Indigenous Scholars Carry Language, Culture, and Community into the Future

Published October 12, 2026

Native and Indigenous scholars strengthen the UO and their communities through research, education, and cultural preservation. 

Shayleen Macy, a Wasco/Warm Springs/Yakima member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, is a PhD student in linguistics and a recipient of both the division’s Future Steward and Margaret Weise Scholar awards. Her research investigates the historical roots of Chinookan languages, which are Indigenous to the Columbia River region of Oregon and Washington.

Shayleen has long black hair. She smiles outdoors with trees behind her.
“A reconstruction of the historical Proto-Chinookan language can help tribal communities compile vocabulary lists and understand the grammar of their own language.
 
These Indigenous languages are understudied in the field of Linguistics and yet, they represent an important facet of history in Oregon and Washington."
Shayleen Macy

Shayleen’s scholarship focuses on describing the grammar of Kiksht and its related languages: Clackamas, Kathlamet, and Chinook. Her work aims to support revitalization efforts by their descended communities at the Warm Springs, Yakima, Cowlitz, Grand Ronde, Siletz, Shoalwater, and Chinook tribes of Oregon and Washington.

Brandie Chavez, a doctoral student in educational leadership and recipient of the division’s Future Steward award, brings a related focus on the role of education in sustaining Indigenous knowledge and community values. A member of Katishtya (San Felipe Pueblo), Brandie moved from her home in New Mexico to attend the UO, earning her MEd in curriculum and teaching in 2025 as a member of the Sapsik’ʷałá cohort.  

Brandie emphasizes the importance of supporting Indigenous students as they carry the teachings of their families and communities into their educational experiences. She identifies that connection as essential to strengthening cultural identity and preparing students to contribute to their communities.

Brandie has mid-length black hair. She smiles outside in the sunshine.
“Today, students must build self-confidence in their heritage, because these roots sustain them when they leave home. 

By holding onto values like integrity, respect, tradition, and dance while navigating modern education, students can remember their resilience and truly excel."
Brandie Chavez, MEd '25 (curriculum and teaching)

We honor and support the leadership, resilience, and scholarship of Indigenous students like Shayleen and Brandie. Their work helps carry cultural and community knowledge into the future. 

 

—Isaac Membreño, a doctoral student in counseling psychology, is a graduate employee at the Division of Graduate Studies focused on programming support.