Office of Tribal Relations

The Office of Tribal Relations promotes and nurtures relationships between regional Tribes and WSU. We also facilitate the Native American Advisory Board (NAAB) meetings. The NAAB meets twice a year with the University President to provide recommendations, advice, and feedback on many facets of the University that affect Native American students, faculty, academia, research, and more.

Tribal Flags displayed during a meeting
Native American Advisory Board meeting and the signing of the newest version of the Memorandum of Understanding, Friday, April 28, 2023 at the Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center in Pullman, Wash.

WSU Land Acknowledgement: Acknowledgement of America’s First Peoples

WSU Pullman is located on the homelands of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe and Palus people.

WSU Vancouver is housed on traditional Cowlitz lands.

WSU Tri-Cities is on traditional lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.

WSU Spokane on historical Spokane Tribe lands.

All of these tribes are signatory tribes of the MOU along with nine other tribes.

In 1997, Washington State University President Samuel Smith signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” (MOU) with six local American Indian tribes:  the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation in Oregon and the Kootenai, Coeur d’Alene and Nez Perce in Idaho.  In 1998, two more tribes signed the MOU:  the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, followed by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe in 2002, and the Kalispel Tribe in 2013. Most recently, the Spokane Tribe signed in November 2015, the Quinault Nation in October 2016, The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in September 2022, and Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in October 2023.

On the 25th Anniversary of the signing of the MOU, the MOU was updated and a signing ceremony took place on April 28, 2023 on the WSU Pullman campus.

The intent of the MOU is “to strengthen the relationship between the University and the Signatory Tribes at the highest levels, and to ensure Native American students are provided with intellectual, academic, cultural, and social support to cultivate a sense of belonging and nation building at WSU.” 

The complete Memorandum of Understanding can be read here.

The MOU created a Native American Advisory Board to the President and a Native American Advisory Council to the Provost, as well as the Office of Tribal Relations.  The Office of Tribal Relations provides support for these endeavors and provides assistance and coordination through the Office of the Provost for projects related to Native Americans, encouraging appropriate and responsive interaction with the tribes. Recognizing the sovereign and unique status of each tribe, WSU is committed to educational dialogue and collaboration with the tribes built on partnership and respect.

For additional information regarding the MOU or becoming signatory to the MOU, please contact us at Tribal.Relations@wsu.edu

MOU Signatory Tribes