Acknowledgements
Stories are the lifeblood of our communities, the threads that weave together generations, traditions, and memories. This collection of stories, shared by the dedicated staff who make up our SPIPA extended family, celebrates the beauty, resilience, and wisdom of Native American heritage. Each story reflects the unique journey of individuals and their families—journeys shaped by the strength of their ancestors and the enduring connection to their culture, land, and traditions.
In these pages, you’ll find tales of joy, perseverance, and deeprooted pride in identity. They are stories of honoring sacred teachings, overcoming hardships, and embracing the values that have been passed down like heirlooms. They remind us that history is not just something written in books; It is lived every day in the songs we sing, the ceremonies we practice, and the bonds we nurture.
This book is more than a collection of words—it is a gift of understanding and connection. It offers a glimpse into the lives of those who carry their heritage with dignity and purpose, inspiring us all to reflect on the stories we hold within ourselves and the legacies we will leave behind. May these stories serve as a beacon, reminding us that we are all part of a greater story, one of shared humanity, strength, and hope.
Thank you to all who have contributed to the body of this book, It has truly been a pleasure to work on this piece and get to know some of you a bit more.
-Lonni
Ceremony
Loss of Culture
World Renewal Ceremony
Name: Lacie Lewis “Kinsaan” Hoopa Name
Tribe/ Nation: Hoopa/Yurok/Karuk
Position/Office location: Childcare Coordinator, IPC
Heritage Story:
Since the beginning of time, every 2 years my Tribe in Hupa does the World Renewal Ceremony. This is a “fix the world” ceremony dance where we take time to recreate the world and put back into balance.
This is a man’s dance, young women who are in purity form join in to finish the dance on the last day. The ceremony involves a basket called the na”wehech that is used to remove evil from the world and replace it with good.
Women support the dance camps by cooking and praying and tending to the regalia and fires. We take the time to give thanks for what Creator has provided and ask that the needs of the people continue to be met.
I’m sharing a picture of finish up day that includes my mother, my sisters and my nephew who are dancers.
Pictured from left to right: Great Uncle Johnny, Great Aunt Matilda (Tilly), my Grandfather Ron sitting on my Great Grandmother’s lap.
Name: Lonni Rickard
Tribe/ Nation: Enrolled Tlingit
(Central Council Tlingit Haida)
Position/Office location: Communications Specialist, IPC
Heritage Story:
My great-grandmother, Siga DoWoo—known by her Christian name, Jesse Nelson—was a full-blooded Tlingit woman from Angoon, Alaska. She married Carl Rickard, a Norwegian fisherman, who moved to Angoon because it was “warmer” than Sumstad Norway. In the early 20s, they moved from Angoon to Ballard, WA, to be closer to a children’s hospital. That move marked a shift in our family’s identity; Census records show that over time, we began claiming Norwegian heritage over Alaska Native, likely a decision made for safety and stability in an era when many Indigenous families felt pressured to assimilate.
As an adult, I’ve been on a personal journey to reconnect with my Tlingit roots. I’ve collected random photos, read about Tlingit culture, and listened to stories from people who knew my family. I have so many questions about my great-grandmother’s life and traditions—Was she a weaver? A healer?
A dancer? Did she make regalia? Stretch drum? speak fluent Lingít? Did she harvest and eat herring eggs on hemlock branches? What was her birth story like? and was her family prominent in the community?
I feel a deep longing to piece together her life and reclaim the cultural roots that were, in some ways, interrupted, and perhaps traveling to Angoon to see my ancestral grounds will help fill my cup. I have a deep connection to fiber arts, sea life, the rain, and live for cold, dark days. Though many of her stories may have been lost to time, my curiosity and commitment keep her spirit alive within me, helping me honor my Tlingit heritage and reconnect with this enduring part of who I am.
Younger Me
Donna
Pam
Name: Stephanie Starr
Tribe/ Nation: Enrolled member of the Squaxin Island Tribe & Sealaska
Position/Office location: Entrepreneurial Support and Training Specialist, EPC
Heritage Story:
For as long as I can remember, I have always known I was adopted. I knew only a few things. My mother was full blooded Athabascan Indian (Anchorage). She was young. My father was also quite young. I believe 17 & 18 when I was born. They decided to put me up for adoption. I was adopted by two amazing people. Though their marriage did not last, I still was perfectly happy and never had a desire to search for my birth parents. I will say that every year on my birthday I would wonder if they thought of me and every once in a while, I would wonder if I had a sibling and if we looked alike. I was perfectly content being an “only-child”. Admittedly, I was spoiled. Whenever I would think about how cool it would be to have a brother or sister, I would remind myself that I would have to share. Lol! My adoptive father once told me that there was a little note tucked inside my coat the day they adopted me. He said my birth mother named me Kimberly Ann McClellan. My mom insisted he made that up ;) My mom raised me by herself as we moved to Washington State and dad remained in Alaska. Flash forward to Christmas of 2017, when mom gifted me Ancestry DNA. Within 6 weeks, I knew who my parents were and I also had 2 sisters! My sisters have been searching for me since 1990. I am the oldest. Through them, I found out that my birth father passed away in 2002 and my birth mother just 3 weeks before we found each other. BTW, her maiden name was McClellan ;)
Though I am aware of some of my Alaska Native heritage, I have been far more involved with my Squaxin heritage. Either way, I am beyond grateful and so proud to call myself a Native American.
Oh and my question was answered. Here we all are in much younger versions of ourselves. The resemblance!
Sundance, Browning, MT
Name: Sophia Hipp
Tribe/ Nation: Blackfeet/ Quinault
Position/Office location: Transportation and Activities
Assistant, WFD, Pierce
Heritage Story:
My native name is Beaver Lodge Woman. As part of my Blackfeet heritage, we have bundle ceremonies. I was named at a beaver ceremony. These bundles are a collection of hides, skulls, bones, fossils, horns and crystals that are brought out once a year are passed down from generation to generation. Each bundle is for different purposes. Some are at night some are during the day. They are brought out during the change of each season. Sun Dance is our biggest ceremony the purpose of Sun Dance is a prayer for life and healing.
Our rituals for this include fasting, dancers abstain from food and water for up to four days, Piercing, dancers may pierce themselves as a sacrifice to the tree of life, blowing the eagle whistle dancer blow the whistle to connect to the spirit world. Most importantly, community Sun Dance is a time for the community to gather together.
We make food for each other; We build the lodge together we pay for each other; We see the sacrifice the dancer endures we ask for pity and blessings for our family to live a long and healthy life.
This Photo was taken during July 2024 in Browning, MT During our sun dance the Northen lights where visible all week.
Great Grandma Hazel
Name: Tamara Fife
Tribe/ Nation: Chickasaw/Enrolled, Choctaw/Descent
Position/Office location: Fiscal Services Director, IPC
Heritage Story:
On February 8, 1887 Congress passed the Dawes Act. The Dawes Act aimed to destroy Native American cultural and social traditions. It required Native Americans, including my great-great grandparents to enroll in a census, which came to be known as the Dawes Rolls.
My great-grandma Hazel is #14311 on those rolls. The Dawes Act resulted in more than 86 million acres of Native American land being sold to non-Natives. My family lost access to traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering sites. They also experienced a loss of their cultural traditions, language and food.
As a result, they moved their family from Oklahoma to the West Coast in the 1920s, seeking a pathway out of extreme poverty.
Name: Michelle Taylor
Tribe/ Nation: Prairie Island Indian Community
Position/Office location: Case Manager, WFD, Pierce
Heritage Story:
Han Mitakuyapi!
My name is Michelle Taylor (Wihmunke Win), I am Bdewakantuwan Dakota, from a small reservation on the Mississippi River in Southeastern Minnesota. I attended college in Minneapolis. I majored in Native American studies, and I have a certificate in culinary arts. I am a lover of food, travel and cooking. I am three states and two territories away from seeing this entire country. I moved to Washington about 6 years ago with my family and we have enjoyed the beauty of Washington ever since.
Name: Kyle Rogers
Tribe/ Nation: Shoalwater Bay Tribe
Position/Office location: Executive Director, SPIPA
Heritage Story:
Enrolled in the Shoalwater Bay Tribe through the Armstrong Family members, Charles Ben Armstrong and Anita Bishop Armstrong (brother and sister). Both were signers on the Official Voters List for voting on the Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934. My great grandmother, Minnie Lovey Rogers was one of their siblings. I attended South Bend Schools and was an active member in the Indian Education Program from K-12. It was during junior high that Quinault Indian Nation elder Emmett Oliver became an advisor to our program. We made many field trips together along with this son Marvin Oliver one of the Northwest Coast’s foremost contemporary sculptors and printmakers.
Name: Chris Pino
Tribe/ Nation: Diné, Navajo Nation
Position/Office location: APSA, IPC
Heritage Story:
With Thanksgiving approaching, I wanted to share the significance of the Diné (Navajo) story of how Turkey (Tazhii) saved the People. I will be sharing a story that’s passed down through generations.
In the Diné (Navajo) culture, the animals, insects, and holy people emerged through Four Worlds to get to where we are today. Each world has its own significant story of how it began, grew, and ended. This story happened in the Third World, known as “Nihaltsoh,” the Yellow World. It was flooded because Coyote, known as the Trickster, stole a baby from the Water Monster. It sent huge waves of water that forced everyone to escape through a giant reed into the clouds and into the new world. Turkey was last and barely escaped that the tip of her tail feathers turned white because of the water reaching her at the end.
They entered Fourth World, known as “Nihalgai,” the Glittering or White World. This world was bleak and empty with no living things in sight besides looking at each other. Everyone had rushed out because of the water and left empty handed, except for Turkey.
She stood up and shook her feathers and seeds of all kinds fell out. This is why she was the last one to exit the Third World because she risked gathering what the people needed. Turkey is reminded as a great gift of life for this reason.
Name: Delia Culp
Tribe/ Nation: Shoalwater Bay Tribe
Position/Office location: Native Women’s Wellness Program Coordinator, IPC
Heritage Story:
Nots eee yuq (long long ago) Blue Jay went to Calf elk and told him, “Bullhead says you have scrawny legs” Calf elk went to confront bullhead , “I heard you were saying things about me” bullhead had said nothing and became angry, he lept out of the water, got Calf elk with his horns and dragged him in the water. Blue Jay then showed up immediately being the first one in line to cut up calf elks meat. This went on many more times with Calf elk and Bullhead until bullhead became fed up and told blue jay he wanted no part of this anymore as someone always gets hurt.
The moral of the story is this: There is never an untouched party when it comes to gossip and rumors. Remember that while we all do it from time to time in the end, someone always gets hurt and it often affects not just the person being talked about but also hurts those close to them as well. Be kind to each other and instead of lending your tongue to the gossip lend an ear or hand to those being talked about you never know exactly how much you could change their life simply by ending the cycle and offering help.
