Monday, Oct. 14, 2024
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Highline’s main campus, Building 2
All are welcome to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with presentations by three Native presenters at Highline College.
The day offers the chance to reflect on the ongoing struggles of Indigenous peoples. It also provides an opportunity to celebrate the thriving culture and value that neighboring tribes and other Indigenous nations add to the college. Local tribes include Muckleshoot, Puyallup and other Coast Salish tribes.
Highline began official recognition of the day in 2016. Special thanks for the support of this day go to Dr. Emily Lardner, Dr. Maribel Jimenez, Mia Bull, Luckisha Phillips, Ricaflor Fontillas, and Dr. Tanya Powers.
Questions? Contact Mia Bull at mbull@highline.edu.
Event Schedule
Each session is free and open to the public, and will be held on the college’s main campus in Building 2.
10-11:30 a.m.
WE ARE NOT HISTORY; WE ARE HERE
This presentation will highlight Muckleshoot history, culture, language, and traditional plants during this time.
Elise Bill-Gerrish (Muckleshoot):
Elise Bill-Gerrish is a Muckleshoot Tribal Member and Muckleshoot Language Caretaker. She recently earned her Masters in Education from the University of Washington Tacoma where she focused on best practices for Native and Indigenous students. Elise is a committed advocate for healing Native pathways, traditional plant medicine & food systems, Southern Lushootseed revitalization, and Native education.
Dr. Denise Bill (Muckleshoot)
Denise Bill is a member of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Denise comes from the Villages of Burns Creek, dᶻidᶻəlaĺič, stəq, Little Herring House-Crossing Over Place, and Katilbc (Kah-til-bish) and Ilalqo. Denise’s great grandmother was Annie Jack, a fluent Lushootseed speaker, and her grandmother Iola Bill-Lobehan, was also a fluent Lushootseed speaker. Denise’s father is the late Dr. Willard Bill, Sr., a long-time Native Educator, and mother is MaryAnn Bill. Denise is mother to Elise, Andrew, and grandmother to Lily. Denise is currently the executive director of Adult & Higher Education for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Denise has worked in K-12 educational systems, as well as adult and higher education in both the public sector as well as in Native Schools/Colleges. Denise has a Doctoral Degree from the University of Washington. Her dissertation is titled “Native American Educational Leadership in the Pacific Northwest.”
12-1 p.m.
Archie Cantrell (Puyallup)
Archie Cantrell was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington and is a member of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
After graduating from Puyallup High School in 2004, Archie worked in Natural Resources for the Puyallup Tribal Fisheries Department as a Fisheries Specialist. This work allowed him to participate in, and further his appreciation of all aspects of salmon culture, which is the Puyallup Tribe’s most valued natural resource.
Throughout his employment within the Puyallup Tribe, Archie was active with tribal youth. He served on the Puyallup Tribal Youth Committee from 2005-2015, serving as Chairman for eight years. Archie then became a Youth Coordinator at the Puyallup Tribal Youth Center. The Puyallup Tribal Language Department also being at the Youth Center sparked his interest in the Lushootseed Language.
In 2016 Archie transferred departments and began working for the Language Program as a Language Instructor. As a full-time advocate for the Lushootseed movement, Archie was able to work with tribal community members of all ages, and directly with Chief Leschi Schools. During his time as a Language Instructor, Archie also completed his Master’s in Business Administration. Starting in 2022, Archie began working for the Puyallup School District as their Native American Education Liaison. Archie would return to working for the Puyallup Tribe in 2024 in his current position as Cultural Coordinator at Grandview Early Learning Center.
In his spare time, Archie is an active hunter, and commercial harvester of salmon, crab, shrimp, and geoduck. Archie and his wife, Hope, have 3 beautiful children and live in Olympia, WA.
tix̌ix̌dubut čələp,
Proclamation
WHEREAS, Highline College recognizes that the college is built upon the homelands and villages of the Indigenous Peoples of this region, without whom the building of the college would not have been possible; and
WHEREAS, Highline College values the many contributions made to our community through Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge, labor, technology, science, philosophy, arts, and the deep cultural contribution that has substantially shaped the character of Highline College; and
WHEREAS, Highline College has a responsibility to oppose the systemic racism towards Indigenous Peoples in the United States, which perpetuates poverty and income inequality, and exacerbates disproportionate health, education, and social stability; and
WHEREAS, Highline College promotes the closing of the equity gap for Indigenous Peoples through policies and practices that reflect the experiences of Indigenous Peoples, ensure greater access and opportunity, and honor our nation’s Indigenous roots, history, and contributions; and
WHEREAS, Indigenous Peoples Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas;
AND, WHEREAS, Indigenous Peoples Day offers an opportunity both to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous Peoples and to celebrate the thriving culture and value that our neighboring tribes including Muckleshoot, Puyallup, Duwamish, and other Indigenous nations add to our college.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the second Monday in October shall be declared as Indigenous Peoples Day at Highline College.
Proclamation was signed in September 2016 by Dr. Jack Bermingham, who served as Highline’s president, 2006–2017.