"CommUNITY: Returning Home through Togetherness" Virtual Panel

"What Does It Mean to Be a Warrior"

Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month

Returning Home Through Togetherness, What Does it Mean to Be a Warrior

Virtual Panel | Thursday, November 11th | 6:00 PM CT

Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month 2021

Native Americans and Alaska Natives continue to serve in the armed forces at a higher ratio per their demographic. According to the Department of Defense, out of 1.2 million men and women on active duty in the US military today, more than 23,000 of them are Native American and Alaska Native.1 Native Americans and Alaska Natives are one of the most consistent demographics that risk their lives for a government that tried to eradicate them. On November 11, 2021, at 6 PM CT join us on Zoom and Facebook Live for a virtual panel titled, “Returning Home Through Togetherness: What Does It Mean to Be a Warrior.” Native veterans of warrior societies talk about their roles and responsibilities as providers and defenders of their tribe, community, and culture.

Magazine, Smithsonian. “Native Americans Have Always Answered the Call to Serve: National VFW Day 2020.” Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Institution, September 29, 2020. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2020/09/29/national-vfw-day/

Walt Pourier

Vice Chair

Walt is Oglala Lakota and created the logo for Urban Rez. He is Creative Director, owner of Nakota Designs Advertising Designs and Graphics. Executive Director of the Stronghold Society nonprofit dedicated to instilling hope and supporting youth movements through Live Life Call To Action Campaigns.

lynn palmanteer-holder

Lynn Palmanteer-Holder, an Indigenous plateau woman of North Central Washington and member of eight of twelve Tribes of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Lynn recently retired as inaugural Director of Tribal Government Affairs for Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, the state’s oversight agency of 34 CTCs.  She is a highly accomplished professional that spans over 40 years. She is an experienced educator that has a demonstrated history across K12, post-secondary & higher education as a teacher, school counselor, superintendent, researcher, and professor. Also, she has diverse experience as an entrepreneur, Tribal leader and administrator. She is skilled in curriculum and program development, facilitating government to government relationships that led to formal partnerships between state institutions and Tribes developing custom programs. Lynn has served on many boards and has been recognized for various statewide, and national awards. She has several scholarly publications and has done various conference presentations and speaking engagements, at the local, national and international level. Lynn holds a Ph.C. (ABD) in Social Welfare Policy from University of Washington. She earned her M.Ed., with a concentration in counseling psychology from Washington State University and B.Ed., in K12 Education from Eastern Washington University. Lynn is a wife of 49 years, a mother of three adult professional children, granny of 10 and great granny to two. Lynn and her husband are high school sweethearts, and together enjoy time with their 15+ two-legged blessings.