American Indian Education

The mission of the American Indian Education program is to meet the unique linguistic, cultural and academic needs of our American Indian learners. We work to accomplish these goals by facilitating culturally responsive learning opportunities in order to make positive impacts on educational outcomes. We believe every student’s culture and identity are sources of strength. Our work is to uplift American Indian learners by creating learning experiences where traditions, language, and classroom learning come together. These connections help students see themselves in what they learn, build confidence in their abilities, and reach their highest potential—while staying rooted in who they are.The Indian Education Program, which is federally funded, is committed to working together with parents and families to meet the unique educational and cultural needs of American Indian students. 

It is the mission of the Springfield Office of Indian Education to treat every student and family as important in the creation of an inter-tribal community that works together in the best interest of our children.

Chifin Native Youth Center

Springfield's Native Youth Center was completed in spring 2014, thanks to a grant from the Oregon Community Foundation through the Springfield Education Foundation, along with an outpouring of support and generous donations from community members and organizations.

Students, parents and program staff collaborated with architects to make their vision of the Native Youth Center a reality in an available corner of Two Rivers-Dos Ríos Elementary School. The skilled and loving renovation was completed by the district’s own operations and facilities staff. The Native Youth Center now features an office, full kitchen and bath, and ample shelves and storage space.

This light and bright space is actively used as a central meeting location by families in the district’s Indian Education Program for studying, gathering, drumming, crafts and honor meals. The center also serves as the stage for the annual Native American Graduation celebration.

In November of 2014, the center was renamed the Chifin Native Youth Center, after the community of Kalapuya Indians whose traditional homeland was located at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers.

For more information visit the Chifin Native Youth Center, 1084 G Street,  Springfield, OR 97477 or call (541) 228-6681.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that our District is situated in the traditional homeland of the Kalapuya people, specifically the community that was known as Chifin, the area that we now call Springfield.

Kalapuya people, who have lived in this region since “Time Immemorial” were illegally dispossessed of their land and forcibly removed to what are now the Grand Ronde and Siletz reservations over several years, but most notably in treaties between 1851 and 1855.  

The Kalapuya are now members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and members of the Kalapuya still live, work, study and thrive in this area, and continue to make important contributions here in Springfield, across the land we now refer to as Oregon, and around the globe.  

This information is shared out of a responsibility to prevent the erasure of Native culture, heritage, and people and to ensure a quality contemporary education for future generations.