Portland State Magazine Winter 2013

WINTER 2013 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 21 American Indians are bringing Native teaching practices into their classrooms. Culture shift TERRI REED was just 8 years old when her third-grade teacher stared at her light brown face, black, almond-shaped eyes, and asked in a voice that sounded cruel to the little girl, “What are you?” Reed had known for a while that others thought she was different. But to have an adult seemingly accuse her of being alien felt overwhelming. Reed, of Chickasaw and Irish heritage, dropped her eyes and from that moment on, the once lively little girl shut down. At least at school. Reed’s story illustrates how the predominately European- American culture of many U.S. schools can overwhelm youngsters of other cultures. In Reed’s case, the once inquisi- tive and imaginative kid who loved to learn, learned to become invisible. Now, after benefitting from a new program at Portland State, Reed MEd ’11 is helping bring American Indian and Alaska Native educational practices into the classroom, so she can help other “different” children learn to love school. In 2010, PSU was one of eight colleges and universities in the nation, and one of only two non-tribal schools, to receive a four-year federal grant to increase the number of Native teach- ers. PSU partners include four Oregon tribes—Siletz, Uma- tilla, Warm Springs, and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde—that are recruiting students for the program and developing financial sustainability to continue the program after the grant ends. WR I T T E N B Y ME L I S SA S T E I NEGE R I Today, Terri Reed passes on the values of community and respect that she learned from her Chickasaw and Irish family to the Native American students she teaches. Photo by Kelly James.