2024 Black & Gold Gala

Keynote Speaker: Vina Brown

Vina Brown is a Haíɫzaqv and Nuu-chah-nulth scholar. Her Haíɫzaqvḷa name is ƛ̓áqvas gḷ́w̓aqs which loosely translates into Copper Canoe Woman. She is an Adjunct Faculty in the Native Studies Leadership Program at Northwest Indian College (NWIC). She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Native Studies and Leadership from NWIC and a Masters of Jurisprudence in Indigenous Law from the University of Tulsa and is presently working on a PhD from the University of Alaska in Indigenous Studies with concentrations in knowledge systems, research, education, and pedagogy. She is a wellness advocate, a certified yoga instructor, and a self-proclaimed food sovereigntist. She has participated in Tribal Canoe Journeys her whole life and was raised within Haíɫzaqv territory, where she witnessed the resurgence and renaissance of her own Haíɫzaqv culture.

Vina is the owner and creator of Copper Canoe Woman (CCW). Copper Canoe Woman is an Indigenous jewelry design business. Our aesthetic is rooted in ancestral culture, stories, and adornment. The essence of CCW is about show-casing authentic place-based and yet modern Indigenous designs. Vina Brown, the owner and creator, loves classic vintage maximalism while still honoring simplicity. At CCW we advocate for issues that directly impact our communities, the environment, and support the healing and reclamation of land, culture, wellness, and more.