What did you learn about Native history in class?: Today So Far

• Teaching Native American history in Washington's schools.
• A Washington State Patrol trooper has passed away from Covid, months after defying the state's vaccine mandate in a high-profile viral video.

This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for Jan. 31, 2022.

Looking back on my school days in western Washington, I can't say I got a full picture of our region's history. Especially considering the many Native American cultures in our area. But that has been changing in recent years.

We had a potlatch at my elementary school, in the suburbs of Seattle. A guest speaker from a local tribe told us (kids between first and fifth grades) about salmon as we learned a dance using canoe paddles. From what I recall in the grades that followed, Lewis and Clark came around, and then Bill Gates showed up (the rest of my local education was filled in by Almost Live).

When I arrived at Issaquah High School, the first thing I saw painted on the wall greeting students was the face of a Native American man wearing a war bonnet. We were the "Issaquah Indians." Over the year I spent at IHS, I hadn't a clue that there was no single group of "Indians," rather many Native tribes spread across the region, each with their own history and culture. I didn't know that not every tribe was known for the regalia displayed at our school (or the significance of that headdress), or about the treaties that established tribes as sovereign nations within our state.

Issaquah High School eventually changed its name and mascot, long before Washington's recent move to ban such themes. Our education system has gone through a bit of an evolution since the time I, or many of you readers, were in class. Starting in 2005, updated in 2015, the Legislature approved an effort to teach Native American history, culture, and government in K-12 schools. And it's a curriculum created with tribes, not just about them, as KUOW's Soundside reports about one branch of this effort with the Tulalip Tribes. And for that story, read here. Perhaps today's students will get a bit more out of class.

The Washington State Trooper who opted to retire instead of comply with the state's vaccine mandate has passed away from Covid.

Let's get one thing clear: This is not a "told ya so" story, or engaging in my-side-versus-your-side of pandemic politics. It's been sad every time someone has died from Covid during this pandemic.

A lot of law enforcement officers opted to retire/leave the job when Washington implemented a Covid vaccine mandate in October 2021. Seattle initially lost about 100. The Washington State Patrol lost 127 troopers and staff. What makes Trooper Robert LaMay's story unique is the high-profile nature of his exit. LaMay went viral after he posted video of his final shift, going on the radio to voice his objections to the mandate after two decades with WSP. He ended his call by telling Gov. Jay Inslee to "kiss my ass." Now, three months after his video went viral, garnering headlines across the globe, LaMay has passed away from Covid.

It's also part of a larger story that has gone under the radar — 2021 was the deadliest year for U.S. active-duty law enforcement members since 1930 (including local, state, tribal, and federal officers), with Covid being the leading cause of death. Covid was also the leading cause of death for law enforcement in 2020. Like the massive strain on our hospital system, or the slowed down supply chain, it's another reminder that the pandemic affects corners of society far beyond those of us getting the sniffles.

Have a comment or want to reach out to me? Send me an email at dyer@kuow.org.

AS SEEN ON KUOW

The state of Washington has officially hit the pause button on a controversial long-term care insurance program known as WA Cares. Gov. Jay Inslee recently signed into law a bill that delays the start of the program until July 2023, giving lawmakers 18 months to make revisions to the program and reassess its long-term solvency. The new law, which goes into effect immediately, also provides refunds to any employees who saw their paycheck docked after the payroll tax to fund the program kicked-in on January 1. (Northwest News Network)

DID YOU KNOW?

If you've been planning on cleaning up your home, today is the day to do it. Tomorrow, Feb. 1, is Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year, Spring Festival), celebrated by a quarter of the world's population. And among the superstitious traditions of the holiday is making sure you clean up before the big day. That's because such activities are considered bad luck on the holiday. Using a broom on New Year's day is like sweeping away your good fortune. Taking out the trash is like tossing out good fortune. Beyond that, washing your clothes or your hair is considered the equivalent of washing away your good luck.

That's just a handful of the holiday's traditions, which are akin to western superstitions, like how it's bad luck to break a mirror, or to mention the Scottish Play inside a theatre. Food is also a big deal. Families travel great distances to have a reunion meal. The Chinese word for "tangerine" is similar to the word for "gold," so those are common. Fish is a similar situation; the Chinese word for "fish" sounds like the word for "surplus." Noodles represent long life, so you shouldn't cut them. And dumplings are popular. Some families will place a gold coin in a random dumpling. If the person who bites into the dumpling does not chip a tooth, it's good luck.

It's all in an effort to start the year on a positive note. For more, check out this video and this video, which are my current favorite roundups of Lunar New Year traditions and taboos.

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