Education

Bridging the gap between Western ways and Native wisdom

Who We Are

Children of the Setting Sun’s Education Program believes education begins with a local, place-based perspective to one that is inclusive of national and international ideologies. We respect and acknowledge ancestral ways of knowing, view education as a reserved treaty right, and endeavor to present Coast Salish perspectives and contributions in a current perspective. Our educational program is designed to bridge the gap between Western ways of thinking and traditional Native wisdom. We believe a deeper understanding of Tribal and place-based history can illuminate a path toward a world where people and nature thrive together.

Our Education Program aspires to demonstrate the value of a fuller understanding of Native cultures, histories and peoples in a contemporary context. By informing the public about the rights and traditions of Tribal sovereign nations through experiences in the region's schools, public spaces and communities at large, we aspire to create a deeper respect for the ecological integrity of salmon country. Sharing the rich history of the Coast Salish people's centuries-long relationship with the lands, water and salmon helps to reorient the broader public toward a model of care and respect for natural systems.

Education is a treaty reserved right

Education is an inherit, international, national and state recognized right

Lummi Nation Chairman and CSSP Board Member Anthony Hillaire speaks at the Treaty Day Film Festival student attendance event.

CSSP’s Education Program affirms that education is a reserved treaty right. Our program identifies opportunities to foster greater public awareness of Coast Salish communities for children, youth and adults – Native and non-Natives alike. We engage educational audiences through storytelling, gatherings and advocacy initiatives that provide accurate historical and contemporary perspectives and work against historical patterns of erasure and appropriation.

Tribal, State, National and International Foundations

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- GOIA info on treaties, but need context. https://goia.wa.gov/resources/treaties
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- https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/united-nations-declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples
- https://www.un.org/development/desa/Indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2018/11/UNDRIP_E_web.pdf

“CSSP has enhanced the school district's relationship with Coast Salish leaders and has accelerated the pace and quality of our implementation of Washington State's Tribal Sovereignty curriculum."

- Bellingham School District

Highlights of Our Work

Salmon People

Visit the Scha’nexw Elhtal’nexw Salmon People: Preserving A Way of Life Collection Teaching Guide and Educational segments, organized for teachers in compliance with the Washington Office of Superintendent Public Instruction under the Since Time Immemorial Mandate.
Treaty Day Film Festival

Commemorating the 1855 Point Elliott Treaty, TDFF is an Indigenous film festival that unites communities through Native perspectives; engaging students, Tribal members and the public through film screenings, Q&A sessions and cultural performances.
Jesintel Book

“Jesintel is a profound gift from Tribal communities who have lived with and stewarded the lands and waters around the Salish Sea since time immemorial, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into the shared values of a people with the deepest roots here.” - North Cascades Institute
Story Pole Film

Story Pole follows Native artist Jason LaClair as he restores a story pole – started by his elder Samuel Cagey II – and reflects on his life in recovery. His journey leads him into Bellingham schools, where he teaches about his people’s history, art and healing.

Among the top priorities for CSSP’s Education Program is to support effective implementation of the Washington State John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State (JMLSTI) curricular mandate by developing and providing resources for educators seeking to apply Tribal-led curricula at all grade levels. Our program and partnerships serve as a replicable model for public school systems across the state as they work to incorporate JMLSTI Tribal and place-based education.

Educator Resources

Digital Heritage Library

Meet Our Educational Leadership Team