Lower Columbia/Willamette River Professional Chapter
The Lower Columbia/Willamette River Professional Chapter is based in the Portland, Oregon area.
Mission
To substantially increase the representation of American Indians and Alaskan Natives in science, technology, and math (STEM) studies and careers.
Support
COVID-19 has affected us all. The LCWR chapter has partnered with the Puget sound chapter to raise money for donations for Navajo Nations elders.
Learn more about how the Navajo Nation has been affected.
Meetings
Professional meetings are held on the second Wednesday every month at 12 pm, noon, PDT.
Meeting Address
Portland State University
Fourth Avenue Building - Room 0012
Meeting Agenda - March 10, 2021
new items
Approve notes for February 2021
OMSI Update
Open question for everyone: how can OMSI work differently to support the native community?
Treasurer's Report
Summary in email
PSU Student Chapter Activities
AISES Leadership Summit April 2 and 9
NW Innovative Forestry Summit March 30-April 1, 2021 - 4-6pm
Old items
Officer Nominations/Elections
Update from Retreat
Review what we discussed and how we want to shape the future.
This Friday, Tim, Melissa, and Lydia will be meeting to demo Mozilla Hubs.
Afterthought, https://www.loom.com/blog/use-cases-talent, is Loom a viable way to send messages to the community and each other?
National Congress of American Indians - Annual Convention and Marketplace
November 8 - 13, 2020 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR
Herb Fricke suggested STEM event sponsorship from Chapter
Update from those who attended
Dick French Scholarship
NATURE (NSF Engineering Research Center for Native American and Tribal Understanding to Reinvent Engineering )
Vision and Goals of the ERC
NATURE ERC is motivated by the widening gap between the societal advancements in fundamental knowledge in engineering disciplines and the realities faced by Native and Tribal communities in benefiting from basic environmental and infrastructure services. The vision of the ERC NATURE is to reimagine technical innovation through integration of culturally and socially informed engineering solutions inspired by indigenous knowledge. Advances under the NATURE ERC will accelerate development and adoption of appropriate technology and indigenous workforce development, creating resilient shelter, water, sanitation, information technology, and energy solutions to positively transform the quality of life and meet the Sustainable Development Goals in Native American communities.
Our goal is to develop fundamental knowledge that will benefit the resiliency and sustainability of vulnerable communities through the infusion of local and indigenous practice into research-generated solutions to seemingly intractable problems. Our focus will be on new technology development and technology integration processes for indigenous communities that are chronically underserved. We believe that systemic racism in engineering has not been addressed and has limited accessibility to and diversity in engineering practice.
Pow wows and table events
All postponed
Covid-19 donation with Puget Sound Chapter
https://www.gofundme.com/f/pacific-nw-donations-for-navajo-elders
Update on recent trip
Videos
Check out links Don sent about videos from NAYA, Wisdom of the Elders, and Native Perspectives.
Next meeting: April 14, 2021
Officers
President - Melissa Clah
Vice-President - Don Motanic don.motanic@gmail.com
Treasurer - Karen Graves Pyrch
Secretary - Don Motanic
Social Media - Lydia Doza