3rd Annual River Peoples Cultural Exchange 2011

Guest Speakers

The program features traditional Native dance, singing, drumming, flute music, and salmon bake. In addition, three out-of-town guest speakers will be featured at this year’s event:

Andrew Fisher

Andrew H. Fisher is associate professor of history at the College of William and Mary and author of Shadow Tribe: The Making of Columbia River Indian Identity, with the University of Washington Press. The book is part of the Emil and Kathleen Sick Lecture-Book Series in Western History and Biography. Shadow Tribe offers the first in-depth history of the Pacific Northwest's Columbia River Indians - the defiant River People whose ancestors refused to settle on the reservations established for them in central Oregon and Washington.

Based on more than a decade of archival research and conversations with Native people, Andrew Fisher's groundbreaking book traces the waxing and waning of Columbia River Indian identity from the mid-nineteenth through the late twentieth centuries. Fisher explains how, despite policies designed to destroy them, the shared experience of being off the reservation and at odds with recognized tribes forged far-flung river communities into a loose confederation called the Columbia River Tribe.

Denny Hurtado

He has been the Indian Education Director for Washington State’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the past ten years and works with all the 29 Tribes in Washington State. Before his appointment to the Indian Education Director’s position, he was the Upward Bound Director at the Evergreen State College for nearly seven years. Please visit the education website describing his program and the new school curriculum available to anyone who would like to use it. The website contains a wealth of information and images.

Denny also served as President of the Northwest Association of Special Programs for three years, which represents the TRIO programs in, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. Denny has served on the Skokomish Tribal Council for the past seventeen years. He has held the positions of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and General Council President. He also serves as the Co-chair of the Native Nations Institute, International Advisory council with the University of Arizona. He is currently a board member of the National Indian Education Association.

Currently, Denny is the Chair of the Native American Advisory Board at the University of Washington, and serves on the College Spark board, National Indian Education Association, and the Western region, college board. In 1998 he was selected to serve as a panelist for the achievement levels-setting pilot study for the 1998 civics national Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and was selected as an intern for Rockefeller/American Association of Community and Junior Colleges Administrative Internship.

As an Indian educator Denny has presented many workshops and trainings in the area of Indian education and culturally responsive curriculum and professional development.

Rick Griffin

Rick Griffin is currently the Executive Director and a founding member of Jubilee Youth Ranch, a facility committed to working with struggling teens. Rick has also been a consultant and certified trainer for several organizations that focus on youth engagement such as, Developmental Research and Programs, Thumbs Up Inc., and High Inc. He speaks to thousands of groups from all over the country and is widely recognized for his work with diversity and leadership development.

Rick’s engaging presentation style along with his cutting-edge content has been captivating audiences in a variety of industries. He has been invited to speak to groups all around the globe. His client list reads like a “Who’s Who in business and industry. He works with companies that are committed to being leaders in their respective arenas. His “A” list of clients includes Wal*Mart, IKEA, Best Buy, Mayo Clinic, American Express, and Southwest Airlines, just to name a few.

Mr. Griffin has a great passion for youth. He has developed several programs to serve high-risk youth including High 5 Inc., Play with a Purpose, and The JAILS youth program. He is currently working on his latest program Free At Last, a program designed to foster an understanding of the natural gifts and talents of our young people. Amid all this Rick still finds the time for his highest priorities, his faith, his family, and his friends.

River Peoples Cultural Exchange exists to promote accurate history of the Columbia River People area by sharing Native American traditions and culture. While the spotlight might be on a single-day annual event, which is how it began, quickly it evolved into a unified, collaborative ongoing effort to educate, promote, preserve and share. In other words, this is an ongoing, year-around cultural event, featuring an annual public celebration.

The River Peoples Cultural Exchange is a collaborative effort of the residents of Lyle, Washington and tribal members to share traditions, educate, build friendships, and promote goodwill with our communities and region.