Kalapuya Ways Classroom Presentation
Engage your classroom with our interesting presentation about the First Peoples of the Willamette Valley, the Kalapuya, with an interpreter and hands-on activities. This program is taught exclusively by Native American people and the style is inclusive and respectful. Our presenter will dispel myths and stereotypes and impart lasting impressions of dignity and respect. We will remind your students that the Kalapuya people are still here and reclaiming their culture, language and land.
Time: 30 min.
Our curriculum has been vetted by the Curriculum Specialist with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for cultural responsiveness. (2022 – 2023)
Looking for Pre-K indigenous presentations? Click here.
“I reviewed your [Kalapuya Ways] video and everything looks/sounds great. I truly do not have any feedback to give other than I love the fact that you start off talking about Native people in the present-tense then switch to past-tense (it is often done the other way around) and I love the respectful terminology you used when introducing and explaining the hands-on items. Great work!”
– Cheyanne Heidt, Curriculum Specialist, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Topics may include:
- What are the Kalapuya people doing today?
- What happened to the Kalapuya? settlement/reservations
- What is a Federally Recognized Tribe?
- How to avoid sterotyping Indigenous people
- What is regalia and its significance
- Reclaiming language
- Traditional Practices:
- Seasonal round of different activities/trading
- Traditional Foods/hunting methods/cooking
- The uses of Red Cedar/ winter villages
- Flintnapping: points/arrowheads
- Fire starting
- Reciprocity/Respect for the Earth
We include a teacher’s guide for you with additional materials and resources.
Cost
$150 per classroom (up to 30 kids).
Travel outside the Eugene/Springfield area may cost extra.
Optional add-ons
Stick Dice Game- Learn how to play a Native-inspired stick dice game and make your own set to take home. We provide the materials and instruction. 15 min.
$35
See our other history presentations:
Testimonial
“The students were able to really visualize what it must have been like to live as a Kalapuya in the past as well as acknowledge and see Kalapuya now. We loved seeing the artifacts and playing the game. Students even commented on seeing camas after school!”
Susan Reeves
Adams Elem, Corvallis
SCEC in Cottage Grove, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Winefelly and Yoncalla Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (https://www.grandronde.org) and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians (https://ctsi.nsn.us).
