Face the Day: Stories of Indigenous Survivance and Advancement That Weave a Blanket of Knowledge for Northwest Indian College Employees

Abstract

Stories constitute the fundamental essence of Indigenous existence. Through personal narratives that encompass family, trauma, triumph, experiences, and survivance, along with story-sharing sessions designed to capture employees' stories, this storywork integrates an employee orientation framework for Northwest Indian College, a Tribal College and University located in Washington state. By exploring various methodologies of employee development, this research delineates the concept of Indigenous professional development and emphasizes the significance of the participation of all employees, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, in its incorporation. It also delineates the history of Tribal Colleges and Universities, thereby interweaving concepts of identity and community, Indigenous education, and Indigenous theories and methodologies, which are integral components of functioning within a tribal college. I employ weaving as a metaphorical framework that encapsulates the five core values of the Northwest Indian College, səla-lexʷ (our strength comes from our old people), schtəngəxʷən (we are responsible to protect our land), xwləmi-chosən (our culture is our language), leng-e-sot (we take care of ourselves and others), and xaalh (life balance).