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Native American Programs Many Nations. One Community.

Letter from the Executive Director

group in front of knowledge rooms in the Cultural Center
by Barbara Aston, Executive Director of Tribal Relations

 

Life is full of beginnings and endings.  Since June, we have welcomed four new staff to Native American Programs.  This newsletter features Tony Brave, our new Outreach Coordinator, and Joelle Edwards, our new Retention Specialist.  I think that after the first of the New Year, we can drop the “new” before Tony and Joelle’s names.  From their first days on the job, they both jumped in with great enthusiasm, creativity, knowledge, and a lot of heart to reach out and serve our potential and current students.  » More …

Retirement Party Planned for Barbara Aston

Barbara Aston's Retirement Party Jan 9, 2019

 

After 31 years of dedication to WSU’s Native American community, Executive Director of Tribal Relations and Special Assistant to the Provost, Barbara Aston, is retiring from the university. A retirement party is planned for her last day January 9, 2019 at 4 pm in the Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center at 405 Southeast Spokane Street on the WSU Pullman campus.

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Nez Perce Tribe Funds WSU Native Student Ambassadors

group outside of CUB
by Faith Price, Assistant Director

 

WSU’s Native American Programs received a grant through the Nez Perce Tribe’s Local Education Program Fund for the fourth consecutive year in support of the Native American Student Ambassador Program.

Four current Native students have been hired as ambassadors to assist with outreach to prospective Native American students.  The 2018-19 ambassadors are: Jaissa Grunlose (Colville Confederated Tribes), Austin Kicking Woman (Yakama Nation), MyKel Johnson (Nez Perce), and Sara Mills (Colville Confederated Tribes). » More …

Native American Youth Sports Summit

Native Youth Sports Summit Jan 27, 2019
by Anthony Brave, Native American Outreach Coordinator

Heads up all Native athletes and basketball fans!

Native American Programs and WSU Cougar Athletics are combining powers once again to bring Native middle and high school students to campus for a college basketball game, lunch, and an informative conversation on sports opportunities at Washington State University. » More …

New Outreach Coordinator Advocates for Higher Education

by Shana Lombard, Communications Assistant

 

Anthony (Tony) Brave is settling into his new position as outreach coordinator after only being on the job for five months. Having come from another higher education institution, Brave said the transition was easy for him and he was eager to work directly with youth again.

Brave comes to WSU via The Evergreen State College where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses. He also taught classes at Northwest Indian College’s Nisqually site. Brave is a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe located in South Dakota. He earned his master’s in public administration with emphasis in tribal governance from The Evergreen State College. » More …

WSU, Pullman adopt Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Group in front of tipi on Terrell Mall
by Shana Lombard, Communications Assistant

 

On October 8, 2018, Washington State University and the city of Pullman celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day for the first time.

WSU students, staff and faculty initiated the idea for recognizing the holiday, and with their encouragement, WSU President Kirk Schulz signed a proclamation declaring the 2nd Monday of October Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the Pullman City Council passed a resolution doing the same.

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WSU Alumna Inspires at Welcome BBQ

Barbara Aston, Rebecca Miles, and Zoe Higheagle Strong
by Shana Lombard, Communications Assistant

 

Rebecca Miles, WSU alumna, encouraged WSU Native students to be bold and to not give up at this semester’s Welcome Back Barbecue in September.

“What I love about the generation today is that you’re not making any apologies in living our way of life,” Miles said.

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