Tribal Early Learning Alliance hoping to ‘build a stronger future’

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

Representatives from all nine Oregon Tribes and the state Department of Early Learning and Care are working together to see how they can best help children from birth to age 8.

The DELC held its first Oregon Tribal Early Learning Alliance meeting with Tribal early childhood education and care leaders in April, in order to develop, “a plan to build a stronger future for Tribal youth and families in Oregon,” according to a press release.   

The group was created after the Oregon Legislature passed a bill in 2025 to create OTELA. Tribal representatives are working with DELC’s Office of Tribal Affairs to help guide plan development, according to a press release.

“We are grateful to begin this work in true partnership with Oregon’s sovereign Tribal Nations,” DELC Director Alyssa Chatterjee said. “We are excited to listen, learn and honor the leadership of Tribes as they tell the state what they envision for their children, birth through age 8. Their guidance is essential and it will shape a stronger, more responsive early learning system for Tribal children and families across Oregon.”

Grand Ronde Representatives are Shawash-iliʔi Skul Administrator Justine Flynn and Preschool Education Coordinator Ashlee Webb.

“We are truly just diving into the work and will be meeting quarterly moving forward,” Flynn said. “That being said, I am excited about the potential of the group and the ways that it can impact early childhood education at the state level. I look forward to working with the group to support positive change for our Tribal students, families and staff.”

Additionally, Flynn was quoted in the press release as saying, “It is exciting to see the voices of our Tribal people being prioritized in any level of education. Both OTELA and the Tribal Early Learning Plan and Fund demonstrate DELC’s commitment to meaningful collaboration with Oregon Tribes. In addition, facilitation of the OTELA group offers Oregon Tribes the space to engage in big picture planning with regards to education for our Tribal people in both the short and long-term.”

Webb said she was “honored” to be a part of the group.

“I look forward to pursuing this Tribe to Tribe, and Tribe to state — to build an early learning system that truly serves our children and strengthens our communities for generations to come,” she said.

For more information about OTELA and to follow the committee’s work, visit oregon.gov/delc/about-us/pages/otela.aspx.