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Sequoyah Fellows Breakfast
A special interlude at every National Conference is the Sequoyah Breakfast, where new Fellows are ceremoniously welcomed into the number of lifetime members — this year, approximately 80 new Sequoyah Fellows joined this group of especially dedicated AISES members. The breakfast opened with a blessing by Council of Elders member Faith Spotted Eagle, followed by remarks from Tara Astigarraga, a distinguished engineer at IBM and holder of more than 80 patents, who said, “The people here are a large part of what makes AISES so strong.” The Firestone Drum Group offered an honor song as new members were blessed by the Council of Elders.
Council of Elders Emerita Dr. Henrietta Mann was honored at the Closing Banquet.
Conference-goers arriving for the Closing Banquet and Ceremony were impressed by the beautiful table arrangements and centerpieces, which put everyone in a festive mood. The dinner menu itself followed AISES tradition by including dishes and ingredients typical of local tribes, which in Spokane featured salmon. Entertainment for the ceremony was provided by Ala Mai, a troupe of diasporic Queer and Trans-Pacific Islanders who performed dances inspired by their cultural heritage.
“We welcome Indigenous knowledge about what happens on the landscape.”
— Tina Terrell, USDA Forest Service
After opening remarks from the USDA Forest Service's Tina Terrell, Lillian Sparks Robinson, the mistress of ceremonies, kept to a busy schedule of entertainment and speakers, beginning with the Elder Blessing. A high point of the evening was a special recognition for Dr. Henrietta Mann, a charter member — now emerita — of the Council of Elders. Norbert Hill honored her with remarks. “She makes us all look good,” he said. “She is the ambassador of the good. She taught me that laughter is the best medicine and tears are the highest form of prayer. We all stand on the shoulders of giants. I stand on her shoulders, and so do you.”
Dr. Bret Benally Thompson also spoke about Dr. Mann, followed by the honoree herself who said, “I have never questioned what I was to do in life except educate people. What I have done, if I have done anything, is for you and because of you. It has been my honor to have served you for over three decades on your Council of Elders.”
“I remember a time when we had four chapters and 24 students at a conference.”
— Norbert Hill, AISES Council of Elders
UTOPIA's Ala Mai performed a lively set of traditional Pacific Islander dances.
Student speakers were Melissa Jacquez and Peter Thais, who said, “I joined AISES in my second year of high school and I saw it as a source of financial aid, but it is so much more. I found the twice-weekly meetings to be a source of support, of how to study, of which professors to avoid, and most important, of when to ask for help.”
“I joined AISES in my second year of high school and I saw it as a source of financial aid, but it is so much more.”
— Peter Thais
The recipient of the 2023 Ely S. Parker Award, the highest AISES honor, is Marlene Watson, whose evocative remarks included the observation that she and everyone present were there because of the founders and all they accomplished. Partner Service Award winners were recognized, and Professional Award Winners were introduced via individual videos. Sequoyah members in the audience were recognized, and outgoing members of the AISES Board of Directors were also recognized and thanked. For more on the award winners and Board members, see “Honors and Awards.”
Following the Closing Banquet many attendees took a turn dancing at the traditional powwow, while others enjoyed watching from the sidelines as the dancers and drummers created a colorful finish to a record-setting National Conference.