FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heritage University honors Native American elders and welcomes Indigenous actor Adam Beach as part of Native American Heritage Month celebrations

 

Toppenish, Wash. – November is Native American Heritage Month, and Heritage University is celebrating with a variety of events that honor Native Americans in our communities, including the Honoring Our Elders ceremony, taking place on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. During this event, we celebrate four Yakama Nation elders for their lifetime contributions to the Yakama people and their community. This year’s recipients are Warren Cloud, Luxkulkist, Carol Craig, Nukshay Xwaami,  Taleets Esther Moses-Hyipeer and Elmer Schuster, Tomiith.

Warren Cloud Luxkulkist dedicated his life to hard work, using his hands to get the job done. As a trucker, logger, and heavy equipment operator, he provided food, homes, and water essential for life. When called to serve as a Yakama Nation leader, he accepted wholeheartedly. Now, as General Council Chairman, Warren leads with respect for tradition and commitment to the 1855 Treaty, inspiring his community to honor heritage and build a brighter future together.

Carol Craig, Nukshay Xwaami is a storyteller and educator dedicated to sharing Native truths about the environment and treaty rights. Her work at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and Yakama Nation Fish and Wildlife highlights efforts to restore salmon runs and educates non-tribal communities on Yakama fishing rights from the Treaty of 1855. As a Yakama Nation Review reporter, she ensures her community receives honest information on key issues, fostering understanding of their heritage and rights. Carol’s commitment empowers her community and inspires future generations to protect these connections.

Taleets, Esther Moses-Hyipeer grew up deeply connected to her culture, learning from her elders the importance of traditional foods and community care. Her dedication to the Yakama people is evident in her work with the Yakama Nation Tribal School, Language Program, Gaming Commission, and Tribal Council. She has championed initiatives honoring veterans, providing housing for homeless families, and addressing addiction. Additionally, she advocates for unified tribal healthcare to support holistic well-being. Guided by the wisdom of her ancestors and the Treaty of 1855, Taleets inspires others to uphold their heritage and support their community.

Elmer Schuster, Tomiith has left a lasting impact on the Yakima Valley and its people. A skilled carpenter since the 1960s, he’s constructed vital infrastructure, including highway overpasses and irrigation dams that support both transport and agriculture. He also helped build longhouses for cultural ceremonies and youth camps that provide meaningful experiences. As leader of the Yakama Nation Housing Authority, he directed teams that built homes for tribal members, supporting community resilience. His contributions are more than structures; they are symbols of strength, tradition, and hope for future generations.

The annual Honoring Our Elders ceremony will be held in Heritage University’s Smith Family Hall on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. This event is by invitation only. Also, their stories are featured in a series of full-page ads, each dedicated to a specific elder, that are running in the Yakama Nation Review through November. Framed copies of these ads are being added to the permanent display of honorees at the university in the Violet Lumley Rau Center.

Other events Heritage is holding in November in observance of Native American Heritage Month as designated by President George H. W. Bush in 1990 include:

Native American Heritage Month Flag Raising Ceremony
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 8:00 a.m.
Location: Heritage University main entrance
Description: Heritage University will raise the flags of the Yakama Nation, the state of Washington and the United States during a ceremony featuring the Yakama Warriors.

Honoring Our Elders (Invitation only)
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 9:00 a.m.
Location: Smith Family Hall
Description: we celebrate four Yakama Nation elders for their lifetime contributions to the Yakama people and their community. This year’s elders are Warren Cloud, Luxkulkist, Carol Craig, Nukshay Xwaami,  Taleets Esther Moses-Hyipeer and Elmer Schuster, Tomiith.

MMIW Event by Heritage University Native American Club (HUNAC)
Date & Time: Friday, November 8, 2024, 12:00 p.m.
Location: Smith Family Hall
Description: HU student club HUNAC is organizing a program aimed at increasing awareness on the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

Native Flute Music by Jeremy Garcia
Date & Time: Friday, November 8, 2024, 1:00 p.m.
Location: Smith Family Hall
Description: Jeremy Garcia (Yakama) will perform Native flute music during a noontime concert in Smith Family Hall

Roc Your Mocs Week
Date & Time: November 10-16, 2024
Location: Campus
Description: Rock Your Mocs is an expression of tribal identity where we invite people to wear moccasins the week of November 10-15 to celebrate Indigenous traditions and culture around the world.

Indigenous Beading Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday, November 13, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
Location: Patricia Wade Temple Room
Description: Participants will learn how to create beaded artwork while learning more about the Orange Shirt Society and Redress Project.

Rez Ball Mini premiere
Date & Time: Friday, November 15, 2024, 5:00 p.m.
Location: Smith Family Hall
Description: Heritage University will host a Hollywood-style showing of the movie “Rez Ball” currently playing on Netflix. The cast includes Devin Sampson-Craig (Yakama) of White Swan, WA.

Frybread Cooking Class
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 5:00 p.m.
Location: Eagle’s Cafe
Description: Student club HU Masterchefs will teach participants how to make frybread.

AIBL Holiday Bazaar
Date & Time: Thursday, November 21, 2024, 10:00 a.m. – 2:-00 p.m.
Location: Patricia Wade Temple Room
Description: The Holiday Bazaar presented by the American Indigenous Business Leaders Chapter at Heritage University will be held in the Patricia Wade Temple Room.

Jeremy Garcia & Students Flute Concert
Date & Time: Thursday, November 21, 2024, 6:00 p.m.
Location: Smith Family Hall
Description: Native musician Jeremy Garcia (Yakama) and his students will perform a concert of flute music in Smith Family Hall.

Heritage University welcomes actor Adam Beach
Date & Time: Friday, November 22, 2024, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Smith Family Hall
Description: Actor, advocate and motivational speaker Adam Beach will share stories of growing up on the Dog Creek First Nations Reserve in Manitoba, Canada as part of his presentation at Heritage University. Beach is a member of the Saulteaux (Plains Ojibwe) nation and was raised near Ashern, Manitoba. Beach began his career at 16 when he attended the Manitoba Theatre for Young People in Winnipeg. Since then, Beach has appeared in over 60 films and television programs including Dance Me Outside(1995), My Indian Summer (1995), Smoke Signals (1998), Windtalkers (2002), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Cowboys & Aliens(2011), Suicide Squad (2016), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), and Big Love (2006).

All Native American Heritage Month events at Heritage University are free and open to the public. For more information on these events, contact Valerie Sampson at (509) 865-5000 ext. 1741 or Sampson_V1@heritage.edu. For help with interviews, contact Davidson Mance at (509) 969-6084 or Mance_D@heritage.edu.

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