2022 People of the Big River Field Class

 Saturday, July 9th, 2022 consisted of a free day for some swimming... After our morning chores we had planned a day to spend it at Two Rivers where the rivers meet one another and the Spokane Tribe has a casino and resort there, as well as campgrounds. Directly across the bridge is Ft. Spokane where another swimming area is designated for the public. I was able to take my two boys for the day to take them swimming and as soon as we got there they were excited to meet the mentors and classmates but couldn't wait to get in the water. Boys will be boys they played and fought like brothers in front of everyone but overall it was all a good time. My little one helped me find pretty rocks by sifting sand with his little sand bucket and shovel kit and began to pick some for Agnes, Calista and Dehlia. It was too sweet. My older one showed me how brave he was swimming from shore to the floating dock all by himself and jumping off of it. I was thankful I had Lance and a couple others lookin...

 Friday, July 8th, 2022 we spent the field day with Spokane Tribal Forestry... Today was an exciting day for me knowing we would be spending it with Tribal Forestry. This made me excited because I did 8 years doing forestry work for the Yakama Nation with Forestry Pre-Sales and Forest Development as a Forest Technician, Fire Management as a Wildland Firefighter and Fuels Management as a Fire Control Worker.  This is what I had originally wanted to go to school for when I was fresh out of high school, graduate of 2008 from Wapato High School. However, that all changed for me when I had my first son and needed to take care of my mental health and focus on raising my first born who was born in 2012, It was a challenge for me to be a first time mom and student at that time so I dropped out of Yakima Valley Community College.  Before I get into talking about our host for the day I want to jot down what he had said to us and myself that "no matter how long it takes or the time ...

Thursday, July 7th, 2022, our first Official Field Day... The first night camping in the tent outdoors was amazing, besides that I didn't realize our sleeping mats were self-deflate and didn't clear all the pinecones underneath my tent. It rained and stormed all night, I love the sound and smell of rain as well as the thunder that comes with it. It didn't disturb my sleep at all other than waking up sore from the pinecone being under my tent and mat.   We arrived at the Spokane Tribe's Fish Hatchery where we met Tim Peone, Program Manager of the Facility who had obtained his Biology Degree from Eastern Washington University.  Aside him was Casey Flanagan who also obtained her Biology Degree from Eastern Washington University and is the Water & Fish Project Manager. Last, was Calvin Fisher who is originally from South Mississippi and obtained his B.S. in Fisheries and Aquaculture, being from across the country he took up learning what he could from the Spokane Tribe...

 Wednesday, July 6th, 2022 is the day of our departure... I started the day out going to work to print off some maps and plans for the 2 weeks I would be gone from work so things will remain operating smoothly while I am away for the other Fiber Optic Technician in the department. I work at our Yakama Nation's Enterprise, Yakama Power a Utilities as their IT and Fiber Optics Technician.   Upon arrival to Heritage University it was a pleasure to see some familiar faces joining the trip as classmates and mentors which always makes an absence from home a little more at home while on the road.  We began to organize and pack up supplies, the intended time of departure was 11am or noon, however it took longer than expected but we made it all work and departed approximately 2:30pm.   I didn't get to ride along in the vans with my classmates where there is 6 of us and 4 mentors due to having to make a trip back home Monday/Tuesday to participate in a "Women of Trad...