Aanii (Anishinaabemowin greeting) / Behneh (Shoshone greeting) Families,

While March was a short month for our students in the classroom, there was a lot happening in the Indigenous Education office. We had the pleasure of meeting with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Tribal Leadership to discuss our program and the upcoming school year. This meeting is an annual consultation with local Tribal leaders to talk about Indigenous learners, our program, and TCAPS. Our program was also spotlighted by Northwest Education Services during Women's HERstory (History) Month for culturally responsive education.

On March 11, the office of Indigenous Education hosted the public annual meeting and shared information about our program. You can view the notes pending approval here. The next scheduled meeting of the Indigenous Education Parent Committee is on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 6 pm at West Middle School. Our program is guided by our parents/guardians, and the parent committee meetings are a great opportunity to connect and share your ideas and thoughts.

We are approaching the deadline for funding submission from the U.S. Department of Education. In the application, there is a request for program objectives. The Indigenous Education Parent Committee (IPC) met in February and discussed objectives for the 2024-2025 school year. We recognize that there are conflicts in scheduling and that not all families can attend. Please take a moment to review the potential objectives and provide feedback on this Google Form. Your feedback is truly valued and appreciated.

Looking forward to April, our middle school students will connect through Anishinaabemowin card games with a special guest and language advocate, Leilani DeFoe. West Senior High School Native Club is wrapping up a 7 Grandfather Teachings art project and planning on how to spend grant funding received for their club. Traverse City High School Students Indigenous Club will continue to monitor their garden and work on a small beading project. A student at Central High School applied to start a club to connect through culture. Lastly, information was shared with the district regarding Indigenous practices in relation to the upcoming eclipse. 

Updates and information are often shared on our social media as well. If you are not already following us, please give us a follow! You can find us on Facebook and Instagram as TCAPS Indigenous Education.

Miigwech / Oose (Thank You),

Summer Baldwin

TCAPS Indigenous Education Coordinator

Phone: (231) 933-5897

Email: baldwinsu@tcaps.net

Flowcode (IE Program links. External link)

Anishinaabe Expressive Culture Series: Movie Night - Gather

Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Time: 6:00 pm

Where:  Lars Hockstad Auditorium, Central Grade Elementary

Parking: Pine Street, entrance at Pine Street

Film Run Time: 74 Minutes

Please join us for a movie night followed by a discussion led by Holly T. Bird, TCAPS Board of Trustee and Kinomaage Ikwe.

“Gather is an intimate portrait of the growing movement amongst Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty, while battling the trauma of centuries of genocide.

Gather follows Nephi Craig, a chef from the White Mountain Apache Nation (Arizona), opening an indigenous café as a nutritional recovery clinic; Elsie Dubray, a young scientist from the Cheyenne River Sioux Nation (South Dakota), conducting landmark studies on bison; and the Ancestral Guard, a group of environmental activists from the Yurok Nation (Northern California), trying to save the Klamath river.”

All Anishinaabe Expressive Culture Series events are free and all are welcome to attend. We look forward to being in community with you!

If you have any questions please contact us! 

Phone (231) 933-5897 

Email baldwinsu@tcaps.net

Traverse Area District Library Bookmark Contest 🎨

What: Design a bookmark for the Traverse Area District Library! One design will be selected for each category and shared at the library through 2024.

Who: Everyone!

Deadline:  April 25, 2024

Download the entry form here!

For more information visit the TADL  website. 

Grand Valley State University Office of Multicultural Affairs Anishinaabe Student Leadership Camp

What: Pre-college experience at GVSU! Experience dorm life at GVSU, visit campus, learn how to become a leader in your community and experience the world through the lens of anthropology.  

Who: Indigenous students 9th - 12th grade

Camp Dates: June 17 - June 20, 2024

Cost: $20 deposit with application

Deadline:  June 3, 2024

Apply here!

For more information visit the website. Questions? Contact Lin Bardwell at bardwelb@gvsu.edu 

North Dakota State University American Indian Public Health Resource Center

What: Indigenous Food Sovereignty Emerging Leaders Program (IFSELP). IFSELP will be hosting a unique three-week on-site summer program for Indigenous sutdents interested in food sovereignty and culturally responsive public health services for Indigenous communities.

Who: High School Seniors graduating May 2024 and college students 18 - 24 years old

Camp Dates:  June 9 - June 29, 2024

Location: NDSU Campus - Fargo, ND (travel cost included)

Deadline:  April 15, 2024

Apply here!

For more information or questions email tanya.redroad@ndsu.edu orvisit https://www.facebook.com/AIPHRC

University of Arizona Native American Youth Entrepreneurship Program (NAYEP)

What: A virtual 5-day intensive workshop to build entrepreneurial skills and gain real-world experience from Indigenous professionals.

Who: High school students 9th - 12th grade (or graduating senior May 2024). Indigenous students in the United States.

Dates:  July 18 - 12, 2024

Location: Online

Cost: $50

Apply here!

For more information visit their website.

Reads

April's book theme is Spring 🌷

• Forever Our Home by Tonya Simpson (Pasqua First Nation Cree) and illustrated by Carla Joseph (Cree)

Reading age 3 - 5 years old, grade level preschool to K. 32 pages.

• Kamik Takes the Lead  by Darryl Baker (Inuit)

Reading age 6 - 8 years old, grade level 1st to 3rd. 32 pages.

• Red Bird Danced By Dawn Quigley  (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe)

Reading age 8 - 12 years old, grade level 3rd to 7th. 176 pages.

• The Four Hills of Life: Ojibwe Wisdom by Thomas Peacock ( Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe) and Marlene Wisuri

Grade level 4th to 9th. 120 pages.

• Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline (Metis Nation of Ontario)

Reading Age is young adult, 288 pages.

Language Learners

Learn to say "an Eclipse" in Ojibwemowin

Listen