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. Students will support youth programming in NAYA's after-school Learning Center (k-8) or College & Career Center (ages 14-21) and/ or support food sovereignty in NAYA's food and healing gardens. Students taking this course receive dual credit, fulfilling both their Senior Capstone requirement, and INS major/minor credit.
To support our work as allies to 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. Our journey includes examining the role of cultural difference, communication, connection and reconciliation, and empathy in the learning relationship through in-class dialogue, written reflection, 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 class meets three hours per week at PSU for training with the instructor, and after the first week of training individuals will begin their service with NAYA for three hours per week. PSU weekly sessions include discussions on readings, educational issues, and service learning. Individual writing assignments include personal reflective projects, resource reviews/analysis, and a final reflective narrative.
No previous experience in mentoring, tutoring, or gardening is necessary, as Capstones will bring their diverse talents to the collaborative learning environment. A background check and proof of vaccination will be required to serve onsite.
