News and Updates

The Office of Tribal Relations would like to recognize that Monday, February 12, 2024 was the 50th anniversary of the Boldt Decision. This ruling was monumental for Washington state Tribes affirming their treaty-protected right to fish on their traditional lands. For information on the Boldt Decision and its lasting impact, we recommend the following resources as a starting point. For a deep dive into the history and ongoing impact of this watershed ruling, check out “Treaty Justice: The Northwest Tribes,…

Please join us for the 53rd Annual Spring Powwow, hosted by the First Nations at UW. A powwow is a celebration of Native American culture, and all are welcome to attend. There will be food, vendors (jewelry, crafts, and apparel etc.), as well as dancing, drumming, and singing. The powwow is organized by students but was made possible with the support of the community, UW staff and alumni, as well as donors and others who made significant contributions. We hope…

Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which will be on Monday, October 9th, is a time to celebrate and lift up native peoples; past, present and future. It is also a day to take action to demonstrate support for and solidarity with Tribal Nations and indigenous communities. The Office of Tribal Relations has pulled together the following list of resources for more information on the day and why it is significant. This is a starting point for learning and not an exhaustive list….

In a joint effort with the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, the Office of Tribal Relations has developed a new workshop for UW faculty and staff on land acknowledgements. The workshop consists of four lessons designed to serve as background context for understanding the many contextual factors of land acknowledgments. As many meetings, gatherings and important functions at the University of Washington begin with land acknowledgments, UW employees are encouraged to enroll in this optional self-paced learning opportunity to…

Today we mourn the loss and celebrate the life of former Washington State Senator John McCoy (D – Tulalip). Senator McCoy was one of the longest-serving Native legislators in Washington state history and a true champion and advocate for Tribal Sovereignty, public education, environmental protections, and human rights. Senator McCoy served in the state House from 2003 to 2013 and then in the state Senate from 2013 until his resignation in April 2020. He was a fearless leader for Indian…

Native American Student Day On March 17th at the Intellectual House, Sherri Berdine helped to open and welcome prospective students to the annual Native American Student Day. Native American Student Day is one-day conference for American Indian/Alaska Native high school students who are interested in attending the University of Washington Seattle. NASD was created to encourage Native students to pursue higher education as well as give them the opportunity to experience the UW.   Intellectual House Phase II Planning Efforts…

The UW community is invited to the following events in support of and solidarity with native communities. Jesintel: Living Wisdom From Coast Salish Elders Book launch and reception Monday, April 17th 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. UW Intellectual House Missing Murdered Indigenous People’s Forum Friday, May 5, 2023 9:00 to 11 a.m. Virtual event Register: https://forms.gle/1r3zsAZ4WHiL57z89

The College of Arts & Sciences feature Tribal Relations Director Sherri Berdine in their January Perspectives newsletter. The full story can be found here.