Healing & Indigenous Education at NAYA

In this Capstone we partner with the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) through hands-on community-based service. Capstone students participate in mentoring programs in NAYA's Learning Center or their College and Career Center, or support NAYA's food sovereignty community garden. There is some possibility that Capstones may also have the opportunity for other service at NAYA, such as advocating for state-wide school adoption of Oregon's new indigenous-created curriculum "Tribal History/Shared History." Reach out to the professor directly for updates to service options. A background check is required for students working onsite as well as proof of the 2023 updated Covid-19 vaccine (or proof of medical/religious exemption).

To support our work with the indigenous community, this class is grounded in NAYA's application of the Relational Worldview Model, and over the course of the term will examine and reflect on the intersections between education, land and healing, historical legacy and social inequity in our efforts to imagine and create a more just world. Our journey includes examining the role of cultural difference, communication, connection and reconciliation, and empathy in the learning relationship through in-class dialogue, weekly discussion and short written reflection on course texts, and building relationships with the NAYA community. To be effective, you will be expected to gain some crucial background in the history and experiences of the community we’re working with, and also be open to examining how your own background shapes your experiences with learning, self-actualization and community. We will therefore examine our own assumptions, biases, and learning around issues of poverty, privilege, race, class and other relevant social and historical factors.

This course fulfills PSU's RESR requirement; INST majors/minors can receive dual credit for both their INST/INNAF elective and UNST Capstone requirements for graduation.