As a community leader, I blend the discipline of team sports like baseball with teaching traditional ways and supporting young adults, all while upholding respect for adults and elders. My approach fosters unity, growth, and intergenerational learning within our community.

As a Gates Millennium Scholar at Gonzaga University, I embarked on an academic journey fraught with anticipation and dreams, aiming to pursue a career in medicine. However, the realities of college life, compounded by the challenges of living with arthritis, quickly set in. The pressure was immense, and during my first semester, the stress triggered such severe arthritis flares that I could hardly walk.

Pictured on the right is Meghan’s Great-Grandfather who was raised on the Snake River and was forced to the Colville Indian Reservation.

In the heart of our vibrant community lies the spirit of unity and resilience, a spirit that has been passed down through generations. As we stand at the cusp of a new era, the challenges we face are many, but not insurmountable.

As we reflect on Lucy’s legacy, it’s imperative to remember the responsibility we carry forward. We must educate, inspire, and transform our communities and governments to protect our rights, our people, and our connection to the Earth.

Ancestor Tribal Leader Peter Dan Moses