Other LanguagesEdward "Arlen" Washines
Yakama Name: “Shx’my’ah”
English Name: Edward “Arlen” Washines
Enrolled Member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Member of the Wulx’wy’pum/Ka’milt’pa/ss’kin and Wenatcheepum Bands of the Yakama Nation.
Education: Indian Shaker Church; Sweatlodge; Wah’shut and Native American Church. Graduate of Riverside Indian School, Anadarko, Oklahoma, Class of 1973. BA and M.Ed Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, Oklahoma.
Professional Career: retired 42 years with the Yakama Nation including 10 years as a member of the Yakama Tribal Council four of which served as Executive Secretary. Professor Native American Studies, Heritage University Fall 2024. Volunteer, Yakama Nation Tribal School Athletic Program.
Family: companion Tabatha; 8 children: 21 grand children and 1 great grand child.
Memberships: Heritage University Board of Trustees; Fred Hutch Cancer Center Tribal Advisory; CIRCLES
Alliance University of Idaho Tribal Advisory Indigenous S.T.E.M. Curriculum Development; Chairperson Boys
& Girls Club of the Yakama Nation. Washington State Attorney General TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
Boarding School Tribal Advisory Committee.
Diana Bob
Diana Bob is an attorney with Native Law PLLC, a Bellingham based law firm focusing on Indian and Environmental law. She is an enrolled member of the Lummi Nation.
Ms. Bob’s legal practice is focused on generally applicable environmental laws, cultural resources laws, Indian water rights, treaty reserved rights and real property matters. She works with clients on interstate water rights matters as well as complex permitting projects. Ms. Bob currently serves as an appointee on the Washington State Attorney General’s Truth and Reconciliation Tribal Advisory Committee. In addition, she has held several leadership positions for the WBSA Indian Law Section and is a frequent CLE presenter on Indian law topics.
Ms. Bob holds a B.A. from Pitzer College, in Claremont, California and received her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School with certificate in Environmental Law, in Portland, Oregon.
Rebecca Black
Rebecca Black is an enrolled member of the Quinault Indian Nation. She is trainer, facilitator, anti-racism trainer, educator, Indian Child Welfare advocate, state licensed tribal foster parent and Second-Generation Scoop Survivor. Rebecca has been a plenary speaker for the Northwest Justice Forum, the Western Washington Indian Education Association, the National Indian Child Welfare Association national conference, Samish Nation MMIW keynote speaker, Treehouse Association Regional Conference and is a community partner/speaker for the film Dawnland. She is a staunch advocate for tribal children in foster care, has testified before the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Executive team in support of ICWA compliance and enforcement.
Tamika LaMere
Tamika is a citizen of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana and was and raised in Great Falls, Montana. Her background encompasses Social Work and Educational Leadership, and she earned a MSW at Eastern Washington University. Since 2016, she has served Spokane Public Schools as an Intervention Specialist, four years as Native Education Coordinator, and now Director of Native Education. Strategic planning and implementation, creating and facilitating professional development have positively elevated representation and visibility of Native American/Alaskan Native communities within SPS. In addition, an emphasis on systems change through building trust and authentic relationships which elevate community needs and voices are the foundation for her work.
Tamika serves on various committees at the district level and continues to seek opportunities outside her role at SPS. Committed to servant leadership, Tamika continues to expand her focus on Native American/Alaskan Native youth in education throughout the greater Spokane community and the state level. Some examples are the Board of Directors for the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Better Health Together, and the YWCA. She also is the Chair for BHT’s Tribal Partners Collaborative, leads the YWCA’s Racial and Social Justice Learning Community, Washington State Native American Education Advisory Committee, Native Educator Cultivation Program, and has been appointed as one of five commissioners for the Washington State Tribal Advisory Committee on Indian Boarding Schools. Tamika will continue to strive towards creating opportunities that respect and honor our Indigenous youth that nurture all aspects of their being, so they are able to thrive educationally.