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Recent News
Lushootseed Thriving at AIS - Tami Hohn Hired as Permanent Full-Time Southern Lushootseed Instructor
June 28, 2021
As soon as Tami Hohn stepped onto the UW Seattle campus to teach Southern Lushootseed language, there has been a buzz. Hohn joined the Department of American Indian Studies informally in Autumn 2017 by teaching free, drop-in language learning and conversation sessions with her colleague Nancy Jo Bob. By January, the Seattle Times had dropped in and written a story... Read more
June 10, 2021
Each year, the Husky 100 recognizes 100 undergraduate and graduate students from the UW Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses in all areas of study who are making the most of their time at the UW. This year, 2 of them are graduating students with a minor in Oceania and Pacific Islander Studies.
These students actively connect what happens inside and outside of the classroom and apply what they learn to make a difference on campus, in their... Read more
June 8, 2021
Have you heard? The long-awaited Indigenous Walking Tour guide booklet by AIS major Owen Oliver (Quinault/Isleta Pueblo) is officially released and available to the public.
The 40-page, full color booklet tells the story of Indigenous places through an Indigenous community member’s eyes across seven stops on campus. Stops include the Burke Museum, wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ [Intellectual House], Indigenous artworks, the Medicinal Herb Garden, the... Read more
May 31, 2021
Anna Hohag graduated from the AIS program in 2011 and is currently working as a Tribal Attorney. "AIS courses exposed me to the most relevant and empowering education, curriculum, history, and indigenous voices— something I had not received in my public education up to that point."
Anna says her favorite part of the AIS program was sharing Raven’s Feast with her family, the UW and Seattle Community, and professors. If she could give advice to those that are considering to major/minor in AIS,... Read more
May 31, 2021
Justin Dissmo graduated from the AIS program in 2012. When asked why he decided to study AIS, he said, "I’m a Puyallup tribal member, and have a desire to grow my knowledge in the history of indigenous America. One of the most memorable parts of being in AIS was working on my senior thesis with the guidance of the late Marvin Oliver. To anyone considering a major or minor in AIS, follow your heart, and be thankful for every moment."
Justin is currently a pasta chef and ceramic artist.
May 24, 2021
Stephanie Riedl decided to graduate with a degree in AIS in 2015 because "I wanted answers to my experience and my families experiences as Indigenous people. I wanted to learn how to be more supportive of my family, my urban Indigenous community, and my Sts’ailes and Coast Salish kin healing from colonialism."
"In the last year in the AIS program I was given a pseudo “research” assignment, to interview a woman in my family," they say, when asked about the most memorable part of the AIS program... Read more
May 24, 2021
Mariah Ravelli graduated from the AIS program in 2011. She was inspired to pursue a degree in AIS because of her strong ties to her Native family in New Mexico. "Growing up I heard my grandmother's stories of what life was like for her, as well as a subtle undercurrent of demoralization that permeated within my elders. I not only wanted to get a general education, but get an education in a field that directly tied to my culture and showed pride for my family."
Mariah goes into depth about her... Read more
May 10, 2021
Madrienne White graduated from American Indian Studies in 2008. Of her time in the program, she says, "I was influenced to major is AIS by being told to take advantage of any opportunity to study tribal history, stories, law, and much more. AIS provided me with an opportunity to study contemporary issues, literature, and politics".
One of the most memorable parts of the AIS program was "The people I met, and all the friendships and bonds I created. Those genuine people enriched my experience,... Read more
April 29, 2021
AIS Associate Professor Charlotte Coté, along with Lakota activist Matt Remle and Lacey Stevenson Warrior, Native works manager at Chief Seattle Club, was recently interviewed for an article by Crosscut discussing Indigenous Reclamation. Dr. Coté is co-founder and chair of the UW’s annual “The Living Breath of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ” Indigenous Foods and Ecological Knowledge Symposium held in May and teaches courses such as Indigenous Food Sovereignty and American Indian Law.
Enjoy an excerpt from the... Read more
April 6, 2021
Congratulations to AIS Adjunct Assistant Professor Kathryn Bunn-Marcuse who teaches in the School of Art, Art History, and Design for this beautiful story about her class "Native Art of the Pacific Northwest." The article was published in the UW Magazine and shows us the breadth and depth of Professor Bunn-Marcuse's course, as well as her work with Bill Holm and the Burke Museum. As she says... Read more