 Cheryl Ellenwood
University of Arizona – English
Cheryl Ellenwood is a first year graduate student in the American Indian Studies Program. She is an enrolled member of the Nez Perce (Ni Mii Pu) Tribe and she is also Navajo (Diné). Although born in Los Angeles, she grew up in Idaho on the Nez Perce Reservation. Active in high school sports she went on to play two years of basketball in Pasco, Washington at Columbia Basin College. From there she transferred to the University of Arizona (U of A), where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with an emphasis on Oral Tradition and a minor in American Indian Studies.
During her undergraduate work she spent several summers returning to her reservation to mentor and work with tribal youth as a camp counselor at various Nez Perce cultural and math and science camps. Each summer she also enjoys huckleberry picking in the mountains with her family.
After graduation from U of A she began working for Kauffman & Associates, Inc. (KAI) an American-Indian, woman owned consulting firm in Spokane, WA. There she was able to work on various federal contracts including the U.S. Census Bureau's American Indian Alaska Native (AIAN) Program. The AIAN Program is aimed to work towards a better AIAN count in the upcoming 2010 Census. Cheryl traveled to 14 tribal consultations across Indian Csountry during the summer of 2007, meeting with over 240 federally recognized tribal leaders. During the summer of 2008, while still actively involved the AIAN Program, the U.S. Census Bureau shifted focus to working meetings with state recognized tribes, AIAN centers, and national AIAN organizations. "I'm very proud of the work that I've done with KAI and the U.S. Census Bureau's AIAN Program. I've traveled far across Indian Country and was able to listen to many different and diverse perspectives directly from tribal leaders from federal and state recognized tribes."
During her one year with KAI she was also able to visit her family, friends, and enjoy being close to the Nez Perce Reservation. "While my work with KAI and the AIAN Program is over, I am very excited to continue my education at UCLA." At UCLA, Cheryl plans to focus on tribal law and policy and then apply to law school to study Indian Law. "I believe, as a Nez Perce/Navajo woman, I have a lot to be proud of and as an American Indian woman I have even more to work for in Indian Country."
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