Western Reads to celebrate Coast Salish Day, Indigenous Peoples Day Oct. 11 with 'Tulalip' event

In honor of Coast Salish Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Western Reads and the World Issues Forum will host an inauguration of this year’s Western Reads book, "Tulalip, From My Heart: An Autobiographical Account of a Reservation Community," by Harriette Shelton Dover and edited by Darleen Fitzpatrick, from 4-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, in Fraser Hall 102. A reception will follow in the Old Main Solarium from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Harriette Shelton Dover was the first woman to serve on the Tulalip Tribal Council and later as tribal chairperson.  For over a decade, she worked with anthropologist Darleen Fitzpatrick to recount her tribe’s history and her own story.  She provides an intimate account of the Treaty of Point Elliott in 1855, as told to her by her Elders, and vividly describes her years at the Tulalip Indian Boarding School.  She writes about the hardship of the Tulalip tribes’ relocation as well as their resiliency and deep ties to the land in this remarkable autobiography. 

After a welcome from the Lummi Blackhawk Singers and WWU President Sabah Randhawa, members of the Tulalip tribes will gather to talk about their relationship to the book, tribal histories, cultures, education reform, and recent events.  Guests include:

  • Patti Gobin, Tulalip, Natural Resource Treaty Rights Office, Tulalip Tribes
  • Marjorie James, Tulalip, Historical Education Coordinator for the Tulalip Tribes
  • Senator John McCoy (D), Tulalip
  • Theresa Sheldon, Tulalip, Tulalip Board of Directors and WWU alum
  • Mary Jane Topash, Tulalip, Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve, Tours Specialist
  • Michael Vendiola, Swinomish, Program Supervisor, Office of Native Education, Superintendent’s Office of Public Education, and WWU alum

The event is free and open to the public. Parking will be suspended in lot 12A and a Bellair shuttle will be available to drop guests at Fraser Hall.   For more information please visit https://wp.wwu.edu/westernreads/ or email Dawn Dietrich at Dawn.Dietrich@wwu.edu.

Co-sponsored by the World Issues Forum and the College of Humanities & Social Sciences.