Welcome Message to Our Indigenous Students
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge we are gathered upon the ancestral lands of the Seattle area's Federally
Recognized Indian Tribe - the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, who historically lived throughout
the areas between the Cascade Mountains and Puget Sound, what is also known as the
Salish Sea. Muckleshoot is party to both the Medicine Creek and Point Elliot Treaties.
These treaties reserve governmental rights to the Muckleshoot people and recognize
their “Usual and Accustomed Territory”, where they hunt, fish, gather, trade, govern,
and live. These areas include DiDelaliV, (Dz-zah-lah-luch), what is now known as the
city of Seattle and surrounding region. * DiDelaliV, (Dz-zah-lah-luch)- is the traditional
Muckleshoot place name for Seattle and means: the shaking ground place.
Today Muckleshoot celebrates and honors their culture by practicing and preserving
their traditional language and heritage. They're also educating their youth, and providing
housing, healthcare, elder programs, Veteran's resources, and many other vital programs
to their members.
As the second largest employer in South King County, Muckleshoot directly or indirectly
supports thousands of jobs in this region and spends millions of dollars annually
on hundreds of charitable and community contributions.
Muckleshoot remains a strong Sovereign Nation and are invaluable contributors to our
state history, identity, economy, and culture.
- Muckleshoot Indian Tribe (2021)
Student Leadership
Join the Indigenous Student Success Center! Become an ISSC student leader, connecting students to campus resources and developing culturally relevant programming for the campus community. Visit our office or email us at diversity@greenriver.edu to learn more about our student positions.
Native American Student Organization (NASO)
NASO is a student-led club that strives for an interactive campus experience that promotes Native Indigenous excellence and leadership. Through educational workshops, cultural events, and transformative experiences, NASO creates a space for Native students to bring awareness and welcome those who are not connected to Tribal communities or lifestyle
Students of Color Conference (SOCC)
The Students of Color Conference aims to support and encourage Washington State students to become more active proponents of their own education and life choices and expand on opportunities and possibilities for students to become agents of change.
Native American Student Success Summit
NSSS was founded at Highline College in 2016 through the leadership of Native educators and leaders from educational systems throughout the South King County area. Native Student Success Summit is designed to inspire and empower high school and college students to be successful in higher education and beyond.
Instructional Technology (IT)
Associates of Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T)
- Cybersecurity & Networking
- Data Analytics & Software Development
Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)
- Cybersecurity & Networking
- Software Development
Certificates
Tim Mason – tmason@greenriver.edu
Katie Markham – kmarkham@greenriver.edu
Early Childhood Education
Certificates
Associates of Applied Science (AAS)
Associates of Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T)
Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)
Leslie Kessler – lkessler@greenriver.edu
Carpentry Technology
Certificates
Associates of Applied Science – Residential and Light Commercial
Muckleshoot Pre-Apprenticeship Carpentry Program
Robert Bean – rbean@greenriver.edu
Genevieve Corrin – gcorrin@greenriver.edu
A focus on the literary, oral, and cultural traditions of U.S. indigenous communities, including Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Pacific Islanders. Course involves critically reading and interpreting important literary genres including non/fiction, drama, poetry, autobiography, critical essays, and epistolary works which can also be situated in other cultural narrative genres such as songs/chants/music, dance narratives, film and documentary. Additionally, this course incorporates a study of historical, political, and cultural texts to contextualize the works. Examines how Native American writers combine tradition and contemporary ways to develop innovative forms of expression.
Tribal Scholarships
- Muckleshoot Scholarship Program
Phone: (253) 876-3147
Email: ScholarshipsDept@Muckleshoot.nsn.us - Puyallup Tribe of Indians Higher Education Program
Phone: (253) 573-7885 - Snoqualmie Tribe Higher Education
Phone: (425) 888-6551 ext. 1119
Email: education@snoqualmietribe.us - Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship & Financial Assistance
Contacts by Agency - https://onnsfa.org/staff-directory-1
Financial Aid
GRC Financial Aid Liaison
Rawan AlAmoundi - rawan.alamoundi@greenriver.edu
Workforce Education
Workforce Education at Green River College provides funding for students in Career & Technical programs. The funding programs include Basic Food Employment & Training (BFET), Workfirst, Opportunity Grant, and Worker Retraining. For more information, visit Workforce Education or email workforce@greenriver.edu
TRiO
A student support service for first generation, low income, and/or students with disabilities. Their mission is to increase opportunities for academic success through educational planning, transfer advising, tutoring, scholarship and financial aid resources. For more information visit TRiO’s website or email triodepartment@greenriver.edu
Green River Foundation Scholarships
Green River Foundation has an application process for Scholarship eligibility that can assist student financially with tuition, books, and required supplies. The scholarships are divided into five categories: Program, Merit, Need based, General and Transfer scholarships. https://www.greenrivercollegefoundation.org/applynow
- World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) - https://wipce2020.net/
- American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES) - https://www.aises.org/
- Puget Sound Professional Council (AISES)
- National Indian Education Association (NIEA) - http://www.niea.org/
- National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) - https://www.nicwa.org/
- National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) - https://ncore.ou.edu/en/
- Washington State Faculty & Staff of Color Conference (FSOCC) - Annual conference held in October. Designed for faculty and staff of color who are employed with Washington State’s Community & Technical Colleges.
- Western Washington Native American Education Consortium Conference - http://wwnaec.org/
Visit the Holman Library's Native American & Indigenous Studies Guide
- Information about Native American Heritage
- Reading suggestions
- Web Sources
- Online Streaming Videos
- Search strategies
Below are the support staff that help lead the efforts in supporting Native and Indigenous students.
Dani Crivello-Chang, Dean of Campus Life
e: dani.crivello-chang@greenriver.edu
Marwa Almusawi, Director for Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
e: malmusawi@greenriver.edu
Indigenous Student Success and Tribal Relations Manager - Vacant
Tribal Pathways Manager - Vacant
Devon Williams, (Fort McKay First Nation) TRiO Advisor
e: dwilliams@greenriver.edu