John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State
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In 2015, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 5433 modifying the original 2005 legislation, now requiring the Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington state or other tribally-developed curriculum be taught in all schools. In 2024, the Legislature passed House Bill 1879 naming the curriculum in honor of John McCoy (lulilaš).
The use of the John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial curriculum has been endorsed by all 29 federally recognized tribes. Select the link to listen to how lulilaš is pronounced.
- Early Learning
- Elementary
- Middle School
- High School
- Tribal Sovereignty Curriculum Resources
- Videos
- Partnering with Tribes
- pK-12 Implementation Resources
- Higher Education Teacher and Administrator Preparation Programs
Ready to Go Lessons
To support the continuous teaching and learning you are providing your students, these “Ready to Go” lessons have been shared by Tribes and educators to provide you with quick access to a variety of complete lessons to implement along with or in addition to the John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial tribal sovereignty curriculum.
Elementary Lessons
- Seattle Public Schools - American Indian Studies: STI
- Long Before We Were Born - Regional Learning Project
- Native Homelands - Regional Learning Project
- Talking Without Words - Regional Learning Project
- Salmon Homecoming - Story-based Curriculum for Primary Environmental Education
- A Northwest ABC Coloring Book
- River of Kings shared by Jerry Price
- River of Kings (Spanish Language Version)
- Salmon Homecoming Activity Book (2001)
- Salmon Homecoming Alliance Student Workbook (2015)
- Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum (Salmon) Activity Book
- Ancient Civilization History and World History Tool: American Indian History Timeline
Middle School Lessons
- Seattle Public Schools - American Indian Studies: STI
- American Indian Urban Relocation developed by Shana Brown
- American Indian Urban Relocation (Spanish Language Version)
- Native American Boarding School Lessons developed by Shana Brown (click, then scroll to resources)
- River of Kings shared by Jerry Price
- River of Kings (Spanish Language Version)
- Tribal Perspectives - Regional Learning Project
- Native Homelands - Regional Learning Project
- Fish Wars: Native Fishing Rights shared by Patty Shelton (Bellevue School District)
- The Trail of Tears shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- PNW Conflict Powerpoint Project shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- Ancient Civilization History and World History Tool: American Indian History Timeline
High School Lessons
- Seattle Public Schools - American Indian Studies: STI
- Why Do the Foods We Eat Matter? - Native Knowledge 360
- The Fish Wars: What Kinds of Actions Can Lead to Justice? - Native Knowledge 360
- Native Homelands - Regional Learning Project
- Tribal Perspectives - Regional Learning Project
- Contemporary Voices - Regional Learning Project
- American Indian Urban Relocation developed by Shana Brown
- American Indian Urban Relocation (Spanish Language Version)
- Native American Boarding School Lessons developed by Shana Brown (click, then scroll to resources)
- 1969 Alcatraz shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- The Boldt Decision shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- Code Talkers shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- Life Before Columbus Museum Exhibit Project shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- The Nez Perce Trail shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- PNW Conflict Powerpoint Project shared by Ryan Markel (Cusick School District)
- Ancient Civilization History and World History Tool: American Indian History Timeline
- Office of Native Education Resources
- BINGO | BINGO Answer Sheet | Template
- NW Native American Reading Curriculum (click, then scroll to the bottom of the page)
- Seasonal Round Example (shared by Heidi Bohan; The People of Cascadia; 2009 part of K-3 Pathway 3: Giving Thanks)
- A Northwest ABC Coloring Book
- Salmon Homecoming Activity Book (2001)
- Salmon Homecoming Alliance Student Workbook (2015)
- Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum (Salmon) Activity Book
- Native American Stories and Science Education Connections: (Scroll down to "Native American Stories and Science Education Connections.") Mr. Fernandes has been given permission by the tribes to tell these stories. These stories have been aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards and the Environmental and Sustainability Standards.
- The Burke Museum - Weekly Lessons
- Cedar Box Teaching Toolkit (click, then scroll to the bottom of the page)
Teacher to Teacher & Librarian Implementation Videos
Looking for ideas on how to implement the John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial tribal sovereignty curriculum in your classroom? Across your district? Educators across the state share their ideas, lessons, and resources with you.
Special Topics
- Creating a Yearlong Washington History Scope and Sequence with Shana Brown - June 23, 2021 Presentation Slides Guidance Document
- Amplify Our Ancestors or How to Decolonize Your Classroom Teacher-to-Teacher Keynote presented by Shana Brown - 2021 Presentation slides
- Bias in American Indian Literature with Shana Brown June 23, 2021, Middle School Presentation - June 24, 2021, High School Presentation - Presentation Slides
- American Indian Studies and Intersectionality with Ethnic Studies with Gail Morris and Shana Brown June 22, 2021, Elementary School Presentation - June 23, 2021 Middle School Presentation - June 24, 2021, High School Presentation- Presentation Slides
- Land Education Teacher Professional Development: Lummi Nation and Western Washington University with Cynthia Wilson, Renee Swan-Waite, Rena Priest, Anna Lees, Dolores Calderon. Opening poem shared by Rena Priest, Washington state Poet Laureate - June 22, 2021 - Presentation Slides
- Adapting "Since Time Immemorial for Special Education with Toby Jarman (Seattle Public Schools collaborates with Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Suquamish Tribe) Elementary Video - Middle School Video - High School Video - June 2020
All Grade Levels
- Implementing Since Time Immemorial Curriculum: Librarian's Webinar - March 18, 2021 - Presentation Materials
- Spokane Tribal Lifeways Curriculum with Jennifer LeBret (Spokane Tribe of Indians) and Apolonio Hernandez - Fall 2020 - Elementary Video - Middle School Video - High School Video
- Making STI Your Own with Shana Brown (Seattle Public Schools collaborates with Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Suquamish Tribe) - June 2020 - Elementary Video - Middle School Video - High School Video - Shana Brown's Presentation
- Highline Public Schools: Implementation of "Since Time Immemorial" Curriculum Units (Highline Public Schools collaborates with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe) Presentation by Sara Marie Ortiz and Kayla Guyette June 2020 - Resources: Native Knowledge 360 - Indian Reading Series - Muckleshoot Indian Tribe - We Are Muckleshoot Video
- Adapting "Since Time Immemorial for Special Education with Toby Jarman (Seattle Public Schools collaborates with Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Suquamish Tribe) Elementary Video - Middle School Video - High School Video - June 2020
Elementary
-
Yakama Nation and Mt. Adams School District Curriculum Project with Elese Washines, Jennifer Johann, Leslie Jenks, and Sia Aronica - June 22, 2021
-
Making STI Accessible to All Learners with Irene Kearns (Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (Coast Miwok/Southern Pomo) (Bellevue School District collaborates with the Snoqualmie Tribe) - October 10, 2020 - Presentation Slides
- Integrating Tulalip Tribal History with Chelsea Craig (Marysville School District collaborates with the Tulalip Tribes) - June 2020
- Integrating Land-Based Lessons and Native Language with Valerie Mason (Paschal Sherman Indian School in collaboration with the Colville Confederated Tribes) Valerie Mason's Presentation - June 2020
- Jennifer Todd - 4th Grade Classroom (North Thurston Public Schools collaborates with Nisqually Indian Tribe) June 2020 - Jennifer Todd's Presentation
Middle School
- Creating a Yearlong Washington History Scope and Sequence with Shana Brown - June 23, 2021 Presentation Slides Guidance Document
- Integrating STI with Ancient Civilization and World Studies with Shana Brown - June 23, 2021 Presentation Slides Global History Timeline STI Timeline Activity
- Native Voices Arts Project with Beverly Harding Buehler, Arts Impact - November 14, 2020
- Implementing STI Across Your District with Patty Shelton and Amber Anderson (Bellevue School District collaborates with the Snoqualmie Tribe) - November 14, 2020
- Integrating Native Knowledge 360 and Regional Learning Project resources with "Since Time Immemorial" with Lori Carossino (Elma School District collaborates with Chehalis Tribe and Squaxin Island Tribe) - June 2020 - Lori Carossino's Presentation
- Implementing "Since Time Immemorial" with Ryan Markel (Middle School) (Cusick School District collaborates with the Kalispel Tribe) - June 2020
High School
- Integrating STI into World History and World Geography Courses with Richard Katz (Seattle Public Schools collaborates with Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Suquamish Tribe) - June 24, 2021 - Decolonizing Geography - Salish Sea Example
- Integrating STI with CTE Courses with Jerry Walther (Taholah School District collaborates with the Quinault Indian Nation) - December 5, 2020
- Teaching Tribal History and Klallam Language with Jamie Valadez (Lower Elwha) (Port Angeles School District collaborates with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe) - December 5, 2020 - Presentation Slides
- Implementing Since Time Immemorial with Matt Baudhin (Seattle Public Schools collaborates with Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Suquamish Tribe) - June 2020
- Making a Difference with Boo Balkan Foster (Seattle Public Schools collaborates with Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Suquamish Tribe) - June 2020
- Implementing "Since Time Immemorial with Ryan Markel (High School) (Cusick School District collaborates with the Kalispel Tribe) - June 2020
- Teaching History from a Native American Perspective with Jerad Koepp and Alison McCartan (North Thurston Public Schools collaborates with the Nisqually Tribe) - June 2020
The John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial tribal sovereignty curriculum uses three approaches:
- How does physical geography affect the distribution, culture, and economic life of local tribes?
- What is the legal status of tribes who "negotiated" or who did not "negotiate" settlement for compensation for the loss of their sovereign homelands?
- What were the political, economic, and cultural forces consequential to the treaties that led to the movement of tribes from long-established homelands to reservations?
- What are ways in which Tribes respond to the threats and outside pressure to extinguish their cultures and independence?
- What do local Tribes do to meet the challenges of reservation life; and as sovereign nations, what do local Tribes do to meet the economic and cultural needs of their Tribal communities?
A place-based approach. Our approach encourages teachers and students to address the essential questions in the context of tribes in their own communities.
An integrated approach. Teachers choose how much time to spend on tribal sovereignty content to complete their units throughout the year. The integrated approach provides three levels of curriculum for each of the OSPI-recommended social studies units, each level building on the last. Tribal sovereignty lessons are aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts. Where appropriate, units build toward successful completion of Content Based Assessments (CBA).
The Office of Native Education within the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction frequently schedules John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial tribal sovereignty curriculum trainings.
This work has been created in partnership with private and public agencies and the Federally Recognized Tribes in Washington State. We express our gratitude to all the contributors to this effort. Without their support and expertise, this resource would not be possible. Please be aware that any adaptations should be considered carefully so as not to impact this thoughtfully crafted content design or introduce any unintended cultural bias.
Alternate material licenses with different levels of user permission are clearly indicated next to the specific content in the materials.
If this work is adapted, note the substantive changes and re-title, removing any Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction or Office of Native Education logos. Provide the following attribution: "This resource was adapted from original materials provided by the OSPI in partnership with the Federally Recognized Tribes in Washington state. Original materials may be accessed on the John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State website."
Except where otherwise noted, "Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State" by Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in partnership with the Federally Recognized Tribes in Washington State is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. All logos are property of their respective owners.