News Briefs – Wings Fall-Winter 2024

Native American elders being honored this year (2024) include (clockwise from top left) Warren Cloud, Carol Craig, Esther Moses-Hyipeer and Elmer Schuster

November is Native American Heritage Month. Each year, Heritage University kicks off its celebration by honoring four Yakama elders for their lifetime contributions to their communities. This year we recognize Warren Cloud, Esther Moses- Hyipeer, Carol Craig, and Elmer Schuster.

WARREN CLOUD, LUXKULKIST dedicated his life to hard work, always using his hands to ensure the job got done. As a trucker, he transported fruit from the fields to the processing center, ensuring that families received nourishing food. As a logger, he carefully brought trees from the forest to help build homes. He worked tirelessly as a heavy equipment operator to keep waterways flowing, providing essential water for crops and animals to thrive. When the call came for him to serve as a tribal leader for the Yakama Nation, Warren answered with a heartfelt “yes.” As the Yakama Nation General Council Chairman, he leads with a deep respect for tradition and a steadfast commitment to safeguarding the principles of the Treaty of 1855. Warren’s leadership embodies a legacy of service and devotion to his community, inspiring others to honor their heritage and work together for a brighter future.

“TALEETS” ESTHER MOSES-HYIPEER grew up deeply rooted in her culture, surrounded by the rich stories and history of those who came before her. From an early age, she learned the importance of gathering and preserving the traditional foods. From the medicine men in her family line, she learned to nurture her community with instilled values. These lessons would guide her throughout her life. Her unwavering commitment to the Yakama people shines through her work across various entities, including the Yakama Nation Tribal School, Higher Education, and the Language Program; the Yakama Nation Gaming Commission; and the Yakama Nation Tribal Council. Taleets has led impactful initiatives that honor veterans, provide transitional housing for homeless families, and tackle the challenges of drug and alcohol addiction. Additionally, she’s led the call for tribal healthcare programs to work together to address the holistic mental and physical health of individuals and families. In every endeavor, she carries the wisdom of her elders and the principles of the Treaty of 1855, allowing their teachings to illuminate her path of service. Taleets embodies the spirit of community and resilience, inspiring those around her to uphold their heritage and support one another.

CAROL CRAIG NUKSHÁY XWÁAMI is a storyteller and educator devoted to sharing the truths of Native people, the environment, and treaty rights. Her impactful work at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and Yakama Nation Fish and Wildlife has raised awareness of tribal efforts to restore dwindling salmon runs while educating non-tribal communities about the significance of the fishing rights granted to the Yakama people through the Treaty of 1855. As a reporter for the Yakama Nation Review, Carol ensures her community has access to honest and accurate information about issues that affect their lives. Her unwavering commitment to her people and the environment fosters a deeper understanding of their heritage and rights. Carol’s work empowers her community and inspires future generations to honor and protect these vital connections.

ELMER SCHUSTER, TOMIITH’S life’s work has left an indelible mark on the landscape and the people of the Yakima Valley. A skilled carpenter since the 1960s, he has helped construct vital infrastructure, including highway overpasses that facilitate the movement of people and goods, and irrigation dams that ensure the flow of precious water to the crops that nourish our nation. Moreover, he has helped craft longhouses that preserve cultural traditions through meaningful ceremonies and constructed youth camps that foster lifelong memories and impart invaluable lessons. Under his leadership at the Yakama Nation Housing Authority, he led the teams that built the homes that shelter hundreds of tribal members, providing a foundation for community growth and resilience. Elmer’s contributions are not just physical structures; they are enduring symbols of strength, tradition, and hope for future generations.

The four elders were each featured in ads that ran in the Yakama Nation Review and were honored during a special ceremony at the university on November 6. This is the tenth year that Heritage has honored Native American elders. Portraits of all of the recipients are on a permanent display in the Violet Lumley Rau Center.

The story of the impact of higher education is frequently told through the lens of students—the personal changes that come through more opportunities, the increased earning potential throughout their lifetimes, and the generational impact as children of college graduates are more likely to earn degrees and access the benefits of doing so. The story that isn’t told as frequently is the community impact made through college attainment.

Spring semester 2024 was the start of a new graduate degree program at Heritage. The Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling began as a direct response from schools and community health agencies needing more master’s-level practitioners from diverse backgrounds. The stories of the agencies involved, their employees earning their   degrees, the people they serve, and the existing need embody the value of higher education to communities at large.

THE NEED IS VAST

Like so many communities large and small across the United States, the greater Seattle region is grappling with a social crisis. Drug addiction, particularly to opioids, is on the rise, with the number of overdoses more than doubling between 2020 and 2023.

Homelessness is up, too. The Unsheltered Point-in-Time Count conducted by King County this year showed the number of homeless individuals rose by 23% in the last two years. Statewide, it’s estimated that more than 1.2 million adults have a mental health condition, with more than half of these people unable to receive treatment.

It’s easy to look at statistics like these and forget that behind the numbers are very real people suffering. They are some of the communities’ most vulnerable individuals in desperate need of assistance. Yet that assistance can be difficult to access. There is a real shortage of service providers. It’s estimated that 2.8 million Washingtonians live in communities without adequate access to mental health care. Plus, internal factors, such as the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction, cultural beliefs, and inadequate or no health insurance make many people in need of assistance reluctant to seek it. Further complicating the issue is a lack of diversity in the mental health and dependency workforce. Nationally, only 12% of mental health counselors are people of color.

Genell Hennings, director of education enhancement programs at the YMCA in King County, who worked closely with Heritage as the university developed its master’s degree program, explains that this lack of representation is a critical barrier.

“People who are seeking therapy want to see people who look like them, who can identify with them,” she said. “There is a level of trust that comes when we are sitting across from someone who shares our cultural background. When I am coming to you as a Black woman, I don’t want to have to explain my Blackness. A Black provider will be able to identify with me. We are all more comfortable when we are with others who share our cultural norms.”

That trust, she said, is crucial. It’s difficult to build and maintain. If a person seeking treatment has a negative experience, the chances of that individual seeking or accepting help in the future are diminished, as are their chances of conquering their demons.

She further explains that community mental health, which predominately serves people who are low-income and on Medicaid, operates by assigning those seeking services to a provider. This makes building and maintaining that trust much more difficult. The ability to choose a provider that you are comfortable working with is a luxury reserved for those who can pay out of pocket for services or who have private-pay insurance.

RESPONDING TO THE NEED

Donnie Goodman, Executive Director of Behavioral Health Services at the YMCA of Greater Seattle, conceptualized this program in 2008. In 2022, a King County MIDD (Mental Illness & Drug Dependency) funding opportunity presented itself that aligned with the program’s mission of increasing capacity in community behavioral health. Goodman and Hennings worked with leaders from multiple community behavioral health agencies to create this program that focuses on encouraging individuals from historically marginalized groups – specifically people of color, those living with a disability, and members of the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC community— who are working in mental health and chemical dependency to return to school to earn a master’s degree. The program would pay for the students’ college tuition in exchange for their agreement to remain at their place of employment to provide therapeutic care for at least four years after graduating. At the same time, Heritage was building a new master’s degree program in mental health counseling. The university later received a $6 million grant from the US Department of Education to create a program that would prepare students to become licensed mental health counselor-associates in Washington state and increase the number of mental health professionals working in area school districts. The program was being designed with working professionals in mind, with classes being held synchronously one day a week. Like the YMCA’s developing program, its intent was to prepare underrepresented students to enter the field to diversify their profession.

“We know that our Yakima Valley community, as well as others across the state, are desperately in need of mental health providers. This is especially true for folks who are either uninsured or on state insurance – it’s an equity issue,” said Amy Nusbaum, chair of the Department of Psychology. “Our proposed solution was to create a new and innovative partnership that would address the urgent mental health needs that adversely impact our communities across the state.”

The timing was perfect! The YMCA secured grant funding to support their program for two years and partnered with Heritage to provide the hybrid online master’s degree program. The first cohort of 23 students from six agencies (Catholic Community Services, Center for Human Services, Community House, Therapeutic Health Services, and Transitional Resources YMCA of Greater Seattle) started classes in January 2023. Among them are Deidre Smith, Kenny Smith (no relation to Deidre) and Jungwon Yoon. While each enrolled in the program for different reasons, all three are committed to serving their clients and communities more deeply after graduating.

ON THE FRONT LINE

Deidre Smith

Deidre is a substance use disorder professional at the YMCA Social Impact Center in Auburn, Washington. The center provides wraparound services for youth and young adults, including counseling, employment training, educational support, and a shelter, as well as counseling and suicide prevention for individuals of all ages. Smith provides outpatient substance abuse counseling to a caseload of 30-45 people. She decided to enroll in the master’s program to get the credentials she needs to serve her clients’ mental health as well as addiction treatment needs.

“So many of my clients have dual disorders and need mental health therapy along with their dependency treatment. The way my license is now, I have to hand them off to someone else to provide mental health counseling. That creates another barrier for them. Trust is not easy in this field. When I hand them off, they have to build trust with someone else and tell their story to someone else again. I want to be able to serve them holistically,” she said.

Kenny is a co-occurring disorder mental health clinician at Catholic Community Services in Seattle. He works with many homeless individuals through two different shelters and with people living in a permanent supportive housing facility. He knows firsthand what his clients are going through. Their road is one that he walked for many years.

“I’m transparent with my clients. I tell them, ‘I was where you are, man. If I can do this, you can do this.’ It gives them a sense of motivation, I tell them it is a rough road, but if you stick with it, you can make it.

Kenny Smith

“A lot of them are pulling your chain and telling you what they think you want to hear. I know because that is what I used to do. But it is important that we don’t give up on them because, eventually, the one pulling the chain will want to be saved.

“I’m in the master’s degree program because I want the training and the information that comes with it. I have no plans to become a manager. I’m a boots-on-the-ground guy.”

Yoon is a clinical manager working at the Catholic Community Services Matt Talbott Center in the Belltown region of Seattle. The center provides recovery and treatment services for individuals who experience challenges with substance abuse, mental health and homelessness. Her program serves nearly 100 people, a majority of which are engaged in intensive outpatient treatment. “The opposite of addiction isn’t recovery,” she said. “The opposite of addiction is connection.”

Yoon explains that, for many of their clients, the center is their community. Church is held there on Sundays, and community events take place there throughout the year.

“They are very protective of us,” she said. “When there was a week of unrest near us a few years back, our clients surrounded the center and protected it.

“When we see people using substances are sleeping in our back alley, we feed them and give them water, and we tell them, ‘maybe, one day, we will see you at our front door.

Jungwon Yoon

“For us, it’s not just about getting them to stop taking drugs. It’s about helping them thrive, reunite with their families, and being happy. Everyone deserves to be happy. I think this is why people love our place and have such a sense of ownership.

Yoon’s goal is to bolster further the forms of treatment and services offered by Matt Talbot Center after she earns her master’s degree.

THE IMPACT MULTIPLIED

Deidre, Kenny, and Yoon’s stories demonstrate the bigger picture. They are just three people in a cohort of 23 in this first class alone. This fall, a second cohort of 18 students from an additional five agencies (Asian Counseling and Referral Services, Consejo Counseling Services, Evergreen Health, Vine Maple Place and WAPI Community Services) started the program. Another 25 students are expected next year. In just three years, 66 master’s-level mental health practitioners from diverse backgrounds will be in the field in the King County area working with thousands of vulnerable community members.

On top of these numbers are the Yakima Valley students who are not part of the YMCA grant program. The first cohort of these students started attending classes in person on the Toppenish campus this fall. Future classes will enroll annually, and in two years, a steady stream of graduates will start filling vacancies in area schools and community health agencies where, like their western Washington counterparts, they will work with people with the greatest need for assistance.

This is the impact of higher education on communities!

When Heritage opened its doors a little over 40 years ago, the diversity of the professional community in the Yakima Valley didn’t reflect the communities they served. In communities where most of the population was culturally Hispanic, Latinx, or Mexican, few teachers, social workers, business leaders, and other professionals shared that culture. With more than 11,000 graduates, we are seeing some demographic changes. But there is still a lot of work to be done.

Judi Montes

Today’s Heritage University student is tomorrow’s community leader. They are the change-makers. Here are a few of their stories.

Sophomore and criminal justice major Judi Montes is not just preparing to be a community leader; she is one already. As a dedicated volunteer and organizer in her hometown of Granger, Washington, Montes is actively involved in the Chamber of Commerce and Granger Lions Club. She has helped organize and volunteered at initiatives such as the local schools’ PTO, holiday parades, and the annual Cherry Festival. After raising three daughters, she is pursuing her dream of earning a college degree to further contribute to her beloved community.

Granger is a small agricultural town with a population of under 4,000, predominantly Hispanic. In this tight-knit community, residents rely on each other to solve problems and support one another. Montes’s journey from a single mom to a community organizer reflects this spirit.

“Everything started with my daughters,” Montes explains. “As a single mom, I was determined to help my daughters succeed. I volunteered for their schools and enrolled them in sports, always helping with whatever activities they were involved in.”

Her commitment to her children led her to the Inspire Development Center, where she became one of the most active volunteers. Her involvement was so significant that she was invited to Washington, D.C., to discuss the importance of early learning programs for migrant families with legislators. “It was fascinating to see the national efforts to secure funding for these centers,” she recalls.

As her engagement deepened, Montes recognized that her community faced challenges beyond those she encountered through her children’s activities. After starting a full-time job at Inspire, her activism intensified. She interacted with many families and began understanding her community’s broader issues, including immigration problems and neighborhood safety concerns.

“People often come to me and share the challenges they’re facing, whether it’s struggling with immigration, accidents, or issues they notice in the community. I’m always here to listen and truly value when others feel comfortable approaching me with their concerns or suggestions. It’s important to me that they know their voices are heard, and together, we can work towards finding solutions,” Montes said.

In 2023, she was asked to run for a position on the Granger City Council. “Things in our community were not going well, and it was time for a change. Parents work late, and there’s little for children to do—no pool, no youth center, and gang activity is increasing. We need action,” she said. Montes ran for office and won with 63% of the votes.

Starting her council position coincided with her second semester at Heritage. “I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer. The law is power, and it will enable me to do more for my community,” she explains. “Getting my degree and becoming a lawyer will help me build my network and make a difference.”

Montes emphasizes the importance of community collaboration: “We are here to help others. Getting things done isn’t just about money; it requires people—those who can initiate and sustain change. I want to be that person.”

Yadira Cuellar is passionate about her Mexican heritage and committed to helping young people overcome mental health challenges. Currently a student in the Master of Mental Health Counseling program, she aims to dismantle the barriers that hinder individuals from living fulfilling lives.

“In my community, there are many stigmas and misconceptions surrounding mental health,” Cuellar said. “The Mexican culture often views mental illness as a sign of weakness, but that’s not true. The brain is an organ; like any other, it needs treatment when it’s unwell.”

Yadira Cuellar

After graduating, Cuellar returned to the Yakima Valley, where she became a case manager for young people involved in the foster care system, juvenile justice centers, or transitioning out of drug rehabilitation. “Many of these young individuals have endured traumatic experiences. They often struggle with behavioral disorders, come from broken homes, and find it difficult to move past their trauma,” she said.

As a case manager, Cuellar plays a vital role in the therapeutic team, connecting participants with essential services such as drug treatment, housing assistance, and mental health support. While she enjoys her current role, she aspires to have a more personal impact on young people’s lives. Earning her master’s degree will enable her to provide one-on-one counseling, allowing her to address the underlying mental health issues that hinder individuals from living independently and productively.

There is a pressing need for mental health providers from diverse backgrounds who can relate to the demographics of their communities. In Yakima County, which is 51% Hispanic, there is a significant shortage of Latinx behavioral health clinicians. “When someone Mexican walks through the door and sees that I am also Mexican, there’s a level of trust,” Cuellar said. “That shared background and understanding of similar beliefs, values, and traditions help foster a relationship of trust.”

Currently, in her first semester of the master’s program, Cuellar balances her studies with her work as a case manager. She expects to graduate in May 2026 and plans to continue her career in the Yakima Valley as a therapist for young adults.

Cuellar’s journey is a testament to her dedication to breaking down cultural barriers in mental health care, ensuring that future generations have the support they need to thrive. Through her work, she honors her heritage and paves the way for a healthier, more understanding community.

Being a Mexican means breaking a lot of things. Breaking cycles, breaking down obstacles, breaking through prejudice and out of limited expectations.

For a man in his early twenties, Salvador Ayala Vaca has wisdom beyond his years. It was learned through triumphs and tragedies, lots of hard work, and sage advice from his late father. Ayala was just a few months from graduating from high school when his dad passed away.

“My dad used to tell me, ‘We’re not rich. But you have something in your hands, an American citizenship, that will open many doors. Use it, and you’re going to see lots of good things.’”

Salvador Ayala

Now a senior majoring in computer science, his academic résumé rivals any Ivy League school student. He has completed eight research experiences, including stints with Amazon, the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., and collaborations with leading agricultural companies. He’s mentored students in the College Assistance Migrant Program and the CRESCENT program and is a tutor in the Academic Skills Center.

Ayala was sixteen when he and his family immigrated to the United States from Mexico. They were a hardworking family. In Mexico, Mom, Dad and the two brothers worked in the fields, often more than 13 hours a day, every day. Coming to America meant Ayala and his brother would have a better chance at a better future.

“When we came to America, we weren’t scared,” said Ayala. “We knew how to work hard. We knew that, in America, we could find jobs that pay better, and my brother and I could get a better education.”

The challenges he and his family faced when they moved to the United States—racism, difficult manual labor, low expectations of others, learning a new language, and finding his place in a new country—motivated him to excel in education.

“I want to inspire others who immigrate to this country. They can accomplish their goals. They can get an education. If you have the passion and the motivation, nothing can stop you.

“I see the sacrifices of my people every time I drive to Heritage. I see them in the fields picking apples, pears, and hops. It’s an honor to be Latino. My people are the ones who bring food to the table; without us, this country would be very different.

“I also know that this work is hard and dangerous. People are out there working in 100-degree-plus temperatures. We can do things through technology to make their jobs better and safer. I want to be part of the work that creates technology to improve their working conditions. With a degree in computer science, I can help companies collect and analyze data to improve their processes.”

Ayala is set to graduate this spring. He plans to enter the workforce and return to school after a few years to earn a master’s degree.

Being the oldest child in a traditional Mexican family comes with a lot of responsibility, especially when you are the oldest daughter. For junior  and education major Jackie Martinez, being the oldest is a position of honor and one that prepared her for her future career as a teacher.

“I’m glad I have the privilege of being the oldest. It is definitely not a burden,” she said. “I developed a caring, nurturing personality because I grew up caring for my younger siblings. I feel like that will help me when I have my classroom one day.”

Jackie Martinez

Martinez knew very early on that she wanted to be a teacher. When she was in the fifth grade, a little boy, Eduardo, started school in the middle of the year. He had moved with his family from Mexico, and he didn’t speak a word of English. Her teacher didn’t speak Spanish. She asked Martinez if she could sit with Edwardo and help him with his lessons.

“It felt good helping out and seeing Edwardo start to grasp what we were studying and start to fall in love with learning,” she said. “Through him, I could imagine what it must be like to go someplace new where you didn’t know the language and then find that one person who guides you and helps you feel comfortable and safe. I knew then that I wanted to be that person.”

While her teachers were a big influence on Martinez throughout her K-12 years, it was the ones who shared her Mexican heritage that really inspired her to do well in her studies and strive for a college degree after graduating.

“Sunnyside is a Hispanic community. When I was in school, the only people I saw who looked like me and shared my cultural heritage worked in the fields. There weren’t a lot of Hispanic teachers in my school.

“I was in the eighth grade when I had my first Hispanic teacher. She was my hero. She looked like me. She knew my culture and what it was like to have parents working in the fields. I could relate to her.

“That kind of connection is important,” said Martinez. “It helps children feel safe in their classroom and more open to learning when they feel like the teacher can relate to what is going on in their world. Plus, it helps them see themselves in roles outside of farmwork. I want to be that person for my students.”

When Martinez graduates, she wants to return to the school system that raised her and teach the children in Sunnyside.

“There is a lot of work to be done in my community if we want to break the cycle that keeps our kids from prioritizing education,” she said.

Heritage senior and business major Christian Verduzco wasn’t out of elementary school when he started his first business. The tiny tot entrepreneur wanted to earn a little extra money, so he sold his shoes. In a few months, if all goes to plan, those won’t be the last pair of shoes he’ll sell. Verduzco dreams of leveraging his business and marketing degree enter the big business of sportswear. And, he has a hook, his culture.

Christian Verduzco

“Hispanic employees bring a lot of benefits to their employers,” said Verduzco. “We have great empathy, a strong work ethic, dedication, discipline and loyalty.”

Not to mention, he said, with Hispanic households being one of the fastest growing demographics both in their numbers and their purchasing power, bringing employees with this cultural background into management positions in companies large and small makes good business sense.

“Having focus groups can only get you so far,” he said. “Nothing beats having someone of the culture to market to the culture. There are so many nuances to being Hispanic that people get wrong. Just look at how we see Mexican, Hispanic and Latino used like they represent the same group of people. They don’t. When businesses make assumptions and get them wrong, it’s obvious and can negatively impact their bottom line.”

For Verduzco, business success is as much about personal accomplishment as it is about being a role model for young people growing up like he did—the children of hardworking immigrants who sacrificed education for survival.

“There were not a lot of role models for me in Sunnyside,” he said. “There was a lot of violence and expectations that I would just go into the workforce after high school. I was lucky that my parents always pushed me to get an education. My mom would say, ‘You’re really smart, son. I want you to do something more than I got to do.’”

With graduation half a year away, Verduzco is starting his job search. Where he will end up remains to be seen, but what he will accomplish and the significance of that accomplishment to his family and community is indisputable.

“Me and two of my siblings are the first in my family to earn a degree,” he said. “The first to have a wide path of opportunities ahead of us.

“A message I have for future students is to believe in yourself, trust in God, fight for your dreams. You may not have it all figured out but keep working, have that faith that it will all come together. ¡Si se puede raza!” 

A powwow participant wearing a Native American headdress seen from behind

When the Grand Entry procession of veterans and dancers at Heritage’s All Nations Student Social Powwow made its way into the arena to open the day’s festivities, it was a moment of great significance. It was a welcome back to Heritage alumni; to dancers, drummers and singers; and to friends who faithfully attended the annual event before COVID, and whose presence at the university was deeply missed. It was a celebration of the hard work of the students who planned, promoted and executed the event. And it was another milestone in a collective return to normalcy after the pandemic’s interruption to all our lives.

The powwow was held on the Heritage campus in April under a vivid blue spring sky. The event was entirely organized by students in Heritage University American Indigenous Business Leaders (AIBL) and the Heritage University Native American Club (HUNAC). Vendors selling everything from t-shirts and handmade Native American crafts to frybread tacos and beverages outlined the enormous tent that served as the arena. Organizers estimated a crowd of about 500 people, including dancers, drummers and vendors, in attendance.

“The powwow is a great way to highlight the rich culture of Native people and share it with the community,” said Kansas Arnoux, HUNAC president. “We were honored to invite the community to celebrate with us and to experience a bit of the cultural traditions that we hold close to our hearts.”

AIBL of HU President Latrishia Scabbyrobe agreed with Arnoux. “The powwow promotes mental health and wellness for our community by building a connection and an appreciation of our past through song and dance,” she said.

Scenes from the All-Nations Student Social Powwow at Heritage University, held April 20, 2024

The first All Nations Student Powwow was held at Heritage in the fall of 2017. It was initially started by a handful of students in AIBL. Jacob Billy (B.A., Environmental Science, 2017) was one of the students involved in planning that first event. He’s been the head of the Grand Entry at every event since, including this one. Billy traveled from Warm Springs, Oregon to lead this year’s entry.

This year’s event differed from previous years in that it was a social event rather than a competitive one. Instead of a single head drum, drum groups signed up and the first five received a stipend. Likewise, dancers received stipends to sign up in their categories, which included Tiny Tots (5 years and under), Golden Age (55+), Juniors and Adults. For the women/girls, there were Fancy, Jingle and Traditional dances. For the men/boys, there were Fancy, Grass and Traditional dances. Additionally, there were two intertribal dances, where all in attendance, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, were invited to dance together, as well as a Rabbit Dance and a youth hand drum competition.

Scenes from the All-Nations Student Social Powwow at Heritage University, held April 20, 2024

The powwow also celebrated other cultures. A Nigerian drum group opened the event prior to the grand entry and The Hunters, a family of musicians that include Heritage Professor Dr. Yessenia Hunter and student A Hunter, had a Fandango performance prior to the powwow’s closing round dance.

“Heritage has a special and valued relationship with the Yakama Nation. Our past, present and future are inextricably tied to the Indigenous people of this area. The powwow is an important event for the University and our students and we are all thrilled by its return,” said President Andrew Sund. “We look forward to watching this event grow.”