10th Annual Native Student Success Summit Inspires, Empowers Native Youth

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, Green River College, Highline College, University of Washington and the Muckleshoot Tribe. 

My name is Natalie MC Anderson. I am an enrolled Tlingit & Haida member with roots from Southeast Alaska and the Blackfeet nation in Montana. I also have roots from Scandinavia. I am from Seattle Washington and a senior enrolled at KWHS this year taking full time college classes at Green River College. I am a LSU officer at GRC and a student intern with the institute for community leadership and the MLKFC. I enjoy journaling, singing and dancing, and roller skating.   

Halito! My name is Amani Hussen and I’m a 18 year old senior at Decatur High School. I also am a Running Start student at Highline College. On my mother’s side, I am apart of the Choctaw Nation based in Oklahoma. I cherish my Native American roots as I was raised partly raised by my grandparents, who introduced me to this wonderful culture. My hobbies include writing stories, making art, playing sports, and making music. Super excited to meet you all!  

Donny Stevenson is a Muckleshoot Tribal Councilmember and longtime leader who has dedicated over 30 years to serving his Tribe and Native communities. A graduate of The Evergreen State College with a focus in Native American Studies, he is committed to strengthening Tribal sovereignty, cultural identity, and opportunities for future generations.

Grounded in the teachings of his ancestors, Donny brings a strong belief in unity, collaboration, and responsibility to the next generation—values that guide his leadership and inspire the work he does every day.

Penaho ne naniha Lauren Nabahe Kwinawetün nümü Diné Mono ne noompai nyet et san dyne snunyka

I am Paiute-Shoshone, Navajo and Mono. I come from my ancestral lands of Owens Valley in Lone Pine California. I serve as the Eastside Native American Education Program Manager serving Bellevue, Northshore and Lake Washington School District. 

Director of Scholarship Operations

Navajo Nation

As the Director of Scholarship Operations, Christa manages and directs all aspects of student services and financial aid operations. She also supervises Outreach, Academic Empowerment, Leadership, and Alumni relations programs for Native Forward and the Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMSP). Her passions include developing innovative approaches to delivering programs and services to GMS Scholars, as well as assisting scholars with exploring positive educational experiences through program support, outreach, and advocacy.

Christa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminology and a Master of Arts in Community and Regional Planning, both from the University of New Mexico. Christa is an active participant in the organization’s community outreach activities and represents Native Forward scholars on the Gates Millennium Scholars Advisory Council and Gates Foundation Domestic Scholarship Provider Partnership.

Cherokee Nation

Scholarship Operations Manager

A native of Stilwell, Oklahoma, I was honored as a Gates Millennium Scholar. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.

I previously served as a Scholarship Advisor with the Cherokee Nation College Resource Center, where I provided guidance and support to students pursuing higher education opportunities. During my tenure, I earned a Master of Science in Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration.

I currently serve as a Scholarship Operations Manager with Native Forward, where I remain committed to advancing educational access and success for Native students.

Roger Fernandes is a Native American storyteller, artist, an educator. His work focuses on the cultural traditions of the Coast Salish tribes of western Washington. He is an enrolled member of the Lower Elwha S’Klallam Tribe and has a bachelor’s degree in Native American Studies from The Evergreen State College and a masters degree in Whole systems Design from Antioch University.

He has been creating Coast Salish art for over 40 years and been an active storyteller for over 30. He has worked in the field of Native education and culture since 1974 as a home-school liaison, program director, curriculum developer, and a teacher in high schools and colleges.

He teaches classes on Coast Salish art, traditional storytelling, and philosophy at higher education institutions like The University of Washington, Highline College, Seattle Central College, and The Northwest Indian College.

Kaya Fernandes is an enrolled member of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Western Washington University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Education at the University of Washington Tacoma. She is currently serving as the Executive Assistant for Urban Native Education Alliance.

Throughout her professional career, Kaya has worked in education as a youth support specialist, tutor, and teacher. Throughout her career, she has remained deeply committed to serving Indigenous youth and families through education, advocacy, and storytelling.

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.

Mike is Yakama tribal member

1979, Graduated from White Swan high school,  where Mike earned All-Conference basketball honors his senior year

After graduating from high school, Mike enlisted into the US Air Force for four years as a vehicle mechanic, exiting with the rank of Sergeant.

1993, Mike studied and received his Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Geography from the University of Washington 

1993, Mike received his Washington State Teacher’s Certificate from UW

1999, Mike received his Master’s degree in Education from Antioch University.

2015, Mike received his Ph.D. in Forestry from the University of Washington

Over the past 40 years, Mike has worn many professional hats including: Vehicle Mechanic, High School Teacher, School District Administrator, Federal Education Program Specialist, Tribal Liaison, University Lecturer and is currently CEO of United Indians of All Tribes Foundation.

Maxine Alex (she/her) is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and works as the Tribal Consultation Program Supervisor for the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Schools. In this role, she helps make sure Tribal Nations and the state work together respectfully on education decisions that affect Native students and communities.

Maxine supports schools and districts by teaching school leaders how to work with Tribes in meaningful ways, as required by state and federal law. She also helps coordinate education programs, offers guidance to school districts, and encourages policies that respect Indigenous cultures, knowledge, and Tribal sovereignty. Before this role, she worked as a State GEAR-UP Director for the State of Nevada, District administrator,  Tribal advocacy, Title VI programs, and as a Social Sciences and History teacher.

Outside of her professional work, Maxine is a Jingle Dress dancer and an Indigenous beadwork and textile designer, expressing culture, healing, and storytelling through art and movement. Her work, both professionally and creatively, is grounded in building strong relationships, sharing decision‑making, and honoring Indigenous knowledge in public education.

Dean Kramer is an enrolled member of the Native Village of Eyak with roots in the Alutiiq community of Prince William Sound, Alaska. His journey has been shaped by his indigenous heritage, fostering a connection to the land and traditions of his people.

Leander Yazzie, Ed.D. is a Tribal Relations Manager within Green River College’s Indigenous Student Success Center. He is an enrolled Tribal member of the Navajo Nation, originally from Fort Defiance, Arizona. His clans are Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water), born for Tó’aheedlííníí (Water Flows Together), his maternal grandfather is of the Tábaahá (Water’s Edge), and paternal grandfather is of the Tsénjíkíní (Honey Combed Rock People of the Cliff Dwellers) clans. Dr. Yazzie has held positions at Green River College within the Workforce Education and Career & Advising, and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Throughout his career in Higher education, Dr. Yazzie has always advocated for Native American, Alaskan Native, Indigenous students, staff, and faculty within Washington state by attending state community and technical college (CTC) meetings and conferences. He has facilitated Native American student, faculty, and staff groups at the annual Student of Color Conference and the Faculty & Staff of Color Conference. He encourages students to use their voice to share their story. Also, at the foundation of the work, to bring visibility to our Tribal student and communities. He is currently active in Native & Indigenous educational programming as an Executive Board member of the Inaugural Washington State American Indian Indigenous Studies Advisory Board (WCAAB) and serve as Green River College’s Native American Working Group (NAWG) Chair. In the past, Dr. Yazzie served as the Native American Student Organization (NASO) staff advisor for three years. The creation and formation of these groups and organization has been on Yazzie’s workload for over five years. The key virtues of this work stems from patience and ambition, thus having faith and trust in institutions and its leaders.

Air Defense Artillery Non-Commissioned Officer, United States Army, Staff Sergeant (E6), Bachelor of Science American Indian Studies, Arizona State University; Bachelor of Arts Sociology, Arizona State University; Master of Human Relations, University of Oklahoma; Doctor of Education Higher Education Leadership, University of Washington Tacoma.

I am the Public Health Services Program Director at the Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI), a division of the Seattle Indian Health Board. UIHI is one of 12 Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) in the United States (US). UIHI is the only TEC serving the research, evaluation, and data needs of urban dwelling American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people served by over 70 health organizations located in 50 cities spanning 133 counties. I earned my BA in Political Science from the University of Washington in June of 2016. And have been working in American Indian/Alaska Native Public health for over a decade. I currently oversee the implementation of Seattle Indian Health Board’s (SIHB) Indigenous Knowledge Systems of Care (IndigiKNOW) model across all integrated public health programming, including programs targeted to, co-planned, and delivered with Urban American Indian/Alaska Native and other Indigenous elders, youth, and families. I provide leadership to our youth, elders, intergenerational families and HIV/STI programs in addition to overseeing public health interventions and programs across the agency. SIHB public health activities range from direct service, intervention, prevention programs and workforce development.

Matthew (he/him), member of the Navajo Nation, is a University of Washington graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology. Motivated by firsthand awareness of healthcare disparities, they are driven to improve access to oral healthcare in American Indian/Alaska Native communities. At the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB), they progressed from dental sterilization technician to dental assistant through SIHB’s workforce development program to gain hands-on clinical experience while applying to Dental School.

Tommy is a traditional formline artist of Haida (Southeast Alaska), Coast Salish, and Filipino heritage. Born and raised in South Seattle, he is what is known as an “Urban Native”, an experience that shapes his artistic practice. Working primarily in formline art, Tommy draws upon his various Northwest Coast visual traditions to explore identity, cultural continuity, and contemporary Indigenous presence. A former educator and University of Washington graduate, he became a full-time artist in 2019. Through his work, Tommy challenges static narratives of Native identity and affirms that Native cultures remain living, visible, and vital today. 

John Reamer is an enrolled Makah Tribal member, while also being Ihanktonwon (where his grandmother is enrolled). He graduated from The University of Washington – Seattle, with a major in American Indian Studies. John grew up on the reservation in Neah Bay, Washington, it was during his time growing up that he knew one day he would like to live in the Seattle area to learn more about American Indian education, urban Indian culture, while also connecting with and learning from all walks of life that find their way to the big city. John has goals to return to college in pursuit of a master’s degree in the near future, but wanted to spend some time working within the school system in order to fully understand the work that is needed to be done to secure a better future for our coming generations. In John’s free time he loves listening to music (edm especially), going to the gym, spending time with his friends and family, watching sports, reading, and playing video games. 

Armando T. Ortíz grew up in White Center and graduated from Big Picture high school. He went on to play two years of collegiate football at his alma mater Central Washington University where he majored in Sociology with a minor in Ethnic Studies. During his time at CWU Armando worked as a program coordinator in the diversity center while in collaboration with his two mentors Dr. Keither Champagne & Dr. Raymond Hall, with the development of a male success initiative to support Black and Brown men, persist through and graduate from CWU while also serving as the universities first Native American Student Government President. Upon graduating Armando went to attain his Masters in Education from Loyola University Chicago in Cultural & Educational Policy Studies.

Since graduating from Loyola Armando has moved back to White Center where he has worked for a number of nonprofit city and school-based organizations which has led him to further his determination to serve the community that raised him. Currently he is working as a School Design Coach with the Big Picture Learning Native American Initiative providing schools with the knowledge and insight on how to best serve Native American and Indigenous students while serving as a Promise Scholar Specialist at Mount Rainier HS in Highline Public Schools where he supports 150 Black and Brown young men at Mount Rainier.

Jill La Pointe is the Sr. Director of the Indigenous Peoples Institute, at Seattle University. She is a member of the Upper Skagit tribe and Nooksack descendant. Before coming to Seattle University, she worked in social and health service programs serving Native communities, both rural and urban, for more than 30 years. She also taught graduate courses at the University of Washington, School of Social Work, where she received an award for Outstanding Practicum Instructor. When her grandmother retired as Director of Lushootseed Research, dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Lushootseed language and culture, Jill agreed to carry on the work. Under Jill’s leadership, LR has successfully hosted an Annual Lushootseed 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. She finds strength in supporting students on their academic journeys and building relationships across the campus and with local Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities. 

Maya Lopez serves as Senior Program Coordinator at the Indigenous Peoples Institute, where she centers her work on supporting students with Native American, Indigenous, or tribal heritage. She is Turtle Mountain Chippewa, Little Shell Chippewa, and Zapotec. 

She has recently earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with minors in American Indian Studies and Diversity, from the University of Washington, Seattle. Maya is committed to empowering Indigenous youth by promoting mental health and well-being while building strong cultural connections that support academic success and career development.