July 24: State’s first tribal extension office celebrates
By Rachel Webber, College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences
NESPELEM, Wash. – Washington State University and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation will celebrate establishment of the state’s first self-directing tribal extension office on Thursday, July 24. The event will be 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. next door to the extension office near Bldg. #888, 9 Methow St., Nespelem, Wash., 99155.
“This is a major milestone,” said Linda McLean, director of WSU Colville Reservation Extension, which becomes the 40th office in the state. “Development of this office sets a precedent for tribes across the nation.”
WSU Extension programs have been offered on the reservation for more than 20 years, but under direction of neighboring county extension offices.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of cooperative extension nationwide. To kick off the next 100 years, the tribal extension office will host an afternoon of sharing stories and histories and celebrating community partnerships.
Working across the reservation, the extension office offers programs that include agriculture, natural resource, family and consumer science, youth development and 4-H, and community economic development education.
Contacts:
Linda McLean, WSU Colville Reservation Extension, 509-449-0332, ljmclean@wsu.edu
Dan Fagerlie, WSU Extension tribal relations liaison regional specialist, 509-690-0009, fagerlie@wsu.edu
