News

New space gives students positive place to play and study

Victoria Retasket, NWIC’s student activities coordinator, plays Apples to Apples with students Alisha Sellars, Eric Lewis, and Kendra Kelly at the grand re-opening celebration for the Student Union Building. Retasket plans to set up a pool table and ping pong table by the end of the month.
On March 13, Northwest Indian College (NWIC) students, staff and faculty celebrated the re-opening of their Student Union Building with games, door prizes and snacks, including chocolate covered strawberries.

The facility has been open on a very limited basis for about two years – since student services moved out of that building and into its new building on the other side of campus. Even before the move, back in the facility’s heyday, the space didn’t have many amenities for student entertainment.

“It wasn’t ever fully used,” said Nicole Baker, NWIC director of residence life. “It was just an empty room with a couple of computers and a conference table.”

This time around, the building is being transformed into a space where students can play board games, pool and ping pong, listen to music, study or just relax and interact with each other, said Mona Halcomb, NWIC’s dean of students. In essence, it will be a place where students can enjoy themselves in positive ways.

NWIC president nominated for county business person of the year

Northwest Indian College (NWIC) President Cheryl Crazy Bull is one of three finalists being considered for Northwest Business Monthly Magazine’s Business Person of the Year award.

Crazy Bull was nominated by the magazine’s nominating committee and was later selected as a finalist, according to Tony Larsen, the magazine’s publisher. The other finalists are Jim Baron of the Northwest Washington Fair, and Jeff Kochman of Barkley Company.

“Cheryl was nominated because several on the nominating committee believe that she deserves special recognition for her leadership, acumen and value she brings to our community,” Larsen said.

The winner will be announced at the Business Person of the Year 26th annual awards banquet on March 28.

Teaching language and culture with today’s technology

This year will be the third researchers will gather to discuss and present methods for preserving the Lushootseed language during the Lushootseed Language Conference.

The conference, called “A New Canoe, Teaching Language and Culture with Today’s Technology,” will be held April 21at Seattle University, and will include workshops that explore innovative teaching approaches that incorporate the newest techniques and technology.

NWIC requests proposals for audit services

Northwest Indian College and the Northwest Indian College Foundation invite you to submit a proposal to provide external audit services for each of these separate entities.

The below Request for Proposal (RFP) describes the anticipated services required. The RFP also outlines the information that should be included in your proposal. The proposal must be submitted by 5 p.m. on March 16, 2012 to:

Barry Meehan
Finance Director
Northwest Indian College
2522 Kwina Road
Bellingham, WA  98226

A month of human rights awareness at NWIC

NWIC joins Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival to present “Waking Up to the Concerns of our Time”

Snow closed down Northwest Indian College’s (NWIC) campus for a full week in January, causing class and event cancellations. But one of those events, a celebration of the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr., has been rescheduled and revamped.

The Center for Indigenous Service Learning has incorporated the MLK event into their February Festival: “Waking Up to the Concerns of our Times.” The MLK event will kick off the festival on Feb. 8, and will include door prizes, pizza and presentations that would make King proud, and it doesn’t end there.

In collaboration with the 12th Annual Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival, NWIC will be showing films from Feb 16 to Feb 23. The films will be presented in the Log Building, and are free and open to the community.

The journey of the healing totem pole

Feb. 3 at noon at Northwest Indian College

photo by Deshaun Williams
Just four months ago, the healing totem pole, carved by master carver Jewell Praying Wolf James, began a cross-country journey at the historic Lummi village site of Semiahmiah, also known as Semiahmoo.

James, a member of the House of Tears Carvers of the Lummi Indian Nation, drove the totem pole by truck across the United States. During its journey, the totem pole received tribal blessings on reservations in 13 states.

Today, the healing totem pole – carved with stories of healing, hope and knowledge – stands at the National Library of Medicine just outside of Washington, D.C., in Bethesda, Maryland.

NWIC continues campus expansion

Site work has begun for four new buildings

An excavator works to prepare four acres of campus grounds for four new buildings. The site work began on Lummi campus in mid January.

Two large excavators are shaking the ground of Northwest Indian College’s main campus to prepare four acres for more new buildings. Site work for the four buildings began mid January as part of NWIC’s $44 million capital campaign.

Site work is projected to be completed by May 2012, said Jay Conway, NWIC construction manager. Shortly after that, construction will begin on the first of the four buildings, the Salish Sea Research Center – an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project.

The research facility is expected to cost $2.2 million, $1.5 million of which will be paid for by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Native Arts & Cultures Fund awards NWIC event

Weavers Teaching Weavers receives $14,000 grant

Northwest Indian College’s (NWIC) Weavers Teaching Weavers annual event was recently awarded $14,000 by the Native Arts & Cultures Funds.

Grant funds will help cover some event costs, including hosting master weaver teachers, event supplies and food.

The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) awarded grants to 28 American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian artists and organizations in 15 states, including three in Washington. This year’s grant sizes ranged from $10,000 to $40,000, with a total allocation of $510,000 which is up from $394,319 in 2010.

Snow Update: NWIC closed Jan. 20 due to inclement weather

Northwest Indian College's Lummi campus and Muckleshoot, Swinomish, Port Gamble S'Klallam and Tulalip sites are closed again Friday, Jan. 20, due to inclement weather. 

Open mic tonight at NWIC Tulalip

Northwest Indian College’s Tulalip site will host an open mic tonight, Friday the 13th, for students and community members to showcase their talents.

The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in room 162 of the Tulalip Tribal Administration Building, 6406 Marine Drive in Tulalip, and is free and open to everyone and any type of talent.  Performers can sign up as they arrive.