Overview

Chemawa Indian School is an off-reservation residential learning environment serving American Indian and Alaska Native youths. Our students from grades 9 through 12 are engaged in rigorous academic programs designed to challenge and reward individual efforts. Through this approach, we equip our students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to make meaningful contributions to their Tribal communities and society.

On this campus, we are one. We are Chemawa, strong and proud. Our Braves will develop mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually while reaching the highest academic standards and embracing every educational opportunity. Our educational program introduces students and staff to the correct application of the latest technologies that enable student connectivity beyond school walls.

Chemawa’s campus offers a safe, culturally engaging, fun atmosphere for all students and staff. Our living and learning environment includes age-appropriate dormitories, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a full-service counseling center. Students always receive adequate protections, provisions, and support services while attending our residential program.

Chemawa’s dynamic learning process maintains the highest expectations for its students and staff, who increase and capitalize on all opportunities for growth and development. Our caring and professional staff fosters mutual respect among its diverse cultures and provides mentorship for each student. We strive to fundamentally and systematically enrich and empower our students’ lives.

Mission

Our mission is to create opportunities for Native American youth to achieve success through quality education, cultural diversity, and life skills development.

We strive to maintain the highest academic standards and foster excellent educational opportunities for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Cognizant of the diversity among American and Alaska Native cultures, Chemawa shall endeavor to preserve a safe and affirmative learning environment in which caring professional staff will demonstrate their commitment, through mutual respect and input given to decision making, as mentors and role models to each student. Chemawa will strive to fundamentally and systematically administer rigorous academic programs that will challenge and reward both students and staff and facilitate the transformation of individual effort and enthusiasm into knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to make choices that enrich life, enabling each person to become positive contributors to their respective Tribal communities and society as a whole.

Chemawa fully acknowledges the learning process as "dynamic" and will continually attempt to maintain higher levels of expectations for its students and staff, affording each a diverse opportunity for meaningful growth and development. The impetus of Chemawa will be the sound use of all resources and the application of "leading edge" technologies, enabling student connectivity beyond the boundaries of school walls. Chemawa shall afford each student an opportunity to achieve his/her full potential as a shared success between themselves, parents/guardians, and our community.

Vision

Our vision is a united community embracing tradition and empowering students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in an ever-changing world.

Principal’s Message

Dear Chemawa Community! 

As an educator and principal, my primary commitment is empowering every student to thrive. True success extends beyond academic achievement -- it encompasses personal growth, social development, and overall well-being.  Because success is deeply personal and unique to each individual, our mission at Chemawa is to equip students with the tools, confidence, and knowledge to confidently step through whichever doors lead to their personal goals.

Our faculty and staff hold high expectations for all students.  We actively dismantle barriers to learning to ensure equitable access to our educational programs. Every policy and procedure implemented prioritizes student safety while maintaining a warm, inclusive and home-like atmosphere.

Student engagement is central to our educational approach. At Chemawa, we foster an active learning environment through innovative teaching methods, integrated technology, and hands on experiential learning. We value student voice and choice, meeting monthly with Student Council to address concerns, gather feedback, and engage in positive solution-based problem solving.  To help students discover their passions, we continually strive to expand our practical hands-on offerings, including:

• Culinary Arts and Textiles
• Agriculture and Environmental Studies
• Automotive and Metalwork

Strong, positive relationships are the foundation of student achievement. Through our wrap-around student support, in collaboration with Indian Health Service School Based Health Center next door, we build trusting staff-student connections that encourage students to take academic risks, seek guidance and build resilience.  By recognizing each student's unique strengths and challenges, we tailor our support services to maximize individual potential.

Thank you for choosing Chemawa and trusting our team with your child's education.  We invite you to stay connected with us throughout the year -- whether by attending our monthly virtual parent open forums, joining parent-teacher conferences (in person or virtually) or visiting our beautiful campus.  We look forward to partnering with you in your child's educational journey.

Amanda Ward 
Principal