Salem, Ore., September 15, 2022 — Chemeketa Community College has partnered with local indigenous teachers to provide instruction in indigenous arts.  what we did ~and are~ doing with many thanks
 

Interweaving Indigenous Art: Co-Teachers-in-Residence embeds artists and Indigenous Art Practices inside foundational art classes at Chemeketa. This co-teaching model intentionally works within the existing curriculum based on artist and tribal guidance. 

We graciously thank s'gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ: The House of Welcome at the Longhouse and members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde for their trust and guidance with this important work. 

Stephanie Craig  (Santiam and Yoncalla Kalapuya, Takelma Rogue River, Cow Creek Umpqua, and Clackamas Chinook) and Nakoosa Moreland (Umpqua, Rogue River, Shasta, Kalapuya, and Clickatat) and have brought this program to life. We are honored to work with them. Thank you!

Angela Fasana, Education Manager at the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. advised and supported us from the very start in 2022. Thank you!

What we did...

2023-2024 classes

Fall
 

Beadworking In ART115 Basic Design-Two Dimensional 

Nakoosa Moreland (Umpqua, Rogue River, Shasta, Kalapuya, and Clickatat) and Kay Bunnenberg Boehmer (2 sections, 43 students)

 

Winter

Traditional Cedar Basket Weaving In ART117 3D Design-Construct & Recycle

Stephanie Craig (Santiam and Yoncalla Kalapuya, Takelma Rogue River, Cow Creek Umpqua, and Clackamas Chinook) and Heidi Grew (1 section, 18 students)

 

AND (see photos below)

2, FREE, COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS: Chemeketa Makes. (funded by the Gretchen Schuette Art Gallery Endowment)

Necklace Making with Nakoosa Moreland (8 students)

Traditional Juncus Basketmaking with Stephanie Craig (at Yamhill Campus!) (9 students)

Spring 

(Upcoming Co-Teaching in Residence)

Beadworking In ART115 Basic Design-Two Dimensional 

Nakoosa Moreland and Kay Bunnenberg Boehmer (2 sections, 66 students and possibly an intern!)

Parfleche: Hide Painting with Natural Pigments In ART281 Painting

Stephanie Craig and Laura Mack (1 section, 19 students and possibly an intern!)

AND did you know...

Nakoosa (above with baby Darryl in left photo) and Stephanie (above on the right in right photo) are teaching workshops AGAIN this spring! These workshops are sponsored by Chemeketa's Office of Diversity & Equity. The photos above are from the winter term community workshops. Thank you to all the participants!

And...We plan a celebration with students after their Basic Design and Painting classes on May 22. This is the last class day of the year for both Nakoosa and Stephanie. We have so much gratitude for this time together. Thank you!

And speaking of the celebration...Tamarro Gabbert (above) who catered the  Chemeketa Makes: Interweaving Indigenous Arts workshops and does a terrific 3 Sisters Soup or Elk Stew will cater the May 22 party with traditional foods. Thank you!

And...Chase Huntley, a Chemawa Indian School teacher has arranged for Nakoosa and her husband Nakeezaka Jack to visit the school when they come to present and teach in May. (They are also invited as head dancers at the U of O POWWOW that weekend, too!) Chase will also bring his students to visit Nakoosa and Kay's Beadworking Design class in May. Thank you!

And... Since fall, Melissa Palanuk in the Education Department at Grande Ronde has received info and flyers for the Interweaving Indigenous Arts classes. She got the word out to enrolled members attending Chemeketa and on the Grand Ronde Facebook page. Thank you!
 

And... Lyle Cairdeas (curator at Chachalu Cultural Center and Museum, in the orange shirt above right) and Terry Kowing (Frank's brother in the khaki pants) shared Frank Kowing's body of work in the Gretchen Schuette Art Gallery. It was a pleasure to work with them in that collaboration. And students LOVED that show. This show was funded by the Gretchen Schuette Art Gallery Endowment. Thank you!

And...Elaine Labonte Robertson (Grand Ronde Tribal Member and part time faculty in BIO102) wrote a piece about Interweaving Indigenous Art: Co-Teachers in Residence for the March Grand Ronde Tribal Newsletter. It includes interviews with both Nakoosa and Stephanie.