At Sayéik: Gastineau Community School in Juneau, teachers and staff collaborated with students and community members to organize a cultural literacy night. The event showcased traditional foods, tea, and included students sharing a Tlingit tale. One speaker acknowledged the school’s complicated history – a burial ground was rediscovered during the construction of the school – and another balanced the evening with music and dancing.
The celebration was unique to the school, but the same elements – student performances, historical acknowledgment, food, activities, music, and stories – can make for meaningful opportunities to build and repair relationships with families. Who are the community partners you could work with to create a cultural literacy night unique to your school?