Native American Awareness Week
March 13th - 17th, 2023
For the past 36 years each Spring Semester, LCSC hosts Native American Awareness Week, which is designed for the LCSC students, faculty, staff and the general public. The week starts Tuesday, with events, presentations, Friendship Banquet, throughout the week and ends with a Powwow on Friday evening.
Native American Awareness Week Agenda
| Date / Time | Description / Place |
| March 13 | Native American Awareness Week, "Resilience & Vision". Flyer , Powwow Flyer TBA. |
| March 14 | |
| 10:00am-11:15am | Mini Powwow - Area Fourth grade classes are invited. - P1FCU Activites Center |
| 6:00pm -7:30pm | SISTERS RISING is a Documentary story of six Native American women fighting to restore personal and tribal sovereignty in the face of ongoing sexual violence against Indigenous women. Co-Producers Jaida Grey Eagle and Willow O'Feral will join via virtual Q & A. Center for Arts & History (415 Main Street) |
| March 15 | |
| 9:30am - 1:00pm | "Language Bowl" in collaboration with the LCSC Nez Perce classes and Nez Perce Language teachers and elders, LCSC student Justin Rabago-Johnson will lead lead this special event. Competition will focus on the Nez Perce Language with winners and categories tbd. WCC |
| 1:30pm - 2:45pm | "According to Coyote" A vibrant and entertaining anthology of tales featuring the legendary hero of Native American Mythology. According to Coyote is an encounter with the richness and vitality of Native American culture using age-old traditions of music, dance, and theatre. Written by John Kaufman, the play will be performed by Nez Perce actor, Kellen Lewis. Silverthorne Theatre, Admin. Building |
| March 16 | |
| 9:00am - 10:15am | "Nimiipuu Fund" The Nimiipuu Community Development Fund (NCDF) facilitates financial independence by enhancing the personal and entrepreneurial capacity of the Nez Perce Reservation and surrounding communities. Executive Director Jonelle Whitman and Board of Directors member Kermit Mankiller will provide an overview and discussion. WCC |
| 10:30am - 11:45am | "LCSC Native American Alumni Women & Entrepreneurship Panel" LCSC Native American Alumni will discuss their business and entrepreneurial journeys in relationship to education, culture, leadership and visions for the future. WCC |
| 12:00 - 1:00pm | "STUDENT PANEL" LCSC Native American Student will discuss their educational journeys in relationship to culture , leadership, and visions for the future. Sara George, Justin Rabago-Johnson, Cameron Paradise and Kelani Smith. WCC |
| 1:30pm - 2:45pm | NIMIIPUU HA'AYAT - Panel of Nez Perce Women Adoptees: Her story of the Indian Adoption Era (1958-1967) Agnes Weaskus, Linda Dufford, Trae BlackEagle, Velda Penney, Lucinda Simpson, and Facilitated by Myra Campbell. WCC |
| 4:30 pm | Native American Alumni Chapter meeting. WCC |
| 6:00pm - 7:30pm | LCSC Native American Awareness Week Friendship Banquet or Reception (Student Acknowledgements & Lifetime Achievement Award presented) WCC |
| March -17 | |
| 7:00pm - 11:30pm | LCSC Native American Awareness Week Closing Powwow, Scholarship Raffle. PIFCU Activity Center. |
Lifetime Achievement Award
Each year the Native American Club students at Lewis-Clark State College take time to recognize a member of the region's indigenous community for his or her life-long contributions to the continued existence of Native communities, values and lives.
- 1988 David Miles Sr.
- 1989 Margaret Rogers
- 1990 Oliver Frank
- 1991 Frank Penny Sr.
- 1992 Rose Frank
- 1993 Wilfred Scott
- 1994 Katherine Ramsey
- 1995 Horace Axtell
- 1996 Richard Halfmoon
- 1997 Frances Paisano
- 1998 Elsie Frank
- 1999 Allen Slickpoo Sr.
- 2000 Josephine Hayes
- 2001 Ipsus Nute (Jesse Greene)
- 2002 Cecil Carter
- 2003 Bessie Scott
- 2004 Rosa Yearout
- 2005 Lucille Wilson
- 2006 Rachel Zumwalt
- 2007 Connie Evans
- 2008 Gilbert Towner
- 2009 Jim Spencer
- 2010 Delores Lookingglass Wheeler
- 2011 Wallace Wheeler
- 2012 Katherine Powaukee
- 2013 Loretta "Chet" Halfmoon
- 2014 Florene Davis
- 2015 Leroy Seth
- 2016 Benjamin "Badge" Arthur Sr.
- 2017 Jim McCormack
- 2018 Estelline "Essie" Carter
- 2019 Allen Pinkham Sr.
- 2020 Lee Bourgeau
- 2021 Mary Jane Miles
- 2022 Vera Sonneck
Native American Alumni
