The book highlights the University of Idaho’s Upward Bound program, a federally funded TRIO program that focuses on helping low-income, at-risk and underrepresented groups of students get access to higher education. The program’s curriculum celebrates Indigenous heritage, however it is at risk of being defunded because of federal TRIO budget cuts.
More specifically, Evan paints a lighthearted and meaningful picture of the service Upward Bound Director Isabel Bond, who died in 2022, provided to her community. Bond served as the program’s director for more than 30 years and brought together countless students and educators to create a network of connections and support.
“[Bond] is an example of a teacher who, although non-native, engaged with Indigenous culture and history as a curriculum,” Evans said.
Evans said he was first introduced to Bond by a retired school teacher of his, and this meeting is what inspired him to take a closer look at the perspectives being shared by Native American and white children learning together in the program.
He was intrigued by her obvious dedication to her students, and he was not the first person to notice. Her enthusiasm for and commitment to her students were signature traits in descriptions of Bond, both written and spoken.
Bill Picard, vice chairperson of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee, described Bond as “always concerned with how you were doing, what you were doing to better yourself, and always with a gentle hand,” in the foreword of “Teaching Native Pride.”
The book compiles personal anecdotes and memories from students who participated in Upward Bound, exploring the conjunction between education, Indigenous history and the lived experience of local students.
“I talked to anyone that would talk to me,” Evans said.
One major source of inspiration was a collection of yearbooks, including photos, writing and artwork, that Upward Bound students created annually.
One particular chapter of the book, called “Chief Joseph Trail,” is the crux of the story, Evans said. It describes students’ experiences learning about Nez Perce history on a camping trip through the Nez Perce National Historical Park.
Evans said the perception of Indigenous people in America is often inaccurate, and provided the example of his third grade teacher who taught the class that Native Americans were extinct — a claim directly at odds with Evans’ existence. Evans is a member of the Mohawk Nation, and his mother spoke the Mohawk language at home.
“Native American History is American History,” Evans said. “It is a central story to the United States. This book focuses on an educational program centered around the Nez Perce in particular and is emblematic of the need for cross-cultural understanding anywhere in the U.S.”
Spalding is a fitting place to discuss the book’s themes, as the park is a central location in the book itself. The locations where the students learned were a reflection of the history of the Nez Perce Tribe, Evans said, and they wouldn’t have been able to get this information anywhere else.
His book, Evans said, is perhaps more timely now than when it was published five years ago, particularly with the current political climate.
“This (discussion Saturday at Spalding) feels like a big deal for me, and I’m hoping that I can get the chance to talk about my experience and where I’m at now,” he said.
McCollum (she/her) enjoys spending time with her dogs, personal training and music festivals. She can be reached at anteiamccollum5@gmail.com.
