{"id":25,"date":"2025-07-14T18:46:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T18:46:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/?page_id=25"},"modified":"2026-01-08T14:24:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T23:24:44","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The primary purpose of the Charter is to advance a quality education for children and youth that is grounded in Indigenous culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The following information is to provide further clarity to the primary purpose of the Charter. The Kenaitze Indian Tribe\u2019s vision is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To assure Kahtnuht\u2019ana Dena\u2019ina thrive forever.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And mission:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>By 2033, the Kahtnuht\u2019ana Dena\u2019ina have enhanced and strengthened the prosperity, health, and culture of their people and Tribe.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Traditional Values of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe help define the Kenaitze people and assure the future. Translated from Dena\u2019ina, these values are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Naq\u2019eltani \u2013 \u201cGreat Spirit, Creator, Pure Love, Pure Truth\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ts\u2019itsatna \u2013 \u201cancestors\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Yinihugheltani \u2013 \u201cone\u2019s spirit\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Qiz\u2019unch\u2019 \u2013 \u201cthe right way, the truth\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ada \u2013 \u201ccare, concern, tenderness\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nadesnaqa \u2013 \u201cour Elders\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nagh\u2019ut dalts\u2019ina \u2013 \u201cour neighbors\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ch\u2019anikna \u2013 \u201cchildren\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nanutset \u2013 \u201cour history, before our time\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nakenagh \u2013 \u201cbackground, lineage\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Henu \u2013 \u201cwork, job, task\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nudnelyahi ch\u2019u qeneshi \u2013 \u201cplants and animals\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Daggeyi \u2013 \u201cfellowship\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ey\u2019uh qats\u2019dalts\u2019iyi \u2013 \u201csubsistence, living upon the outdoors\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Na\u2019ini \u2013 \u201cstrength, courage, sobriety, humility\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Naghe\u0142\u2019a \u2013 \u201cour honesty\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chiqinik \u2013 \u201cthank you\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1014\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/01\/Traditional-Values-Wheel-2021-7.5-200dpi-1-1014x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/01\/Traditional-Values-Wheel-2021-7.5-200dpi-1-1014x1024.png 1014w, https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/01\/Traditional-Values-Wheel-2021-7.5-200dpi-1-297x300.png 297w, https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/01\/Traditional-Values-Wheel-2021-7.5-200dpi-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/01\/Traditional-Values-Wheel-2021-7.5-200dpi-1-768x776.png 768w, https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/01\/Traditional-Values-Wheel-2021-7.5-200dpi-1-495x500.png 495w, https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/01\/Traditional-Values-Wheel-2021-7.5-200dpi-1.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The mission and vision of the Tribe will be reflected in the charter school&#8217;s purpose and unique approach to education including the school\u2019s mission, vision, and goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The school will constitute a unique blend of educational options for families that will draw from Alaska Native and American Indian cultural learnings and ways. Our charter school will strive to provide culturally rich curricular options for students in environments that respect and honor indigenous students and their families. The school will build a solid foundation of culturally responsive education programs that will be offered through several options including on-site learning, experiential and place-based learning, and at-home and community partnerships. The school will strive to offer culture-rich education opportunities throughout all programs. Students will have access to supplemental enrichment and educational opportunities on and off the school\u2019s campus to support all those enrolled in our programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Charter\u2019s school name, mission, vision, and goals:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The name of the school will be Tu\u0142en Charter School, which is Dena\u2019ina for \u201cthe current is flowing\u201d or \u201cthe river will flow\u201d. This name demonstrates the value of the Kenai River to the Kenaitze people and symbolizes the flowing of knowledge, culture, language, and values to our students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Vision:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our vision is to be a beacon for educational excellence and cultural pride for the Kenai Peninsula. We envision a school where the richness of Dena\u2019ina cultural heritage is interwoven into every aspect of learning, fostering a deep sense of belonging, pride, and self-confidence. We strive to develop resilient, culturally grounded individuals who are prepared to lead and inspire positive change within our community and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mission:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To provide a culturally based, academically rigorous education that empowers duhdeldihen (\u201cstudents\u201d) to succeed in today\u2019s world by embracing Dena\u2019ina traditional values, language, culture, and to develop responsible community members who are critical thinkers, compassionate, and committed to living the Dena\u2019ina culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Goals:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To address historical and intergenerational trauma by empowering Dena\u2019ina practices that foster healing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrate Dena\u2019ina language, values and culture into the school curriculum starting in the first academic year with ongoing assessments and adjustments to ensure effective learning of these three components.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recruit and train qualified instructors to become language speakers in Dena\u2019ina, develop language learning resources, and establish regular language practice and cultural activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Foster a strong sense of identity and pride rooted in Dena\u2019ina cultural traditions and values through engagement of families and community partners.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Develop and implement place-based learning curriculum that incorporates traditional ecological knowledge, outdoor and experiential learning, and environmental stewardship activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide an academically rigorous education through the utilization of integrated STEAM activities and curriculum.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintain small class sizes that emphasize relationship based practices where the curriculum meets the student.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Implement on-going student progress monitoring assessments to inform instruction and make data-informed decisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Establish an intergenerational mentorship model where students provide guidance to peers to create a sense of community and support while developing leadership skills for all students.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The primary purpose of the Charter is to advance a quality education for children and youth that is grounded in Indigenous culture. The following information is to provide further clarity [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-25","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":540,"href":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25\/revisions\/540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/tulen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}