INTELLECTUAL HOUSE & UW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Short Talks: Home
Thurs. Jan. 28, 2021 6:30 p.m.
Online
Finding place in your ancestral lands, your family, wherever you are.
Tyson Johnston (Quinault), Vice President, Quinault Indian Nation
Dian Million (Tanana Athabascan), Associate Professor and Chair, American Indian Studies, UW
Gena Peone, ’08 (Spokane), Archivist, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
Robin Little Wing Sigo, ’06 (Suquamish), Treasurer, Suquamish Tribe
MODERATOR: Casey Wynecoop, ’16 (Spokane), Assistant Director, wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House, UW
In celebration of the five-year anniversary of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House, four Native American Huskies share their personal stories of what “home” means to them. Originally scheduled to take place in 2020, Short Talks welcomes our speakers to the digital stage this winter.
A live Q&A will take place after the presentations.
lllustration: Emma Noyes, ’11, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Registration is free, but advance registration is required.
Tyson Johnston
Quinault Indian Nation. UW Alumnus. Nation Builder. Spirit Scientist. A lil’ magical. Brother/Sister. Two-Spirited Role-keeper. Indigenously, Unapologetically, Humorous. Justice Seeker. Truth Teller. Love>Hate. Tribal Sovereignty all day everyday.
Tyson Johnston is the elected Vice President of the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) and has been a member of the legislative body for 10 years. Tyson’s legislative and policy advocacy has been centered on restorative justice, tribal self-governance, education reform, community development, food sovereignty, technology advancement and natural resources policy at the local, state, and national levels.
Dian Million
Poet, Intense Dreamer, River Girl, Queer, Sister, Lover, Friend. Working for Indigenous world order, working for Indigenous felt theory.
Dian Million (Tanana Athabascan) is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of American Indian Studies, and affiliate faculty in Canadian Studies and the Comparative History of Ideas Program at UW Seattle. She is the author of “Therapeutic Nations: Healing in an Age of Indigenous Human Rights” as well as numerous articles, chapters, and poems. Dr. Million centers her work on questions arising from the effect/affect of capitalism/settler colonialism on Indigenous family and community health in North America.
Gena Peone, ’08
Spokane Tribe. Collector. Planner. Answer seeker. Collaborator. Mother. Daughter. Granddaughter. Powered by ancestors. Concerned for humanity. Advocate for sovereignty. Challenger of the conventional. Hoping for the best.
Gena Peone is the archivist for the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Certificate in Museum Studies from the UW.
Robin Little Wing Sigo, ’06
Suquamish. Mother. Researcher of Love. Healer. Storyteller. Meme Dealer. Sovereign Style. Nonprofit Unicorn. Social Worker. Feminist. Hugger. Overthinker. Connection Seeker.
Robin Little Wing Sigo is the Suquamish Tribal Council Treasurer and Suquamish Foundation Director. She leads the Suquamish government’s Research & Strategic Development Department. Most importantly, she is a mom to four children and auntie to every kid she meets. She holds an undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Western Washington University and a master’s degree in Social Work from the UW, and she dreams of a Ph.D.
Moderator: Casey Wynecoop, ’16
Spokane Tribal member. Queer/cis/masculine. Queen of the Longhouse. Activist. Space taker. Karaoke boss. Humorist. Efficient. Atheist. Anti-fascist. Louise Belcher. Art lover. But not all art.
Casey Wynecoop is a Spokane tribal member currently serving as the Assistant Director of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House at the UW. He believes in upholding tribal sovereignty, equity for queer and trans folks, experiencing and supporting the arts, and fighting fascism and white supremacy.
Enhance your Home experience with a meal from Off the Rez Café
UW alum owned, Off the Rez Café, is located in the new Burke Museum building on the UW campus. Their menu features traditional frybread and indian tacos, chili, wild rice bowls and more. You can order online for pick up and delivery!
ABOUT THE SERIES: UWAA is the proud producer of the Short Talks series, which collaborates with campus partners to present an intimate evening of storytelling, discovery and community. Four featured speakers share their experience within a suggested topic. Subject matters are broad, conversations are personal, and the end result is a night you won’t forget.
