Centering indigenous voices in education with Georgina Owen

About this episode

The episode discusses the importance of centering Indigenous voices in education through collaboration with tribal nations and culturally relevant curriculum.

In this episode of Highest Aspirations, Sandra Medrano-Arroyo speaks with Georgina Owen, Indian Education Coordinator at the Colorado Department of Education, about advancing authentic and equitable education for Native American students. Georgina shares how collaboration with tribal nations has shaped Colorado’s culturally grounded curriculum, strengthened trust, and ensured that Indigenous voices guide classroom instruction. Listeners will learn about innovative initiatives supporting Indigenous language and culture, efforts to refine identification processes under Title III, and strategies for sustaining meaningful partnerships between schools and tribal communities. Key questions we address: How can state education systems authentically collaborate with tribal nations to create accurate, culturally grounded curriculum? What challenges and opportunities exist in identifying and supporting Indigenous students under federal education policy? What systemic steps can strengthen culturally relevant instruction and ensure Indigenous voices remain central in education? For additional episode and community resources: Download the transcript here . Information on Colorado’s American…

People in this episode

Host: Sandra Medrano-Arroyo

Guest: Georgina Owen

Topics covered

• Indigenous education
• culturally grounded curriculum
• collaboration with tribal nations
• supporting Indigenous students
• language and culture initiatives
• federal education policy

Keywords

• Indigenous voices
• education
• culturally relevant instruction
• Native American students
• collaboration
• Title III
• partnerships
• language support

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Colorado Department of Education, History Colorado, IMPACT 2025

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