Bringing culture into education.

By: Eryn Peterson

Brenda Brainard is the program director of the Natives Program for the 4j School District. She is a tribal member of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.

Brenda defeated the odds as a child growing up on the reservation by receiving higher education and she gives it back through serving the Native youth in Eugene, Oregon. She and her husband, Joe Brainard, have been running this program for 20 years.