PPS Indian Education Program

Join us in celebrating our 55th Anniversary at the NYE Sobriety Powwow!

We look forward to seeing you at tonight's holiday party for dinner, crafts, and a visit from Mr & Mrs Claus!

Please join us at OMSI on 1/23 from 6-9pm for Native American Community Science Night! Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions, we look forwrad to seeing you there!

If your student is missing vaccines, please be aware that they have until 2/25/2026 to catch up!

Please see the following message regarding our community member Ray Tate, who is in need of a living kidney donor:

Dear friends and family,
As some of you might know, I have a rare kidney disease called IgA Nephropathy. I’ve known about it for 20 years, and the disease has slowly caused my kidneys to stop working. Over the last few years, my numbers have gone down dramatically and my kidneys no longer function. I am currently doing at-home hemodialysis treatments.
I have been a high school math teacher for 24 years now. I started this school year teaching. I really love to teach and be in front of the students and be with the students, but medical complications with dialysis have prevented me from being in the classroom. Hemodialysis treatments keep me alive, but limit my time and ability to be with my students and do the things I love to do.
Right now my name is on a kidney transplant list at OHSU in Portland, Oregon. I am eligible to get a transplant and if I have a live donor available I can get a kidney transplant as soon as possible. Having a live kidney donor would mean a lot to me. I could get back to the things I love – gardening, teaching, going on walks, and visiting my daughters out of state. Personally, I am in prayer for it.
Finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. There are 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney. The average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor. However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor. Asking a family member or a friend to consider donating a kidney to me is difficult, but it greatly improves my chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation lasts longer and has better function.
You might not know a lot about living donation. I have learned a lot about it this last year. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation:

You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life.
Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions.
The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally two weeks.
The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by my insurance. The hospital can give you extensive information on this.
You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for YOUR best interests.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my story. If donating a kidney to me is something you would like to consider, you can learn more about living kidney donation on OHSU’s website at https://www.ohsu.edu/transplant/living-kidney-donation. If you are interested in becoming a donor, would like to talk to my family, or have any questions, please email my daughter, Lael Tate, at [email protected].
Living donation may not be right for everyone. Please help me by sharing my story with everyone you know. This may reach someone who feels called to consider a living donation.

Thank you,
Ray Tate

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Egh-10jfcaM5y4EiMYcyOPkZEN9SdPHkpRZPyd0papw/edit?fbclid=IwY2xjawOdcQFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFIY0JrNzQ2WlE3THVKbXZhc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsROOA8_V3-hCu6GHOTCZA_VubYyOM46c9QsZLm2YpFUnYrDgnjEDYDZw1t8_aem_et65wwwXo6xB6M9xhjCksA&tab=t.0

Ray Tate_Living Kidney Donor Request Dear friends and family, As some of you might know, I have a rare kidney disease called IgA Nephropathy. I’ve known about it for 20 years, and the disease has slowly caused my kidneys to stop working. Over the last few years, my numbers have gone down dramatically and my kidneys no longer fu...

This event is happening tomorrow! Don't miss out!

Don't miss out! All About Sasquatch is happening at the World Forestry Center on Thursday, 11/20, from 6-8pm!

Don't miss out! All About Sasquatch is happening at the World Forestry Center on Thursday, 11/20, from 6-8pm!

Check out the awesome events happening at Multnomah County Library during Native American Heritage Month!

Honoring Native American Heritage Month - PPS Board Resolution November 4, 2025

Portland Public Schools proudly recognizes National Native American Heritage Month through Board Resolution 7206: Proclaiming the Celebration of Native American Indian Heritage Month. This resolution reaffirms our district’s commitment to honoring the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Native peoples.

We are especially proud that Emily St. Martin, Student Success Advocate with the Department of Indian Education, will share their personal story during the Board meeting, a powerful reflection that uplifts the voices, experiences, and resilience of Native students, families, and communities. Emily’s remarks are scheduled to begin at approximately 6:05 p.m.

We invite all to join us in celebration, learning, and continued partnership throughout the month of November and beyond. - PPS Indian Education Program

Join us tonight at the Jefferson cafeteria for an evening of mask making, cookie decorating, button making, and storytelling from the Multnomah County Library! We will be serving tamales for dinner. :)

McDaniel's Indigenous Alliance club will be selling frybread on Friday, October 24th, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Don't miss out!