This six-week course invites participants into a deeper exploration of Indigenous presence, persistence, and resurgence in the Pacific Northwest—through a holistic lens that honors the interconnectedness of thought, experience, emotion, and spirit. Guided by Indigenous lifeways within the lands and stories of Northwest Nations, we’ll move beyond linear narratives to embrace learning as a living, relational process. Each session builds upon the last through shared stories, land-based understanding, and dialogue with community voices. Together, we’ll reflect on the legacies of colonial policy and the movements of renewal led by Native communities today—from language revitalization to treaty justice, from environmental stewardship to cultural healing. Rather than separating our ways of knowing, this course enriches a unified awareness of place, history, and the responsibilities we carry into the future. Designed to nourish curiosity, connection, and shared purpose, Echoes of Sovereignty offers not only understanding but the opportunity to live commonly in relationship with land, community, and nature.

Your Instructor: Professor Ron Johnson is an enrolled member of the Makah Nation in Neah Bay.  His mother Julie is an enrolled member of the Lummi Nation. Ron has worked in a variety of natural resource fields, has three beautiful children and is currently pursuing his Doctorate degree. Ron has taught courses at The Evergreen State College and currently teaches at Northwest Indian College.

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