News

NWIC cultural arts program expands reach

Nine years ago, Northwest Indian College’s Cooperative Extension Department hosted its first Weavers Teaching Weavers Conference at the college’s main campus, located on the Lummi Nation.

The one-day conference provided weavers with a venue where they could share and pass down their knowledge. The event was well received from the beginning – so well received that it was expanded to a two-day conference the following year and currently is a four-day-long event.

Now, after nine successful conferences at the Lummi campus, the event is expanding again, but this time it’s experiencing a geographical growth. This summer, Weavers Teaching Weavers will be held for the first time ever off of main campus. The event will take place in Warm Springs, Oregon, on August 16 and 17, and will be hosted by the Warm Springs Tribe.

NWIC rocket club takes 1st at national competition

For the second year in a row, the NWIC Space Center rocket team finished first in the First Nations Rocket Launch, this time in the engineering American Indian Society of Engineers and Scientists (AISES) challenge. The team also finished 12th out of the 41 teams that took part in the 2012 NASA University Student Launch Initiative competition.

At the First Nations Rocket Launch, NWIC was up against such noteworthy competitors as UCLA, the University of Minnesota and Haskel Indian Nations University.

NWIC will soon offer second bachelor’s degree

This fall, the college will begin offering a four-year degree in Native Studies Leadership

Starting fall quarter of 2012, Northwest Indian College (NWIC) will begin enrolling students in its second bachelor’s degree program, a Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies Leadership. The college was approved in May to offer the degree by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The Native Studies Leadership (NSL) degree is a big step for the college, which currently offers an Associate of Arts and Science degree with a Native American Studies focus. That degree was designed as a direct transfer degree with an emphasis on culture and history. Students now have the opportunity to fulfill their aspirations for a four-year degree rooted in tribal knowledge through the Native Studies Leadership degree.

The NSL is unique even among the tribal colleges and universities because of its focus on restorative knowledge, NWIC President Cheryl Crazy Bull said.

NWIC’s big athletics fundraiser tees off soon

On Friday September 14, 2012 Northwest Indian College (NWIC) Foundation will host the 10th Annual Big Drive for Education Golf Scramble, the college’s biggest annual athletics fundraiser that supports student athletes and athletic programs.

The scramble will begin with a 1 p.m. shotgun start, in which all golfers tee off at different holes at the same time. The event will be held at the North Bellingham Golf Course.

NWIC’s spring 2012 President’s list

The following students made the President’s List in spring quarter, 2012. In order to make the list, student must complete 12 or more college-level credits and receive a GPA of 4.0.

Lummi Campus
Cathy Ballew, Aleana Cline, Vincent Feliciano, Rosa Hunter, Edna Jefferson, Akesha Martin, Douglas Olinger, Julia Orloff-Duffey, Tiffany Taubenheim

Independent Learning
McKenna Dorman, Rosanna Razor

NWIC Early Learning Center now has openings

Northwest Indian College (NWIC) Early Learning Center has four openings in its infant room.

Parents with children from one month to one year old can apply. Priority will be given to NWIC students, but community members and NWIC staff are also encouraged to apply.

Selections will be made based on when parents turn in their applications.

Time to register for Vine Deloria, Jr. Symposium

The 7th Annual Vine Deloria, Jr. Indigenous Studies Symposium will be held July 12 through July 14 at Northwest Indian College's main campus, near Bellingham, Washington.

The purpose of the symposium is to bring together Native and non-native scholars and tribal elders interested in honoring the life and work of Vine Deloria, Jr., and in presenting new ideas and expanding knowledge in several key areas that Deloria devoted his life to.

Billy Frank Jr. to speak at NWIC graduation, June 15

Billy Frank Jr. (Nisqually), chair of Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and a key figure in actions that have affirmed the treaty rights of Washington tribes, will be the commencement speaker at this year’s Northwest Indian College (NWIC) graduation ceremony.

The ceremony will take place June 15 at 4 p.m. at the Wex’lium Community Building. It is open to the community and will include a celebratory meal.

Who will become NWIC’s Frybread Champion?

A June 7 frybread competition will precede the “More Than Frybread” showing

On June 7, participants will compete for the title of NWIC Frybread Champion.

The competition will no doubt be tough. One of the competitors is reigning frybread royalty – Northwest Indian College’s (NWIC) Vice President for Campus Development, Dave Oreiro was named Frybread King after an NWIC cook-off several years ago.

Everyone is invited to the competition, which will take place at 3 p.m. in the covered area next to the NWIC Bookstore (Building 13). Competitors will have already prepared their frybread, which will then be judged by the competition audience and a group of judges – including filmmaker Travis Hamilton who wrote and directed the movie “More Than Frybread.”

NWIC's Valerie Segrest speaks at White House

On June, 1, Northwest Indian College (NWIC) Native Nutrition Educator, Valerie Segrest spoke at a White House event celebrating the one year anniversary of Let's Move! in Indian Country.

Segrest, who works at NWIC's Muckleshoot campus, was selected to be part of a panel discussion of individuals whose work has helped build a healthier future for American Indian and Alaska Native youth.