Category: Author Biographies

I have grown up in Washington my whole life, mostly on the Kitsap Peninsula. I spent most of my childhood playing soccer or exploring the many lakes and hikes that are abundant in this part of the state. Because of my experiences outdoors while growing up, I chose my major based on the fact that I feel I will be able to protect the environment around me. By studying Civil engineering I hope to change the way infrastructure is built and designed, taking into consideration the effects on the environment as a primary concern. I have also chosen to minor in American Indian Studies to possibly help fight for land rights being threatened by large companies. Currently, I am a junior lead for the University of Washington’s concrete canoe team. By working on the side projects for this club, I am able to express my creativity while physically building and creating part of our final product.

I was born in Woodinville, WA and lived there until I began attending the University of Washington. During High School, I was fortunate enough to be involved in the Running Start program and thus will be graduating this year with a double major in Political Science and History. After graduation, I plan on attending the University’s Masters in the Teaching program and eventually teaching high school social studies or history. As a first-generation student, I learned the vital role that secondary education plays in your future and I would like to continue to give back to an institution that has given me so much. On-campus I am actively involved in my sorority Sigma Kappa, the UW political science honor society, and the pre-law fraternity. I additionally work for the UW Libraries as staff for all of the smaller libraries where I currently work at the Foster Business Library. Outside of school, I enjoy running, hiking, cooking, skiing, yoga, and generally spending time outside.

I am a Junior pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in History, with a minor in Indigenous Studies from the University of British Columbia (UBCO). Currently, I am on a full-year exchange to the University of Washington (UW) through the GoGlobal program. Also, as a recipient of the Colbett Fellowship–which fosters educational connections throughout the west coast of Canada and the United States–my intention, as I study at UW, is to explore the contrasting teachings of North American History between these two post-secondary institutions. Additionally, my hope is that, through my studies in both History and Indigenous Studies, I will complete my Bachelor’s Degree with an intersectional knowledge of history and better understand my place within it. After completing this degree, I intend to continue my education by pursuing an MA and PhD in North American Indigenous History. 

Outside of schooling, I have spent the majority of my time restoring a vintage 1980 Bluebird Transport Bus into an affordable tiny-home. This bus, nicknamed “Peppermint”, originated from the Northern Saskatchewan Uranium Mines–which was founded on the unceded territory of the Nêhiyawak (Plains Cree). After three-years of effort, Peppermint has finally been fully restored and renovated into a home which comfortably live four; she is complete with two queen-size beds, a full-sized bathroom, and a generous kitchen and dining room. Currently, Peppermint is in the process of being rehomed to a single mother from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, who intends to travel across Canada with her three children. 

Wáy, x̌ast sx̌əlx̌ʕalt. Iskʷist Snaʕchups. 

Hello, good day. My name is Shyanne. My family is part of the Colville Confederated Tribes, and we are Okanagan Sylix. I am currently a Senior at the University of Washington, pursuing a degree in Political Science, and minoring in American Indian Studies. After I graduate from UW, my plan is to enroll in law school. I’m extremely interested in civil law, particularly in how government policies impact minority groups or politically-weakened population groups.

During my time at UW, I have been part of a research group under the guidance of Manuhuia Barcham which studied how and why Indigenous people experience higher rates of homelessness, as well as what help is needed for Indigenous people in the Greater Seattle Area facing homelessness. During this time, I worked with a group called Mother Nation to understand how their organization worked with Indigenous women and their families using cultural healing practices to better their lives. In the future, I’d love to become more involved in policy making in order to help groups that are historically ignored, forgotten, or actively weakened by previous decades of oppression. 

Outside of politics, I’m also extremely interested in history and pursue learning more history as a hobby. I find learning the past extremely valuable when it comes to making future decisions, and love learning more from previous leaders.

I grew up on the Puyallup Tribe Reservation in Tacoma, Washington but I am a member of the Navajo Nation. My family resides across Washington, New Mexico and Arizona.  I earned my high school diploma at Curtis Senior High School. This is my second year here at the University of Washington, I am studying History and American Indian Studies. I plan on working in the education system, primarily with an emphasis on Indigenous students. I currently work at a  preschool in Seattle for the program Jumpstart. I enjoy working with a diverse population of students and helping them achieve early learning. Last year I had the opportunity to spend my whole spring break in Neah Bay, Washington on the Makah reservation. There I worked on a video project about careers on the Makah Reservation with 5th Grade Students at Neah Bay Elementary School. I also had the opportunity to visit the Makah Cultural Museum, attend a community dinner and learn more about the Makah Peoples culture. That short trip is what also inspired me to continue to work towards a degree that has an emphasis on teaching and mentoring.

Our Indigneous Leader is Whina Cooper. She is Te Rarawa Maori. We chose her as our Indigenous Leader because she represents an Indigenous woman who is not afraid to defy the social norms of a lady and used her activism as a way to support her people’s land.

 

My name is Evelyn Mikayla Martin. My Indian name is Stewaakí. My pronouns are she/her, they/them. I am Squamish, Comanche and Blackfeet. I identify the most as being a Blackfeet woman because of growing up nearer to the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana and have been captured and inducted into Blackfeet religious societies when I was a child.  I am a member of the Crazy Dog Society.  Browning, Montana is where I have grown up attending the sun dance and many sacred bundle openings. Many of the teachings and stories I carry with me throughout my life have come from these ceremonies.

I am a junior at the University of Washington, double majoring in American Indian Studies and Gender Women Sexuality Studies. One of my goals is to make an effort to Indigenize coursework and the educational experience for Native women in academia. Allowing them to incorporate and apply their cultural knowledge and teachings to their scholarship resulting in the creation of a safer/more inclusive environment for Native women and girls within the institution of education.

I teach K-3 art classes at the Muckleshoot Childhood Development Center and I am a mentor for the Educational Opportunity Program through the Office of Minority and Diversity Affairs.

I am a poet and visual artist, I am passionate about the process of decolonizing modes of thinking and ways of being, and it is important to me to stay active and organize.

My name is David Dewey. I was born and raised in southern California and I received my high school diploma from Sage Hill School. I have recently moved up to Seattle full time to complete my schooling.  Currently a sophomore at the University of Washington, I am planning on studying Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. Space has always fascinated me so I am excited to get a chance to learn more about it and what we have done as humans to push the boundaries while here at the school.  I would love to work in the private sector of the space industries for companies like Space X or Boeing after I finish my studies.

Sports have been a large part of my life since I was a child. I grew up playing soccer and football, and I am now apart of the University of Washington boxing team. I have not yet had any bouts, but am excited to begin shortly. I also love to travel and have been to many places around the globe like Nepal and Norway, and I plan on travelling much more after college.

 

Hau Mitakuyepi. I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and am currently a third year undergrad at the University of Washington. My major is Linguistics and my minor is in American Indian Studies. I am Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota on my maternal side and Tlingit on my paternal side.   I aspire to assist tribes in language and culture preservation. So far, I have studied German, French, and am currently learning Japanese and hope to learn many more, especially my Native languages of Tlingit and Dakota. I am especially intrigued by the intersection of culture and language, and how these two shape worldview in relation to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Gunalchéesh.

I am a freshman student at the University of Washington. I am currently studying Law and Social Justice as well as Public Health. I hope to work in a field where I may help others and create conversation. I am most passionate about politics and medicine.

I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Mount Vernon, Washington. I find it very interesting to learn about the history of Hawaii and the sovereignty of the Hawaiian peoples. I received my high school diploma from Mount Vernon High School and concurrently received my two-year diploma from Skagit Valley College through Running Start. Music has been an outlet for me since the fourth grade. In high school, my choir program performed at Kennedy Center and the bands performed at Carnegie Hall. I was a member of Percussion, String Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, and various Choirs. I have continued with vocal work through University of Washington’s theater programs.

Originally from the state of Washington, I grew up in Spokane where I attended a small high school of three-hundred students. I am in my fourth year at the University of Washington, and am studying History with a minor in Military Science. Despite my major, I will be applying to Optometry School in the summer of 2018.

Partaking in Army ROTC since my freshman year, I tend to keep pretty busy with training and classes. Woodworking, automotive work, hiking, hunting and fishing are just some of the things that I enjoy doing in my spare time. I also am in the process of restoring a 1974 Volkswagen Bus to its former glory as a camper. Learning to expand my world of thinking is something that I have really enjoyed while taking this class!