Mary Ellen Hillaire Symposium
April 4th, 2026
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE MARY ELLEN HILLAIRE FLYER
The Native Pathways Program (NPP) and NPP Student Governance are thrilled to announce the Mary Ellen Hillaire Symposium happening on April 4th, 2026! Join us as we honor the remarkable legacy of Mary Ellen Hillaire, a member of the Lummi Nation and the visionary behind Native studies and the s’gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ: House of Welcome-Evergreen Longhouse at The Evergreen State College.
We invite you to join us in celebrating her remarkable achievements and enduring impact at the symposium.
Schedule of Events:
- Honored Guest Speaker, Colleen Jollie
- Guest(s): Colleen Jollie
- Time: 12 PM
- Audience: Open to the Campus Community
- Lunch and Mary Ellen Hillaire Documentary
- Time: 12:30 PM
- Audience: Open to the Campus Community
- Cultural Art Workshop
- Guest(s): Kia De Miero
- Time: 2:00 PM
- Audience: Open to the Campus Community
- NPP Student Governance Silent Auction
- Time: 4:45 PM
- Audience: Open to the Campus Community
- Glass Blowing Demonstration
- Guest(s): Raya Friday and Mech
- Time: 5:00 PM
- Audience: Open to the Campus Community
About Mary Ellen Hillaire:
Mary Ellen Hillaire was a trailblazer in Native American education and culture. In 1971, she became the first woman and Indigenous faculty member at The Evergreen State College, where she developed formerly the Reservation-Based Determination Program and now the Native Pathways Program. Her innovative approach focused on core components of Native culture: music, talk, dance, and art. She actively recruited Native students by visiting communities and presenting the idea of the Longhouse, advocating for a space where Native people could learn and grow.
CLICK HERE to Access Mary Ellen Hillaire, A Lasting Vision Documentary
Thank you to our Sponsors:
