2006 Honorees

Congratulations to our 2006 Enduring Spirit Award honorees Carol Craig (Yakama), Theresa Parker (Makah), Dr. Lee Piper (Cherokee), Emma Sweet Baxter (Snoqualmie), and Lois Sweet Dorman (Snoqualmie).

Carol Craig, Yakama

Carol Craig (Yakama) is the Public Information Manager for the Yakama Nation Fisheries Program. Ms. Craig is a professional journalist, educator, and public speaker. She belongs to the Native American Journalists Association, the Washington Association of Press Women, National Federation of Press Women and Society of Professional Journalists.

Ms. Craig was a Buffet Award finalist in 2000, was the Yakama Nation Female Employee of the year in 2002, and received the Spirit of the Salmon Award in 2002 from the Columbia River Inter-tribal Fish Commission for her education efforts. Ms. Craig has served on the Board of Directors for Salmon Corps, a branch of AmeriCorps and currently serves on the Yakama Nation’s KYNR radio advisory board.

Ms. Craig volunteers her time as a mentor to young students interested in journalism and photography and utilizes her journalism talents to educate the public on important treaty rights.

Theresa Parker, Makah

Theresa Parker (Makah), works for the Makah Culture & Research Center. She is an anchor and inspiration for her community, both at home in Neah Bay, and across the northwest where she serves on the Board of Directors for the Northwest Native American Basketweaver’s Association - NNABA. She is one of the five Parker sisters, known across the country for their extraordinary skills in making beautiful Cedar bark and bear-grass hats in the traditions of their ancestors.

Theresa works continuously for her family and community where she is always doing, always busy, supporting funerals and weddings and gifting babies and birthdays. Theresa was on the founding board for the Basket Weaver’s Association at its start in 1995 and has served continuously, teaching hundreds of weavers to pass on the art of basket weaving into the hands of mostly women and young girls.

Dr. Lee Piper, Cherokee

Dr. Lee Piper (Cherokee) is a retired educator and counselor from Highline Community College where she was also Director of Minority Affairs. She served with the Navy Waves during WWII. Dr. Piper was one of the original members and a past president of the American Indian Women's Service League..

Mother Lee, as she is known by many, devoted her life as an educator, mentor, advocate and beloved clan mother whose lifetime of advocacy and volunteerism has spanned decades and continues to this day. She currently serves on the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation board of directors and actively teaches Cherokee language. Her tireless efforts on behalf of women, children and families has positively impacted many in our community.

Emma Sweet Baxter, Snoqualmie, and Lois Sweet Dorman, Snoqualmie

For nearly two decades, the Sweet Sisters along with the late Emma Sweet have undertaken the Snoqualmie Tribe’s stewardship responsibilities in the ongoing work to protect the sacred Snoqualmie Falls. This work has included huge federal bureauctratic processes, grassroots organizing, and public education about very sensitive cultural matters, Currently, the work involves an appeal at the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and alternative dispute resolution with Puget Sound Energy.

The sisters have many times simply gathered people at Snoqualmie Falls to pray in a way that is inclusive, respectful and welcoming. This has nourished, healed and strengthened so many Native people including the Peace & Dignity runners, Sacred Earth Conference guests and Chief Seattle Club members.

Linda and Lois embody a kind of love and integrity that stems from the sacred connection they maintain to the Creater, the ancestors, and their ancestral homelands.