Whitman Hosts Second Annual Pášx̣apa Powwow
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Sky Pasena-Littlesky ’26 was crowned as Miss Pášx̣apa at the first Pášx̣apa Powwow in 2023.
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Whitman College is honored to host the second annual Pášx̣apa Powwow on Saturday, May 3, in the Sherwood Athletic Center. This vibrant celebration of Native American culture and community will feature dancing, drumming, singing and special competitions, with participation from tribal nations across the Pacific Northwest.
The powwow is free and open to the public. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with opening remarks and a prayer, followed by grand entries at noon and again at 6 p.m. The event includes a break at 4 p.m., and winners in various dance categories will be announced throughout the day.
The Pášx̣apa Powwow—named after the Cayuse word for “Place of the Wild Sunflowers”—celebrates the cultural heritage of the region’s first peoples and honors the homelands of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tribes. Organized in partnership with members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), the event fulfills a key element of the Memorandum of Agreement between the CTUIR and Whitman College and supports outreach efforts, including the Šináata Scholarship and Native student support.
“The Pášx̣apa Powwow is a time of celebration, and it is also culturally significant,” says organizer Jeanine Gordon, Special Assistant to the President for Native American Outreach at Whitman College. “Taking place in the heart of our traditional homelands, we are gathering in a place that holds deep significance for our Tribal community. For the college, it’s a reflection of our commitment to honoring Native American culture and traditions and supporting Native American students on their educational journeys.”
In preparation for the powwow, the public is also invited to three educational presentations, all of which will take place in Whitman’s Olin Hall Auditorium:
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- Monday, April 28, at 4 p.m.—Why Dancing and Where It Came From with Althea Huesties-Wolf
- Wednesday, April 30, at 6 p.m.—Powwow 101 with Fred Hill Sr.
- Friday, May 2, at 4 p.m.—Powwow Etiquette with Jeanine Gordon
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Whitman Wire Students Win Award From Society of Professional Journalists
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A team of student journalists at the Whitman Wire, Natalie Comerford ’25, Bex Heimbrock ’25 and Nazaaha Penick ’25, have been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) with a Mark of Excellence Award (Region 10) in the category of In-Depth Reporting (Small School) for their investigation into alleged Title IX and campus safety violations. The students will go on to compete at the national SPJ conference later this year.
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History Professor Interviewed on Icelandic Radio
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Professor of History Jakobina Arch was recently interviewed for the Icelandic state media RÚV Radio program Heimskviður on the topics of Japanese whaling and whale meat consumption. The interview appears in the first half of Episode 217, titled “Japanir og Hvalkjötið og Gervigreindarkapphlaupið” (“The Japanese and Whale Meat, and the Artificial Intelligence Race”). The program is in Icelandic, but clips from the scholars who were interviewed are in English.
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Sex Week will conclude today with a “Looove Hub Pop-Up Party” on Friday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Cleveland Commons lawn. The event will include music, games, giveaways, information, a photo booth and other activities. (Flyer attached.)
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Spring Into Whitman Day Tomorrow
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The Office of Admission will host Spring Into Whitman Day for admitted students on Saturday, April 26. If you will be on campus, consider wearing your Whitman College apparel, and if you encounter any visitors, please be friendly and helpful and welcome them to Walla Walla!
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ASWC General Election Voting This Weekend
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The 2025–2026 general elections for the Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC) will take place this weekend. Voting (via Presence) will open on Saturday, April 26, and end on Sunday, April 27. More information about ASWC and the election schedule is available at goaswc.org.
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Music Department Concert on Monday
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The Music Department will present “Music of Empowerment” on Monday, April 28, at 7 p.m. in Cordiner Hall. This concert by Whitman’s Orchestra, Chorale and Chamber Singers will feature the American premiere of “Suffrage Cantata” by Swedish composer Elfrida Andrée. (Flyer attached.)
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Need an idea for what book to read next? Penrose Library (@penroselibrary) has you covered. Current displays in the main lobby include books related to Arab American Heritage Month (left), books to read if you enjoyed the new “Sinners” movie (right), and books by Whitman faculty members (not pictured). Library staff are also happy to make book recommendations!
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Welty Student Health Center
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Hall of Science, Rempel Greenhouse
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Senior Thesis Opening Celebration
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Senior Thesis Opening Celebration
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Senior Thesis Opening Celebration
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Fouts Center for Visual Arts
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Reid Campus Center, Room 207
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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