Laural Ballew-Ses yehomia/tsi kuts bat soot, WWU’s Tribal Liaison, shared thoughts and insights with Western Today on what this season means to her as a person of Native descent and how universities and tribes can constructively work toward a rewarding and collaborative future for their communities.
"Autumn is a natural time to reflect on bigger questions as the days grow shorter and we retreat indoors. The falling leaves remind us that an old year is being shed and a new year is fast approaching. But more specifically, it’s a season that is punctuated by holidays and recognitions that bring up Indigenous people and what it means to be Native in what is now the United States: Indigenous People’s Day in October, Native American Heritage Month in November, and of course, Thanksgiving Day."
Come and meet with local nonprofits and learn about how you can get involved in our community at the WWU Volunteer Fair on Friday, Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in VU 565! Winter is a time when many community organizations need the most support, so it is a great time to get involved. There are lots of different opportunities for volunteering within the areas of mental health, reproductive rights, food and housing security and more! No matter your skill sets and interests, you will find an opportunity that suits you!
Western staffer Luke Hollister of University Relations and Marketing is out and about on campus and in the nearby community often, shooting images of campus and Bellingham life that we will share here in Western Today.
