Yakama Nation Tribal Council and SEFS leadership meet to discuss the continued support of students in earth sciences, fisheries and environmental science
In the beginning of 2025, SEFS Director Dan Brown met with Polly Rigdon from the Yakama Nation Tribal Council. Rigdon teaches a class called, “Role of Culture and Place in Natural Resource Stewardship: The Yakama Nation Experience.” Rigdon leads UW students and faculty onto the closed portion of the reservation to learn about natural resource stewardship by the Yakama Nation. Over the years the class has attracted hundreds of students.
Right now, both the Yakama Nation and the UW want to see the Memorandum of Understanding updated so that it reflects the current needs of the Yakama Nation and UW students. The relationship between the College of the Environment, SEFS and the Yakama Nation is strong and started over two decades ago, shared Phil Rigdon, an Affiliate Assistant Professor and Yakama member.
Continued conversations with the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and the UW will create programs that encourage tribal students to enter environmental programs at the College and, upon graduation, return to work for the tribe.
Read the original article from the Yakama Nation Review. Original photo and article by Carol Craig.