invited tribal community members to be guest readers during meeting openings. The discussion recognized intergenerational trauma described by elders and presenters and recommended that the district lean on tribal guidance when adapting the written acknowledgement.
Speakers asked administration to coordinate next steps. Director Jackson and Dr. Moshe said they would invite tribal feedback and offered to host guest readers; board members suggested expanding outreach beyond the boardroom to classrooms and online resources. A remote commenter suggested posting native-language audio of the acknowledgement on the district website. Charlene Smith Davenport, an attendee, urged the board to keep teaching indigenous history and trauma as part of regular instruction.
The board agreed to keep the item as an ongoing practice and to use the administration as a point of contact for tribal outreach. Dr. Moshe said he would receive communications from community members interested in participating.
