Honoring Indigenous communities with deep roots in pre-colonial history and a commitment to preserving culture, identity, and land.
Monday, Oct. 13, 2025
10 a.m – 2:30 p.m.
Highline College, Building 2 and Building 8, Mt Townsend
All are welcome to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with free lectures by Native presenters at Highline College.
The day offers the chance to reflect on the ongoing struggles of Indigenous peoples. It also provide an opportunity to celebrate the thriving culture and value that neighboring tribes and other Indigenous nations add to the college. Local tribes include Muckleshoot, Puyallup and other Coast Salish tribes.
Highline began official recognition of the day in 2016. Special thanks for the support of this day to Dr. Rolita Ezeonu, Dr. Maribel Jimenez, Mia Bull, Dr. Diego Luna, Ricaflor Fontillas, Dr. Tanya Powers, Ethnic and Gender Studies, Center for Leadership & Service and the SWORD Club.
Event Schedule
10–10:50 a.m.
Decolonize Your Gaming (Building 2)Kenna Alexander (Cherokee Nation), award-winning designer of Coyote & Crow, explores how colonialism shaped game design—and how Indigenous perspectives can transform it.
11–11:50 a.m.
Muckleshoot Tribe: The Land We Are On (Building 2)Dr. Denise Bill (Muckleshoot) and the Muckleshoot Canoe family share stories of the ancestral villages and their work in Native education and leadership.
12:30–2:30 p.m.
Games & Gathering (Building 8, Mt Townsend)Play Native-made games like Coyote & Crow, Wolves, and Naasii. All levels welcome. Lunch provided.
If you require accommodations due to a disability, please contact Access Services at (206) 592-3857 (voice) or by email at access@highline.edu. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
Proclamation
WHEREAS, Highline College recognizes that the college is built upon the homelands and villages of the Indigenous Peoples of this region, without whom the building of the college would not have been possible; and
WHEREAS, Highline College values the many contributions made to our community through Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge, labor, technology, science, philosophy, arts, and the deep cultural contribution that has substantially shaped the character of Highline College; and
WHEREAS, Highline College has a responsibility to oppose the systemic racism towards Indigenous Peoples in the United States, which perpetuates poverty and income inequality, and exacerbates disproportionate health, education, and social stability; and
WHEREAS, Highline College promotes the closing of the equity gap for Indigenous Peoples through policies and practices that reflect the experiences of Indigenous Peoples, ensure greater access and opportunity, and honor our nation’s Indigenous roots, history, and contributions; and
WHEREAS, Indigenous Peoples Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas;
AND, WHEREAS, Indigenous Peoples Day offers an opportunity both to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous Peoples and to celebrate the thriving culture and value that our neighboring tribes including Muckleshoot, Puyallup, Duwamish, and other Indigenous nations add to our college.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the second Monday in October shall be declared as Indigenous Peoples Day at Highline College.
Proclamation was signed in September 2016 by Dr. Jack Bermingham, who served as Highline’s president, 2006–2017.