During the free summit, participants will:

• Find encouragement and support with tools and resources for Native student success and leadership development.

•  an increased awareness of ways to identify, articulate and work toward actionable goals for personal and communal success in culturally rooted ways.

• Make meaningful connections and gain a deeper sense of community with other Native student leaders in Western Washington.

The summit for American Indian and Alaska Native students is the result of a partnership between Highline Public Schools and Highline College.

Participating as presenters and organizers are Native educators, professionals and community leaders from the school districts of Auburn, Federal Way, Fife, Highline, Kent, Puyallup School District, Green River College, Highline College, University of Washington and the Muckleshoot Tribe. 

Bawaajigekwe Boulley, turtle clan from the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, taught for 13 years in public, charter, tribal, and language immersion schools in Wisconsin. A 2020 WI Teacher of the Year, she moved to Washington in 2021 and now serves in the Office of Native Education at OSPI with the Native Student Success Program.

My name is Muttellokee Eros Beaver  of the Muskogee Nation. I'm a youth native leader,I'm a part of nayla,nsss, nd the president of nasu I have talk to the b.I.A (buro of Indian affairs) and many more thing. I love to cook,do art work,and  skateboard.  

Elizah Dominy, whose Lingit name is Kootxheech, is a Chookaneidi woman with deep ancestral roots in Southeast Alaska, Montana, and South Dakota. Her family's origins root back to the villages of Hoonah and Angoon. Born and raised in the urban landscape of Seattle, Washington, Elizah carried within her a strong connection to her ancestral homelands, a connection that would eventually lead her on a journey of self-discovery and cultural reclamation. In 2019, driven by a profound desire to reconnect with her Lingit heritage, she decided to relocate to Juneau, Alaska. There, she enrolled at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), embarking on a path of academic and cultural immersion. This endeavor was more than just an educational pursuit; it was a homecoming, a return to the language and traditions passed down through generations. Last spring, Elizah graduated with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree, with a major in Alaska Native Studies and Languages. Her dedication to learning and preserving her Lingit language and culture reflects her commitment to honoring her ancestors and ensuring the continuity of her heritage. Beyond her academic achievements, Elizah balances her cultural and political commitments with her role as a dedicated mother to her two daughters. Her involvement in tribal governance began in 2019 with her election as the Tlingit & Haida WA Chapter Youth Ambassador. In 2021, she was selected to serve on the inaugural cohort of the Tlingit & Haida Youth Commission, and in 2023, she was reappointed, this time serving as 1st Vice President. Last year, in April 2024, she was elected as a Delegate for the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, representing the Seattle Community. Her active participation in these roles signifies her dedication to advocating for her community and shaping the future of her people. 

Jill La Pointe is an enrolled member of the Nooksack Tribe and Upper Skagit descendant. Jill attended the University of Washington as a single mother of two and graduated with a master’s degree in social work.  She later met her husband, John, and together they raised their 5 children on the Swinomish reservation. Currently they reside in Tacoma and enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and extended family. Jill has worked in social services with Native youth and families for more than 30 years in both rural and urban communities. She also taught at the University of Washington, School of Social Work, where she received an award for Outstanding Practicum Instructor. In 2006, when her grandmother retired as Director of Lushootseed Research (LR), a nonprofit she founded in 1983, dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Lushootseed language and culture, Jill humbly agreed to carry on the work. Under Jill’s leadership, LR has successfully hosted an annual Lushootseed language conference since 2010, and recently completed a film on the Healing Heart of Lushootseed, about her grandmother’s dream to bring healing to the world through music. Jill celebrates a life in recovery and remains dedicated to serving others who seek healing and support in their journey. She draws strength and healing from her work with Lushootseed Research and envisions a day when all people who visit or live in Seattle and the surrounding area will be able to see and hear the beautiful Lushootseed language and learn and grow from the traditional culture and values of the first people of this land. 

Layla Yamabe is an enrolled Quinault Tribal Member and Quileute/Squaxin descendant.

As the Traditional Medicine Program Director for Seattle Indian Health Board, Layla oversees the Traditional Medicine Department, providing Traditional Medicine services and programming to Relatives from over 250 Tribal Nations.

Layla is a graduate of Northwest Indian College with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Native Environmental Science and has spent years learning about plant medicine and coastal traditions/ceremonies.

Layla loves attending cultural gatherings like canoe journey, coastal jams, and coastal ceremonies. Layla spends her free time harvesting, weaving, clam digging, and exploring the woods, hills, and Salish Sea.

I was born and raised in Spokane , I am the granddaughter of a Spokane Tribal member. I attended Spokane Falls Community College where I received my AA, I transferred and graduated from Gonzaga University with a BA in Communications and a Minor in Political Science. I interned at the Washington State Legislature, as well as the Washington State Labor Council; I’ve worked for elected government officials, local non-profits, as well as Seattle based campaigns. Currently I am the Admissions Counselor for Native students at the University of Washington in the office of Multicultural Outreach and Recruitment (MOR). Beyond the work I do, I prioritize my connections to land, loved ones, and interior Salish history.