Native American Awareness Week
March 2026
Lewis-Clark State College will celebrate its 39th annual Native American Awareness Week the week of March 10-20 with a variety of speakers, events, a banquet, and powwows. This year's theme is “Reflections of Culture & Environment”. All events are free and open to the public.
Native American Awareness Week Agenda
Date / Time | Description / Place |
|---|---|
| March 10 - 10am-11:15am | Mini-Pow Wow - P1FCU Activity Center |
| March 17 - 10:30am-11:45am | “NIMIIPUU 101” Facilitated by the Nez Perce Tribe’s Education Director, Joyce McFarland, and Office of Legal Counsel Interim Managing Attorney, Jeanette Moody, will discuss Tribal Sovereignty and Nez Perce History on the Tribe’s past, present and future. – LIB 2nd Floor |
| March 17 - 12pm-1:15pm | “Nez Perce Family Tree Outreach and Kinship” the Nez Perce Tribe’s Child Support Program Outreach Specialist, Andre Picard, will discuss his work within the Nez Perce Tribal Community assisting families and individuals in researching family history and kinship. – LIB 2nd Floor |
| March 17 - 1:30pm-2:45pm | NEZ PERCE TRIBE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION & WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM – AN OVERVIEW - Environmental Restoration and Waste Management (ERWM) is a division within the Nez Perce Tribe's Natural Resource Program that is involved in the clean-up efforts of the Hanford Nuclear Site which is located within the Tribe's Usual and Accustomed Areas in the mid-Columbia River region of Washington state. ERWM works to protect and restore Nez Perce cultural and natural resources in this area according to the provisions of the 1855 Treaty.– Facilitated by ERWM Manager, Anthony Smith, with panelists … – LIB 2nd Floor |
| March 18 - 3pm-4:15pm | “Nez Perce Language Students Workshop” LCSC Nez Perce 102, 202 & 311 students will provide short lessons, games and handouts to participants in the tipi area outside Reid Hall. – Tipi Area |
| March 18 - 6pm-7:30pm | AN EVENING OF STORYTELLING – Silverthorne Theatre |
| March 19 - 6pm-7:30pm | NATIVE AMERICAN AWARENESS WEEK FRIENDSHIP DINNER (Student Acknowledgements & Lifetime Achievement Award presented) – LIB 2nd Floor |
| March 20 - 9am-1pm | The Lapwai School District, Nez Perce Language Program, and Nez Perce language teachers and elders will host a "Language Knowledge Bowl" from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lapwai High School gym, located at 500 Willow Ave. in Lapwai. |
| March 20 - 7pm-11:30pm | SIMÍINEKEM WEWÉEX̣P PÁAX̣AM POW WOW & SCHOLARSHIP RAFFLE - Lapwai High School Gym |
Lifetime Achievement Award
Each year the Native American Club students at LC 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
- 2023 Jenny Williams
- 2024 Silas Whitman
- 2025 June Stewart
Native American Alumni
