Whitman Today
 

Monday, November 27, 2023

Pášx̣apa Powwow Celebrates Culture and Collaboration

Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky ’26 wearing Miss Pášx̣apa regalia, including a beaded crown and sash.

In a historic display of celebration and collaboration, Whitman College partnered with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and Walla Walla Community College to host the inaugural Pášx̣apa Powwow on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Sherwood Athletic Center.

A Sherwood gymnasium was transformed for the powwow, the first held on the land now housing Whitman’s campus in over 160 years. CTUIR General Council Chairman Lindsey Watchman said, “Having a powwow here on the grounds very close to where the original treaty was signed in 1855 is definitely a monumental moment.”

The Pášx̣apa Powwow drew in more than 400 attendees, with tribal members from throughout the region coming as well as Whitman students and faculty and members of the Walla Walla community. Invited drummers hailed from multiple Northwest tribal communities including the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, Nez Perce and CTUIR.

Whitman College President Sarah Bolton expressed gratitude for everyone in attendance, saying, "We are so honored to host this very special event, and to be joined by great dancers, singers, drummers and so many guests." She called the powwow a beautiful expression of the collaboration and shared vision of the Whitman and CTUIR communities.

During the powwow’s opening ceremonies, Watchman presented a tribal nation flag to President Bolton as a token of CTUIR’s friendship with the college.

Watchman said that the partnership that allowed for the creation of the Pášx̣apa Powwow has been a years-long commitment for both the tribe and the school. First formalized in 2017 and strengthened with a follow-up Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in 2022, the collaboration focuses on developing curricula centered around Native American studies, enhancing Native American recruitment and retention at Whitman, and fostering shared research interests.

Read more.

Noteworthy

Two Volleyball Players Earn All-Conference Honors

Two Blues were included in the Northwest Women’s Volleyball All-Conference selections. Kenzie Martinez ’24 was the conference’s top hitter and was named to first team. Teia Magaoay ’24 ranked third in both assists and assists per set and received honorable mention. 

Submit a Noteworthy Announcement

Announcements

Outdoor Program Gear Sale Tomorrow

The Outdoor Program will hold a new and used gear sale on Tuesday, Nov. 28 from noon to 7 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom. (See attached flyer.)

 

“Save—Wait, No—Invest in the Whales” Lecture Tomorrow

The Center for Global Studies will host a lecture by O'Donnell Visiting Educator Jamie Workman titled “Save—Wait, No—Invest in the Whales” on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. in Kimball Theatre at Hunter Conservatory. In the presentation, Workman will explore how the combination of emerging science, blockchain technology and a transparent market approach could yield positive outcomes for humans, whales, the oceans and the climate. (See attached flyer.)

 

Thursday Visiting Writers Reading Event Canceled

The Visiting Writers Reading Series event previously scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 30 (Sally Wen Mao) has been canceled. The series will resume in February.

Photo Finish

A swimmer wearing a white cap and goggles takes a breath while swimming in a swim lane at the pool.

Both of the Whitman College swimming teams remain undefeated in the Northwest Conference for fall semester. Next up, the Blues will head to Idaho for the Vandal Invitational (Dec. 1–3).

Happening This Week

 

Monday

8 a.m.

Faculty/Staff Forum with President Bolton

Maxey Auditorium

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Grieving@Whitman

All Faiths Room

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: Pilates

Sherwood Athletic Center

4 p.m.

Faculty/Staff Forum with President Bolton

Maxey Auditorium

6 p.m.

Drip Drop Dance

Dance Studio

7–10 p.m.

FGWC Study Time

Penrose Library, The Fishbowl (Room 313)

8–10 p.m.

Open Kayak

Baker Ferguson Fitness Center, Harvey Pool

Tuesday

Noon–7 p.m.

Outdoor Program Gear Sale

Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: MELT

Sherwood Athletic Center

6 p.m.

Dracula Club: Mystery Movie Night

Glover Alston Center

6–8 p.m.

Game Night (quarterlife)

Reid Campus Center, Coffeehouse

6:45 p.m.

WSJP Faculty Presentation: Lauren Osborne

Olin Auditorium

7 p.m.

Workshop: Healthy Queer Relationships

Maxey Auditorium

8 p.m.

Save—Wait, No—Invest in the Whales!

Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre

Wednesday

8 a.m.

Information Session: Open Enrollment

Virtual (Zoom Link)

Noon

QConnect: LGBTQIA+ Discussion Group

Cleveland Commons, Lizzie Murr Conference Room

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: Stretch & Strength

Sherwood Athletic Center

3–5 p.m.

Open Office Hours: Off-Campus Studies

Memorial Building, Room 205

4 p.m.

Big Tent Gathering: Bahá’í Faith

Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room

4 p.m.

Information Session: Production Roles for Student-Written One-Acts

Harper Joy Theatre, Room 106

6 p.m.

Avalanche Awareness Presentation

Olin Auditorium

7 p.m.

Third Space Speaker Series: Ijeoma Oluo

Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom

8–10 p.m.

Open Kayak

Baker Ferguson Fitness Center, Harvey Pool

Thursday

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: SWAT

Sherwood Athletic Center

4:30 p.m.

Buddy Ball

Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom

6 p.m.

Drip Drop Dance

Dance Studio

8 p.m.

La Soirée Cinéma

La Maison Interest House

8 p.m.

Meditate and Color Before Finals

Anderson Hall, Main Lounge

Friday

TBD

Whitman Swimming at Vandal Invitational

Away

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: Yoga

Sherwood Athletic Center

2 p.m.

PAUSE

Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom

4 p.m.

Queer Coded

Reid Campus Center, Room 207

6 p.m.

Desi Gala

Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom

6 p.m.

Whitman Women’s Basketball vs. Pacific University

Sherwood Athletic Center

7 p.m.

Abstract: A Freeski Exhibition (Film Screening)

Maxey Auditorium

8 p.m.

Whitman Men’s Basketball vs. Pacific University

Sherwood Athletic Center

Saturday

TBD

Whitman Swimming at Vandal Invitational

Away

4 p.m.

Whitman Women’s Basketball vs. Willamette University

Sherwood Athletic Center

5 p.m.

Catholic Mass

Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom

6 p.m.

Whitman Men’s Basketball vs. Willamette University

Sherwood Athletic Center

7 p.m.

Jazz Combos Fall Concert

Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall

7–9 p.m.

Out at Casa

La Casa Hispana Interest House

7–10 p.m.

SnowBall

Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom

Sunday

Noon–2 p.m.

Faculty/Staff Climbing Hours

Climbing Center

3 p.m.

Feast of Carols Concert

Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall

7 p.m.

Drama Club Movie Night

Harper Joy Theatre

Whitman Events Calendar

Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.

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