Shirley LeClair-Bernal
Shirley LeClair-Bernal is Shoshone- Bannock from Fort Hall, Idaho now living on campus at Haskell Indian Nations University. She will be graduating from the Environmental Science Program receiving her Bachelor of Science degree.
She first arrived at Haskell in the Fall 2015 semester and received her As- sociate of Science degree of Natural Science in 2017. Since freshman year, LeClair-Bernal has had the opportunity to be a Student Ambassador and wel- comed new/transfer students to Haskell during orientation week. She played for the Haskell Softball Varsity Team for two years, played the clarinet for the Haskell Band, part of both Pocahontas and Winona Hall Council, as well as the Great Basin Club, and was Vice- President of Student Senate her junior year.
The types of classes she encourages students to take in the science program are Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Vertebrate Zoology, and Principles of Ecology.
Here are some words of encouragement from LeClair-Bernal; “Haskell Indian Nations University is where you can build your academic skills, leadership roles, and social capabilities. At Haskell, you can understand what you are capable of doing with your studies. I encourage students to shake your professors’ hands and always ask for assistance for anything whether it be with a resume or a research paper. This little interaction shows that you care about your educational success in your program/classes. Lastly, apply for internships as soon as possible there are so many opportunities out there that Haskell has to offer. Don’t be shy, make eye contact, and smile. Onward Haskell!”
Shay Crowfeather
Shay Crowfeather is from the St. Croix Band of Chippewa Indians of Wiscon- sin and the Standing Rock Sioux Nation. She lives on campus and is in the Elementary Education program. Crowfeather will be receiving her Bachelor of Science.
She began her first semester at Haskell Indian Nations University in the Spring of 2015. In her time at Haskell, has been involved with the Haskell Pow- wow Association, the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA), and Thunderbird Theatre.
As a senior in the education program, Crowfeather highly recommends that students consider joining KNEA if they are interested in teaching. As Crowfeather’s time at Haskell comes to a close, her next step is to work in a tribal school.
She plans to serve her community and be the best role model that she can be for the Indigenous youth of today.
Brian Iron Whiteman
Brian Iron Whiteman belongs to the Oglala Sioux Tribe. He is currently living in Lawrence, KS and first ar- rived at Haskell in the Fall of 2015. Iron Whiteman will be graduating this May of 2019 with his Bachelor of Administration degree, majoring in Business Administration.
Since his time studying at Haskell, he has been involved with the Off-Campus club. Iron Whiteman has suggested taking as many and all the business classes that Haskell provides along with speech and public speaking classes. He stresses that these classes are vital towards a positive route if you plan to pursue majors in the business program and running your own business one day. After graduating and closing his chapter at Haskell, he plans to continue his studies and go on to graduate school. He wishes to achieve a master’s in business administration.
Iron Whiteman would like to return back to Haskell where he would like to take on a teaching or staff position so that he is encouraging Haskell Alumni engagement at the university. Here are some words of advice from Iron Whiteman, “Utilize all the resources that Haskell has to offer, make as many lifelong friends as you can, and don’t be afraid to reach out to your peers for he
Mikayla Maxwell
Mikayla Maxwell is a member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians and raised Yankton Sioux, Santa Domingo and Couch du Pueblo and a little of St. Croix Ojibwe. She lives in MN residing in the Twin Cities and started Haskell in the Spring 2014 semester on campus.
She first received her Associates of Liberal Arts degree in May 2016 later to return to Haskell in the Spring of 2018. Maxwell will be receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in the Indigenous and American Indian Studies program this May 2019. She has been involved with the Wetland Protection Organization, Barbellas, and AIHEC, participating
in hand games and archery. She com- peted this March traveling with Haskell AIHEC team to Billings, MT.
Based on her time at Haskell, she would recommend any courses within the IAIS from the following instruc- tors: Marshall, Stewart, Anderson, and Beason. If Dr. Wildcat was still teach- ing, she would recommend taking a class with him.
Maxwell plans to take a year off after graduation, prepping for the LSAT test to then pursue Law school. She sees herself representing in Congress one day. Here are some words of advice from Maxwell, “Try out new things, I wish I was involved in more clubs. I just recently started to get really involved in them and wish I had [taken] more time to look at all the clubs. I recommend being more social and it’s fun learning about peoples’ tribes. And get your homework done, apply to scholarships and don’t party too hard
Alina Serio
Alina Serio is Navajo (Dine), originating from the state of California, and now lives in Wichita, KS. She lives on campus currently and started her first semester in the Fall of 2015. Serio is majoring in the Indigenous and American Indian Studies program and will be graduating this May with her Bachelor of Arts degree.
Serio has since participated with the Anime club and has been a writer for the Indian Leader. In her time attending Haskell, she recommends taking the Drawing and Painting classes taught by Professor Titterington. She expressed that it allows students to challenge themselves to see what type of artistic talent they can reach alongside their academics.
Serio plans to further her education and achieve a master’s degree while also pursuing her love for digital and video adaptation. She has a goal to create an advancement in adaptations for film and video games for the future. Here are some words of encouragement from Serio, “Focus on your academics and always put that first. Don’t let people bring you down and let the bitterness consume you. You just do you and keep thriving.”
Keith Moore
Keith Moore comes from the Shoshone- Bannock tribe in Fort Hall Idaho. He was born in Reno, NV and calls Fort Hall his home being raised there. He first came to Haskell in the Spring of 2014 and currently lives in Lawrence, KS.
Moore will be receiving his Bachelor of Science majoring in the Environmental Science program. He has been involved with Haskell Tribal ecoAmbassadors Organization, playing on Basketball team which he became the president for the Basketball club, and he has been working and taking on leadership roles over at Student Activities. In his four years with the basketball team, he moved around a lot on the court playing the positions: shooting guard, small forward, power forward and rarely center.
Within the science program, he recommends taking any type of science writing courses. He suggests thinking about classes like tribal management to understand how this goes hand in hand with the environmental science perspective. Moore has plans in the future to implement his knowledge from Haskell for his people for a better future. Moore shares some words of encouragement,
“Enjoy college, enjoy it to the fullest. Meet lots of people, communicate to everybody even if you don’t know them on a firsthand basis. Keep those net- works and relationships open to check up on everybody. You never know who is going to become what or who is going where. Sometimes those people who you think won’t make it, end up being successful people right by your side… You build that foundation and try to keep each other up because education is important. I never thought about going to college and now I am in my last semester getting my four year.”
Brennah Wahweotten
Brennah Wahweotten is a proud member of the Prairie Band Pottawatomie Tribe from Mayetta, KS. She has been attending Haskell Indian Nations University since the Fall semester of 2015 and currently lives in Lawrence, KS. She will be receiving her Bachelor of Administration majoring in Business Administration this May.
Wahweotten has been involved with the beading club here at Haskell performing/practicing as a club and became a student representative for the club in Student Senate.
She mentions the experience she gained through these roles, for example, the communication and leadership skills she obtained with these opportunities. Wahweotten also touches on a club she wanted to create for Haskell and call it the Cultural Preservation club. She wanted to allow this club to have cultural representation for the student body. Wahweotten describes this club as a prime opportunity for revitalization of connections, “Being able to represent who you are, that’s part of our identity and that helps us to come together.”
Some of the courses that she suggests enrolling in for every student, not just students in the business program, is to take the class Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability (CSR). Wahweotten speaks on the assets of the class on how to learn to maintain sustainability, organization, and just teaches us as people how to have personal lifestyle choices to be environmentally stable. Another class she suggests taking is Indian Law and Tribal Resources in Economic Development because it can teach what the core of how our country is built on.
Wahweotten plans to further her education after graduating and go to school to be a mechanic. In the auto industry, she mentions being able to maintain her personal vehicle(s), having more native women representation. Wahweotten shares so insight and some things to think about, “Don’t come to Haskell and think you can party Monday, Tuesday, every day and every week. Live your life, come to have fun, but please be responsible and know your priorities. Freshman 15 is fine if its muscle, stay on campus as long as possible, and apply to all the scholarships you can.”
