Preschool educator Alana Bevis holds a book for Cay-Uma-Wa Head Start student Mayvis Manta in the (Wolf) X̣álišmaami Tanawat classroom on April 4, 2025, at the Nixyáawii Education Center in Mission. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation recently received a grant to help ensure children on the reservation become proficient readers as they enter school. (Cay-Uma-Wa Head Start/Contributed Photo)

MISSION — The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation announced it received a $150,000 grant to help children on the reservation become proficient readers as they begin school.

Zenaida Lyles, Department of Children and Family Services grants specialist, said the organization received a sizable grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust, a private fund committed to racial, social and economic justice in Oregon.

The funds will help develop and implement culturally-relevant and age-appropriate reading materials and methods for children, she added.

“This project aims to involve very young children, youths, adults and elders to better prepare our very young children for school,” Lyles said. “Parents, family members, guardians, the youths and staff of child care centers will be provided training on how to engage young children in fun and enjoyable activities as they learn the alphabet, numerals, colors and shapes.”

She said DCFS will procure culturally and age-appropriate materials, record stories from tribal elders and have local artists create illustrations for materials such as books and digital products.

Lyles cited a 2024 article stating the National Assessment of Education Progress showed only 43% of fourth graders in the United States scored at or above a proficient reading level. American Indian/Alaska Native students scoring 19% in 2019 and 18% in 2022.

“We look forward to generations of school-aged children who can navigate the education paths side by side with their mainstream peers,” Lyles said. “We address the spectrum of human growth and development from cradle to career and beyond. This project is for all community members. We value the teachings of our elders, and we work to perpetuate them and pass them on to our younger members.”

For the project, DCFS will collaborate with other departments, agencies and entities. For example, Lyles said DCFS would work with the InterMountain Education Service District’s Early Learning Hub for training needs. She added DCFS officials hope to start the project mid-April with the grant ending May 2026.

The project will consist of four components. The first is training staff, youth, families, parents and guardians, with each group receiving at least two sessions. The second component involves procuring and developing literacy materials. The third component focuses on implementing techniques and methodologies developed from the training. The final component is assessing the project’s effectiveness.

Flyers about project participation will be distributed and schedules posted on various social media platforms, including the Confederated Umatilla Journal and KCUW radio station.

Lyles said the project’s administrative operations will be based at the DCFS Family Engagement Program, but multiple sites will be used for training and implementation. These include the CTUIR’s Átaw Miyánašma Learning Center and Head Start, with training also possibly held at the CTUIR Senior Center.

“CTUIR community members are welcome to participate and will be limited only by the allowable capacity of the gathering sites,” Lyles said. “We look forward to having school children who find joy in reading and learning.”