Whatcom Intergenerational High School
Cultural Engagement Committee
Date and Time
The Cultural Engagement Committee is a standing committee of the Whatcom Intergenerational High School and its meetings are open to the public in accordance with RCW 42.30 (Open Public Meetings Act). In compliance with Washington State Law and Charter School Regulations (RCW 28A.710), should three or more WIHS Board Directors be present, the meeting will be considered an official board meeting. Such meetings must follow all requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act, including proper notice, recording of minutes, and public comment periods. Official board meetings are also subject to WIHS bylaws which require posting of agendas at least 24 hours in advance, maintaining quorum requirements, and following established voting procedures. All official board actions and decisions must be made in public, with proper documentation and transparency.
Agenda
Purpose | Presenter | Time | |||
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I. | Opening Items | 6:00 PM | |||
A. | Welcome and Introductions | Patrick Freeland | 15 m | ||
Your Vision, wisdom, voice and perspectives are valuable to this process. We're hoping to "do this in a good way," and also embrace principles of relationality, sense of Place, and honoring Indigenous knowledges and ways-of-life. We particularly welcome the participation of Tribal members, Elders, and Knowledge Holders who can guide us in this important work.
We will begin with welcomes and introductions, following our peacemaking circle protocols that honor every voice and create space for authentic sharing. |
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B. | Call the Meeting to Order | Patrick Freeland | 1 m | ||
C. | Review Meeting Minutes and Norms & Agreements | Patrick Freeland | 5 m | ||
While this committee meeting does not require formal agenda approval and meeting minutes approval, review of prior meetings will occur, in particular to contextualize (and include additional as needed) norms & agreements and CEC mission.
CEC Mission & Vision
Mission: The mission of the WIHS CEC is to help build a compassionate community within our school and world through multicultural education, awareness, and advocacy. We are committed to:
Vision: Create a just and inclusive society where every person is valued, empowered and equipped with the skills to be leaders, advocates, and allies.
Overview: The CEC meets to empower, accept, and celebrate all of the diverse people within our school and community. Through outreach to diverse local communities, we hope to strengthen our school and increase inclusive practices. Working with school leaders and community partners, the CEC will expand awareness of WIHS, grow partnerships with Indigenous, global majority, and peoples representing all of Whatcom County
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II. | Review WIHS Land Acknowledgement Draft | 6:21 PM | |||
The core of our discussion will center on reviewing and revising the WIHS Land Acknowledgement draft from the 11/7/24 meeting. |
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A. | Contextualizing Tribal Engagement | FYI | Patrick Freeland | 2 m | |
Contextual Framework This framework guides WIHS's operations, curriculum development, and community engagement, ensuring that our commitments translate into meaningful action and lasting change. Through these efforts, WIHS aims to serve as a model for educational institutions working to honor Indigenous rights and traditions while preparing students for future challenges.
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B. | Review DRAFT and determine Next Steps | Discuss | Patrick Freeland | 15 m | |
Review the document attached in the contextual framework. The Draft land acknowledgement is scaled into 3 frames, this first is the context, the second (copied below) is the overview, and third are specific commitments to action.
Land Acknowledgement We acknowledge that Whatcom Intergenerational High School resides on the ancestral territories of the Lh'aqTeMish People - the Xwlemi (Lummi) and Sq'elqx'en descendants - who have been the traditional stewards of these lands and waters since time immemorial. We recognize their continuing relationship with these territories and their inherent rights as sovereign peoples.
We specifically acknowledge our location within the lands of the Lummi Nation, and honor the deep connections of families and communities that transcend modern geopolitical boundaries. We recognize the traditional protocols, governance structures, and sacred responsibilities to land, water, and salmon given by the Creator - responsibilities that supersede treaties, laws, and policies.
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III. | Revisit Ideas for CEC | ||||
Several ideas have been proposed for the Cultural Engagement Committee to work on. This space will be to gather ideas, share upcoming events and opportunities, and to assign leaders for specific ideas and/or projects.
Events that have been proposed include:
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IV. | Community Consortium for Cultural Recognitions (CCCR) Partnership Process | 6:38 PM | |||
The Cultural Engagement Committee will review WIHS's potential membership in the Community Consortium for Cultural Recognitions (CCCR). After examining CCCR's mission and impact through their website (www.wwu.edu/community-consortium-cultural-recognitions), we will discuss and determine appropriate financial and programmatic commitments.
The baseline financial commitment is $1,000 annually, though most current consortium partners "contribute $6,000 to ensure equitable compensation for cultural knowledge holders, speakers, and event support, as confirmed by Chris Roselli, "this higher contribution allows allocation of approximately $2,000 per sponsored event."
Committee members will identify any additional commitments to include in our proposal beyond financial obligations. Following consensus on commitments, a formal proposal will be drafted for submission to the Budget and Finance Committee for consideration in the annual budget planning process. Upon securing budget approval and establishing the designated line item, we will submit the comprehensive proposal to the WIHS Board for final review, seeking approval for both the budget amendment and formal inclusion in the CCCR. |
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A. | CCCR Discussion | Vote | Patrick Freeland | 15 m | |
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B. | CCCR Proposal Development and Next Steps | FYI | Patrick Freeland | 10 m | |
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V. | Committee Development | ||||
Reviewing Committee Development and housekeeping, gathering feedback from committee members, and finalizing tasks
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VI. | Closing Items | 7:03 PM | |||
A. | Adjourn Meeting | Vote | Patrick Freeland | 1 m | |
Thank You to all who have participated in tonight's meeting!
Notes and follow-up will be shared via email as well as meeting invites for future scheduled meetings. Meeting minutes and documents uploaded to BoardOnTrack and made publicly available as needed. |