2018 Honorees

Congratulations to our 2018 Enduring Spirit Award honorees Deborah Sioux Cano-Lee (Salt River Pima-Maricopa), Nancy Shippentower-Games (Puyallup), Jenece Howe (Yakama), and Cecilia FireThunder (Oglala Sioux).

Deborah Sioux Cano-Lee, Salt River Pima-Maricopa

Ms. Sioux Cano-Lee has dedicated her personal time volunteering as Chair of the Washington Indian Civil Rights Organization to provide a multitude and range of supportive services for the advancement of Indian Education and to protect the civil rights of Seattle Urban Native learners. Ms. Sioux Cano-Lee has worked tirelessly and steadily with Seattle urban youth and community in a number of advocacy roles including: facilitator, mediator, witness, advocate, trainer, consultant and advisor. Ms. Sioux Cano-Lee exemplifies the importance of volunteer service for the betterment of our collective communities, and her commitment to her beliefs and fundamental human rights is a shining example of extraordinary dedication and sacrifice for our well-being.

Nancy Shippentower-Games, Puyallup)

Nancy Shippentower-Games grew up on the banks of the Nisqually River with her parents Donald McCloud (Puyallup) and Janet McCloud (Tulalip). Her father’s parents are Willie Frank and Angeline Tobin, her mother’s are Mamie McCoy and John Renecker. Nancy grew up in the fishing wars on both the Nisqually and Puyallup Rivers. Nancy graduated from college at The Evergreen State College under the direction of Mary Ellen Hillaire, and worked at the Puyallup Tribe on and off for over 30 years, mainly in natural resources. She was on Puyallup Tribal Council during the Land Claims Settlement, and signed the 1989 Centennial Accord.

Nancy has made it a priority to encourage our young people to step up and continue the fight that was started years ago – preserving our natural resources, fighting for our missing and murdered Indigenous women, protecting our earth, and nurturing our young leaders.

Jenece Howe, Yakama

Janece Howe (Yakama) currently serves as the Director of the Yakama Nation’s Village of Hope where she helps homeless tribal members locate permanent housing, employment, and pursue their education. Through her work many families have since moved on and are receiving support needed to accomplish their goals. Residents who reside in the Village’s tiny homes share responsibility for the local community garden and preparing meals, and are all a part of the “family” that Jenece has nurtured.

Cecilia FireThunder, Oglala Sioux

Cecilia Featherman Apple was born in a high wall canvas tent in 1946 on the Prairie. Attending to her birth was Nellie Red Owl and her father Stephen Apple. She is grateful that she came into the world and that all the steps taken were in line with the old ways. She heard of that time from Nellie herself with her thamni (afterbirth) being given back to Ina Maka. Cecilia grew up along Medicine Root Creek near her grandparents in a log house that her father and his cousins and friends put up, she is grateful for being immersed in Wolakota, living off the land, and appreciating the simple life.

A strong advocate for Native women, Cecilia Fire Thunder became the first woman president of the Oglala Sioux tribe in 2004. She served until being impeached in 2006, over controversy after she attempted to bring a Planned Parenthood clinic onto the reservation after most abortions were banned by the state government. She was one of the founders of the Oglala Lakota Women’s Society, and has been involved in activism for issues of domestic violence and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. She is currently the coordinator of the Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains.