Program Description
Event Details
New Voices: from Everest Basecamp to the Continental Divide Professor Jacki Klancher, Aidan Hereford and Antoine Day In May 2022, CWC Professor Jacki Klancher hiked with five Central Wyoming College students to Everest Base Camp to conduct scientific research. The CWC student team was composed of four Indigenous students: Jada Antelope, Aidan Darissa Hereford, Red Thunder Spoonhunter, Antoine Day, and one non-Indigenous first generation student Ryan Towne. During their talk, Everest Base Camp expedition participants Aidan Herefordand Antoine Daywill describe the rationale behind the science component of this effort, highlight the partners in this work, and discuss how the work in Nepal relates to alpine conditions in Wyoming. Aidan and Antoine will also highlight some of the specifics of their day to day adventures. Aidan Darissa Hereford of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, is a freshman at Central Wyoming College who changed her major to include both Psychology and Expedition Science after participating in the 2021 CWC 1000 mile bikepacking and science expedition called BIKES. In the future, Aidan hopes to become a role model to the younger generation by becoming an instructor for Central Wyoming College and Sherman Indian High School and helping the others learn more about the natural environment and traveling safely in remote environments.. Aidan has deep connections to her culture and would like to help others better understand and appreciate their culture, traditions, values and beliefs through cedaring ceremonies and giving offerings to the mountain spirits to show appreciation and respect for their land. The Everest expedition, and learning about a new environment and new people holds great meaning to Aidan. Learning about the culture, traditions, values of the Nepali people holds importance to Aidan, noting: “The people of Nepal are Native as well, just Natives of another nation.” Additionally, Aidan takes pride in knowing that she is one of a very small group of Native Americans from the United States to participate in such an adventure while representing both Wind River Reservation Tribes - the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho - and her school, Central Wyoming College. Antoine Baptiste Day, an Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho native,is a graduate of the CWC Criminal Justice program and also holds an Associate of Arts in Photography. His skills cover a wide breadth and depth as he has also studied Equine Science and Geographic Information Systems at CWC and is passionate about photography, storytelling, horsemanship, and adventures in the backcountry. His latest academic pursuits include becoming an Electrician’s Journeyman. Antoine is a life- long learner and is insatiably curious. Antione states, starting with my great grandfather and passed through the generations to me, the concept of the romantic wild west is where my journey began. Horses, saddlery, leatherworking and dust. My family has whole heartedly tried to tame the wild West until we realized that a partnership is more beneficial than taming it. Tribal Talks: Breaking Boundaries are designed to encourage dialogue and engagement between the Teton County community and tribal communities with insight into the historical and contemporary issues of tribal people. The three presentations are free to the public and begin at6 p.m. Presentations are about 30 minutes and followed with questions and dialogue with the audience.Sponsored by Central Wyoming College and the Wyoming Humanities Council Supported by the Teton County Library, Wind River Community Alliance, Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, Berte Hirschfield