Over 100 Native American youth, young adults and tribal educational leaders attended the University of Washington’s “Native Pathways to College Day” at the Olympic National Resources Center (ONRC) in Forks, Wash., on March 20.
The event was a collaborative effort between the UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D), the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute (IWRI) and ONRC of the School of the Environmental and Forest Sciences. Similar events have been offered by OMA&D Recruitment and Outreach in Eastern Washington, but this marked the first program held on the Olympic Peninsula.
Attendees represented the Hoh, Jameston S’Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Makah, Quileute and Quinault nations.
The day’s events began with a welcome song offered by eight Quileute high school students. Quileute tribal elder, Beverly Loudon, also gave a welcome. The ONRC sits on land that was historically claimed by the Quileute tribe.
Attendees participated in several activities including ice-breakers and college admission breakout sessions for traditional and transfer students. A panel discussion was held that featured six Native alumni and current students who talked about their experiences at UW. The group even explored technology with a “SKYPE” conversation with a Ph.D. candidate who shared her experiences and motivation for attending college.
The event was featured in the Forks Forum and Peninsula Daily News.
SPONSORS:
- Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, Student Recruitment & Outreach, Tribal Relations represented by Tommy Segundo and Ross Braine
- School of Social Work, Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, Native Youth Enrichment Program represented by Polly Olsen and Anastasia Ramey
- College of the Environment, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Olympic Natural Resources Center represented by Tom Hinckley, Ellen Matheny, Theresa Santman, Deric Kettel, Kathy Heuring, Ernesto Alvarado, Michelle Trudeau and Graduate Students Spus Wilder and Jeromie Gritts
VISITING DEPARTMENTS:
- UW School of Medicine, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Native American Center of Excellence, U-DOC High School Program represented by Vicki Pinkham, Felicity Abeyta Hendrix, and Mahret Alem Worku
- Foster School of Business, Undergraduate Diversity Services, Young Executives of Color represented by Jennifer Rance
- UW Office of Admissions, Transfer Specialist, Jill Dalinkus
- UW School of Law, Native American Law Student Association 3rd Year Law Student Jody Olney
- UW-Bothell Office of Admissions, Transfer Specialist, Bethany Robinson
- Northwest Indian College, “Growing Our Own” Native American Students and Faculty represented by Chelsea Ross
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Environmental and Occupational Hygiene PhD Student Clarita Lefthand-Begay