Morgan Timeche Major: Health Sciences Morgan Timeche grew up with her father & two older sisters at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. With strong roots on both her mother and fathers side of the family, the Hopi reservation is where she calls home. She is from the village of Musungnovi, studying Health Science, and has obtained her certificate of Massage Therapy from Crestone Healing Arts Center in Crestone, Co. If there is one thing you need to know about Morgan, it is that she embodies the teachings of her Hopi elders with humility and respect.
Hailey Chanler Major: Environmental Conservation & Management Hailey Chanler was born and raised in Taos, New Mexico. Her hobbies include horse riding, rafting, and hiking. At the age of 13, she became interested in plain-air painting and photography. She attended high school at the New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe, NM. After attending art school, Hailey became a full-time student at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado in August 2022. She is planning on graduating in the spring of 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Conservation and Management. She wants to combine her passion for art and environmental science. To educate, protect, and advocate for the land, water, and people.
Rue Denney Major: Environmental Conservation & Management Rue grew up in south Alabama and moved to Durango last spring to attend Fort Lewis College. They are pursuing a degree in Environmental Conservation and Management. Rue is a member of the Chickasaw Nation. Their TWMF project, they share their personal relationship with water.
Ellie Fluckiger Major: Geology Ellie is from Golden, Colorado, and has grown up on the water rafting all her life. She is a current sophomore at Fort Lewis college studying geology and pursuing a GIS certificate.
Dan Frauenhoff Major: History Daniel is a senior at Fort Lewis College pursuing a BA in History. He lives in Ignacio, Colorado with his wife Raelynn and two ornery cats. His primary focus is Colorado History during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Before returning to college, he spent seven years working for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in various roles including: Brakeman, Fireman, Conductor, Track Inspector, and Dispatcher. He is also a passionate photographer with a special interest in historic sites, then and now photographs, and landscapes.
Ellyse Fredericks Major: Journalism and Media Studies Sonway Taalawva (Beautiful Day)! My name is Ellyse Fredericks but most of my peers know me as Elly. As a student at Fort Lewis College, my major is Journalism and Media Studies with a minor in Writing. I am from the Hopi Reservation located in Second Mesa, Arizona. My interest in journalism has been an ongoing journey since high school and it best suited my passion for writing. This has allowed me to continue my work in storytelling through different media such as print, video production, and now audio.
Bethany Grant Major: Environmental Conservation & Management Bethany is Denaa (Koyukon Athabascan) from the small village of Koyukuk, Alaska. She finished her third-year majoring in Environmental Conservation and Management with a minor in Native American Indigenous Studies, which she is planning on turning into a major. She plans on moving back home within the next ten years to work towards becoming fluent in Denaake’ and to be closer to her family. She loves to bead gifts for her family and friends and to spend time with her two dogs.
Rosamariah McCabe Major: Criminal Justice Yá’át’ééh, Shí éí Rosamariah McCabe yinishyé, To’ ahani nishłį, Todich’ii’nii bashishchiin, Kinlichii’nii dashicheii, Ma’ii deeshgiizhnnii dashinalí. Akót’éego éí chi’kęę nishłį Tségháhoodzání déé’ naashá. Hello, my name is Rosamariah McCabe, I am born from the water people clan, the bitter water clan, the red house clan, and the coyote pass clan. I am a young lady from Window Rock, AZ. I am currently going to school at Fort Lewis College majoring in Criminal Justice.
Sasha Miller Major: Environmental Science Yá’át’ééh shik’ís dóó shídíne’é. Shí éí Shandiin Miller yíníshyé. Hello everyone, my name is Shandiin Miller. Growing up on the Navajo reservation, I was immersed in the principles of Navajo culture, which instilled in me a profound reverence for nature and the understanding that water is life. This deep connection to the environment sparked my passion for environmental science. Witnessing the impact of water scarcity on my community's traditional farming practices has fueled my determination to address environmental challenges and find sustainable solutions. As I expand my knowledge in environmental science, I aim to continue spreading awareness of water-related environmental issues. I am also committed to enhancing my skills in storytelling and media to effectively communicate these critical issues to a broader audience.
Kiera Nordin Major: Sociology/Human Services Kiera Nordin is a junior studying Human Services and Sociology, with minors in Business Administration and Native American Indigenous Studies, as well as a certificate in Regenerative Food Systems. She plans to pursue social work and contribute to her community on the Navajo Nation. Beyond academics, Kiera is actively involved in Bidii Baby Food’s Farmer-in-ReZidence program in Shiprock, where she is being mentored. She is also working on developing her own farming business to support food sovereignty. When not in the field, Kiera enjoys spending time with her mother at her family ranch in Tolani Lake, AZ.
Rian Stanley Major: Environmental Conservation & Management Rian Stanley was born and raised in Kayenta, Arizona, in the Navajo Nation. Rian's clans are Reed People, Manygoats, Bitter Water, and Towering House. Lolita Smith and John Stanley are his parents. Rian was raised in a Navajo-speaking and teaching household, where participated in various clubs that introduced cultural revitalization and Navajo philosophy. These traditional values helped open his education journey in environmentalism and indigenous activism. After graduating from Monument Valley High School, Rian pursued his education at Fort Lewis College, majoring in Environmental Conservation and Management, and minoring in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). His hobbies are collecting native herbs, photography, playing volleyball, and exploring the outdoors.
Maleah Tuttle-Armajo Major: Native American & Indigenous Studies Maleah Wakiyan Tuttle-Armajo is a poet and scholar living in Durango, CO, while she attends Fort Lewis College as a Native American and Indigenous Studies major. She is part of the Oglala Lakota people from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota but was raised primarily in Teton Valley, Wyoming. Her experience as a two-spirit Indigenous person is instrumental in her work and is especially prevalent in her poetry. Several of her pieces have been published in Images magazine, including "Can You Put an Indian in Space?" and "Kennewick Red Man".