WWU’s Fraser Lecture Series to highlight Indigenous knowledge, experiences, wisdom and storytelling

Western Washington University's 2025-26 Fraser Lecture Series presents "Nitsipowahsin: Breath of Our Ancestors," an immersive program that honors the knowledge, experiences, wisdom, and storytelling of the Blackfoot Confederacy, May 19-22, at the Lhag 'temish ew'w e tse XwLemi' - House of Healing - Longhouse, located in the Sehome Hill Arboretum at 505 Arboretum Drive.

The main lecture series, from Wednesday, May 20 through Friday, May 22, welcomes respected elders, ceremonialists, and scholars from the Siksikaitsitapi, representing three of the four Blackfoot Confederacy Tribes - Kainai, Piikani and Aamskapi Piikani. These distinguished voices will share teachings, experiences and wisdom across a range of topics including Siksikaitsitapi ways of knowing and being, science, philosophy, culture, language, history, contemporary context, Tribal sovereignty, food sovereignty, environmental justice and more.

The series begins with a special pre-lecture event on Tuesday afternoon, May 19, where WWU student Frank Miedema, a member of the Blackfeet Nation (Aamskapi Piikani), will present on Indigenous water rights and the Blackfeet Nation.

The Lhaq 'temish-ew'xw e tse XwLemi - House of Healing - which opens on Thursday, May 14, is a Coast Salish-style longhouse built in partnership and close collaboration with Coast Salish tribal nations and the WWU Native American Student Union (NASU).

The 2025-26 WWU Fraser Lecture Series is organized by Visiting Assistant Professor Will Makóyiisááminaa and Professor Kristen B. French (A'saanaakíí) of WWU's Woodring College of Education. Event sponsors include the WWU Center for Education, Equity and Diversity (CEED), NASU, WWU's Office of Tribal Relations, and Woodring College.

More details about the 2025-26 WWU Fraser Lecture Series are available on the WWU Tribal Relations website, including links to live streams of each presentation.

The Fraser Lecture Series is funded by an endowment from the estate of Gordon H. and Alice C. Fraser. The purpose of this endowment is to support lectures, seminars, symposia or workshops in the natural, social and applied sciences, with emphasis on the Health and Life Sciences. Through the lecture series, individuals of international and national reputation are invited to the University to share their knowledge with the campus community and help improve existing programs or initiate new ones.