Word of the Year: Adaptivity!
If there’s one word to describe everything that 2020 has required of us all, it is this: adaptivity! One day after another, we’ve adapted our lives to the many crises the world has thrown at us. Confluence has made the pivot too: The staff and the Indigenous educators we partner with have taken all of our educational and public programmings online.
It seems to me that after all of the events of this year, the mission of Confluence is more important than ever: to connect people to the history, living cultures, and ecology of the Columbia River system through Indigenous voices. That mission inspired me to join Confluence this year as Board Treasurer.
As an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota, it is critically important to me that we educate K-12 teachers about the history, culture, and ecology of the Indigenous Tribes of our region. As our educators adapt to new ways of teaching, exposing them to Indigenous perspectives will ensure that culturally appropriate terminology and lessons will be elevated for the hundreds of students they each guide.
Here’s the thing: We can only advance this important work with the ongoing support of the Friends of Confluence.
With your support, Confluence will reach more than 1,000 school children, 700 community members, and 250 teachers in the coming year through:
- Confluence in the Classroom/Confluence Outdoors
- Confluence Conversations Online
- Professional Development workshops for teachers
In addition to these programs, your donation today supports our growing Digital Library and strengthens the ongoing conservation and stewardship of the five completed Confluence projects along the Columbia and Snake Rivers, created in collaboration with northwest tribes and the celebrated artist Maya Lin. Public art needs care!
As we move toward a new year, we know that even more adaptivity will likely be required. Thank you for supporting the important work of Confluence for future generations.
Warmest regards,
Ann Jackson
Confluence Board Treasurer
“As an educator, it is important to me to find ways to include topics about Indigenous Peoples in a way that brings in their voices, experiences, and perspectives and Confluence offers so many ways to do this. I have learned so much from them and I want to share this resource with everyone!”
~Jennifer Wyld
Teacher and Confluence Monthly Contributor
