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This fall, students from the Walla Walla Public School District and Rogers Adventist School, the Whitman campus community, and the larger Walla Walla Valley community experienced a series of special events honoring Indigenous history and celebrating present day culture and traditions. These observances provided opportunities for students to learn, reflect and celebrate Indigenous resilience and culture.

• Tuesday, Sept. 30: Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools event with a film screening and keynote speaker
• Monday, Oct. 13: Coyote Storytelling event on Indigenous Peoples Day
• Tuesday, Oct. 14: Drumming, Dancing and Regalia Showcase for the students of the Walla Walla School District and Rogers Catholic Schools

Tuesday, Sept. 30: A Day of Remembrance and Healing

This event included a film screening of “Home From School: The Children of Carlisle” and keynote speaker Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) member Lindsey X. Watchman.

The National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools is a day to acknowledge the lasting trauma caused by the federal government’s policy of forced assimilation. For over a century, thousands of Native children were forcibly removed from their families and communities and sent to boarding schools designed to erase their culture, languages and traditions.

For many Indigenous communities, the devastating impacts of this era are still deeply felt today as many of these histories and atrocities are still in the process of being uncovered and unraveled. This day of remembrance is a moment for us to learn about this history and better understand its impact on Native families and communities. The observance is not about blame. It is about understanding a painful past and supporting the ongoing healing process. It is about understanding it is a present Native Americans are dealing with today, because of the troubling past. Wearing orange is a common practice on this day, symbolizing the confiscation of a new orange shirt from a First Nations girl on her first day at a residential school in Canada.

Monday, Oct. 13: Coyote's Wisdom on Indigenous Peoples' Day

As the country observed Indigenous Peoples Day, our campus and Walla Walla Valley community members enjoyed a special Coyote Storytelling event. Coyote is a central figure in many Indigenous stories, often depicted as a trickster who also brings important wisdom from his experiences. Traditional stories featuring Coyote can teach valuable lessons about life, community and our relationship with the land.

In this teaching practice, a storyteller will share a traditional Coyote narrative, emphasizing key themes such as respecting the land, living in balance with nature, the importance of community, and teaching values. This interactive approach helps bring Indigenous ways of knowing to life in a way that is accessible and engaging for younger children. Sharing this as an annual event at Whitman College allows us to share this tradition and adults often enjoy the stories just as much or more than the children do. This year we enjoyed Coyote storytelling from CTUIR member Mildred Quaempts and her son Derek. Šináata scholar Tatiwyat Buck ’29 emceed the event. 

Tuesday, Oct. 14: Drumbeats, Dance and Dazzling Regalia

To continue the celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, a special showcase of drumming, dancing and regalia was held for students in grades 3–7. This event highlighted the vibrant and living traditions of Native culture, which continue to thrive despite a history of attempted suppression.

Event participants included Jeanine Gordon, CTUIR member and Special Assistant to the President for Native American Outreach at Whitman, and Michelle Jamison-Adams, her father, CTUIR Elder Advisory Group Vice-Chairman Malvin Jamison, and her children Hannah, Adam and Truman.

Dancers performed various styles of dance that are often seen at powwows. The showcase provided an educational component where students learned about the significance of the dancers’ different types of regalia, from intricate beadwork to vibrant feathers. The powerful sound of the drum, the heartbeat powwows, underscores the celebration of Indigenous identity and resilience. The event provided a celebratory and inspiring end to the Indigenous Peoples Day observation, leaving approximately 700 students from the Walla Walla Public Schools and Rogers Adventist School with a deeper appreciation for Native American artistry, culture and heritage.

A Meaningful Month of Learning

Together, these events offered a holistic learning experience for many. The Day of Remembrance provided a solemn moment to face difficult truths about history, while the Indigenous Peoples Day events offered a vibrant and celebratory look at the enduring strength of Native American traditions. By engaging with both the painful history of boarding schools and the rich vitality of contemporary Indigenous culture, we can all develop a more complete and respectful understanding of Native American people, whose homelands became the United States. 

Looking Ahead to Native American Heritage Month

Keep an eye out for Native American Heritage Month activities through the 吃瓜网 Office of Native American Outreach web page and , the , and the events calendar. 

Some upcoming events to put on your calendar include:

• Friday, Nov. 7: First Foods talk (11 a.m.) and during lunch (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and dinner (5–7 p.m.) at Cleveland Commons.
• Friday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m.: —a preview of Ken Burns’ documentary and a community conversation in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom.
• Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom.
• Friday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m.: Rock Your Mocs social media group photo event at the Cleveland Commons main entrance.
• Saturday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m.: walawa虂la pi虂藔amkt (Walla Walla Ceremonial Gathering and Meal) at the First Congregational Church.