News

NWIC adds Nursing Assistant Certification program

Northwest Indian College (NWIC) is now offering a Nursing Assistant Certification program to help students gain employment in a high-demand industry. Classes for the program began Oct. 31.

“During this economic downturn, the health professions sector still saw a significant increase in job openings, as opposed to losing jobs,” Fran Dodson, NWIC director of workforce education said.

Navajo code talkers: WWII’s unsung heroes

On Oct. 27, Northwest Indian College (NWIC) students, faculty, staff and community members gathered in the Log Building to hear the stories of Samuel Tso, a World War II Navajo code talker.

Code talkers were recruited by the U.S. military early in the war as a solution to Japanese intelligence. That country’s intelligence was breaking all but the most complex of codes – and the complex codes were taking U.S. soldiers too long to decipher.

What would you do to save your culture?

On Wednesday, Oct. 26, guest speaker Geshe Yonten will discuss the loss of culture as a result of globalization and conflict.

Yonten, a Tibetan monk from Zanskar, India, will center his discussion on the necessity of preserving the Zanskar region and Tibetan culture. He will highlight unique values of Tibetan culture and the impact of losing them.

NWIC Halloween dance and costume contest set for Friday

Get spooky and dance your masks off at this year’s Northwest Indian College (NWIC) Halloween Dance.

From right - Nicole, Crystal, LC, and un-named.
From right - Nicole, Crystal, LC, and un-named.

The dance will take place from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28 in the Cultural Arts Building. DJ Big Rez will shake the walls and refreshments will be available.

NWIC Saturday Science Academy heads to the beach this weekend

On Saturday, Oct. 22, the Northwest Indian College Saturday Science Academy invites high school students to explore the intertidal marine zone habitat and help improve beach health through cleanup with the Lummi Natural Resources Department.

Students will also tour the Marine Life Center in Bellingham to see live marine wildlife such as sea stars, sea urchins, octopus, crab and shellfish.

This weekend: NWIC takes on Kwantlen Polytechnic

Come out Saturday to support NWIC Eagles Basketball as the women’s and men’s teams go up against Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Both games will be held at the Lummi Nation School. The women’s game begins and 2 p.m. and men will take the court at 4 p.m.

The season began last week and so far both teams have winning records: women are 1-0 and men are 2-0.

NWIC raises $17,000 at golf fundraiser

Northwest Indian College’s 9th Annual Golf Scramble garnered $17,000 for the school’s athletic program.

Forty four golfers participated in the event this year, held Sept. 30 at the North Bellingham Golf Course in Bellingham, Wash.

NWIC Space Center joins 2012 NASA competition

Northwest Indian College (NWIC) Space Center students will go toe to toe with students in colleges and universities across the nation in NASA’s University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) competition.

On Oct. 17, Space Center advisor Gary Brandt was notified that NWIC’s proposal was accepted and his students will again get to participate in NASA’s student rocket building competition against top universities such as MIT, Vanderbilt University, Purdue University and the University of Washington.

President Crazy Bull addresses ABC’s Pine Ridge special

Many people after watching the ABC 20/20 special, “Hidden America: Children of the Plains” may be asking, “What can be done to help?” The special depicted the daily lives of young people on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, home of one of the poorest counties in the United States. Like ABC reporter Diane Sawyer inquired at the end of the special, you may also be wondering why American Indians even stay on their reservations.

NWIC president receives award honoring Native women leaders

Cheryl Crazy Bull, president of Northwest Indian College (NWIC), was one of four Native women in the Northwest region honored with an Enduring Spirit Award at the 8th Annual Native Women’s Leadership Forum. The event was hosted by the Squaxin Island Tribe at the Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Wash., Sept. 27.

The conference, which celebrates extraordinary achievements by Native women, was developed by the Native Action Network. The Network was inspired by the founding members of the American Indian Women’s Service League, who recognized the social issues Native people would face due to the federal government’s passage of the Indian Relocation Act in the early 1950s.