Social Studies Curricula?Tribal History and Culture.  School districts must incorporate curricula about the history, culture, and government of the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes into their social studies curricula.  The requirement is activated when a school district reviews or adopts social studies curricula.  In meeting the requirement, school districts must use a curriculum developed by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) called Since Time Immemorial:  Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State (STI curriculum).  The STI curriculum has been endorsed for use by the 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington and districts may modify the curriculum to incorporate elements that have a regionally specific focus. 
 
As school districts conduct regularly scheduled reviews and revisions of their social studies and history curricula, they must collaborate with any federally recognized tribe within their district, and with neighboring tribes, for the purpose of incorporating expanded and improved curricular materials about tribes, and creating programs of classroom and community cultural exchanges.
 
School districts must also collaborate with OSPI on curricular areas regarding tribal government and history that are statewide in nature, such as the concept of tribal sovereignty and the history of federal policy towards federally recognized tribes.
 
John McCoy.  In 2005 Representative John McCoy, whose traditional name in Lushootseed is lulila?, sponsored HB 1495.  The adopted legislation?Chapter 205, Laws of 2005, enacted as SHB 1495?began the process of incorporating information about tribal history, culture, and government into social studies courses in which Washington or United States history is taught, and established the statutory foundation for the use of the STI curriculum in public schools.
 
Mr. McCoy, who passed away June 6, 2023, represented the 38th Legislative District from 2003-2013 in the House of Representatives, and from 2013-2020 in the Washington Senate.

The curriculum used to teach public school students about tribal history, culture, and government is designated as the John McCoy (lulila?) Since Time Immemorial curriculum.
 
The bill shall be known and cited as the John McCoy (lulila?) Memorial Tribal History, Culture, and Government Act.

PRO: John McCoy was a great leader in the House and Senate.  Naming the bill after John McCoy will be an important moment in Washington state history.  This will be the first time that the Lushootseed language will be in Washington law and will be another chance for John to bring governments together.  Senator McCoy was a teacher and mentor.  Much of the work of the last ten years and being able to tell our story would not be possible without the work of Sen. McCoy and many others.  We have come a long way in 50 years in terms of state and tribal relations.  A lot of the reason that language programs exist is due to the work of John McCoy.  Senator McCoy envisioned a curriculum that would nurture the growth and knowledge of our state's tribal communities, their culture, and their history.  He believed in the potential of the Since Time Immemorial curriculum to help move us in common purpose to the betterment of the state.  He was the leader, the start that guided our way to get us where we are today with the STI curriculum.  Senator McCoy took people under his wing and helped them into leadership roles.  He was a huge advocate and voice for all tribes.

PRO: Representative Debra Lekanoff, Prime Sponsor; Willard Bill Jr., Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Bill Kallappa, Washington State Board of Education; Paul Pitre, Washington State Board of Education; Karen Condon, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation; William Frank III, Nisqually Tribe; Jeannie McCoy; Chaynannah Squally, yeyisteblu, Nisqually; Bradley Althoff lulilaš.