Cascadia Culture and geoScience Exchange Program
Quileute – Kʷòʔlíyot’
Since time immemorial, the Quileute Tribe, now located at the village of La Push, has lived and hunted across the vast coastal territories of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. Through their Move to Higher Ground project, the Quileute Tribe has led the way in adapting to coastal geohazards in the Pacific Northwest. The Move to Higher Ground project resulted in the successful relocation of the Quileute Tribal School (QTS) out of the Cascadia tsunami zone in Summer 2022. For many years, QTS and the Quileute Tribe have generously welcomed UW students into their school and community, sharing their culture with us. Liʔatsḳal (Thank you).
About
Program History
Over the past two years, UW graduate student Madeleine Lucas has led a team of UW students to develop and teach week-long Earth Science curricula focused on geology (2022-23) and seismology (2023-24) to QTS high school students over UW’s spring break as part of the Riverways STEM Alternative Spring Break (STEM ASB) program. In 2023-2024, with support from the Cascadia CoPes Hub, Madeleine expanded this program into a year-long engagement with QTS through the Riverways Culture and Science Exchange (CASE) Program. Last year’s CASE seismology program included a student internship where three QTS high schoolers worked on the “7 Shakers” team to install a RaspberryShake seismometer in QTS, design and build a community seismic display, monitor earthquakes, and translate seismological terms into Quileute.
About
Program Overview
During the 2024-25 CCASE program, our team will develop and teach a 5-day, high school geomorphology curriculum and lead a high school internship program. In past years, QTS students have expressed interest in learning about the geoscience of local waterways. So, our curriculum will be focused on the geomorphology of the rivers that weave through the Quileute watershed and empty into the Pacific Ocean at La Push. Híx̣as asaḳɫásalo kʷoˀlíyot̓, yíx̣ kʷoˀliyot̓ilo t̓siḳ̓áti (Quileute Land is Quileute Culture). The waterways of the Quileute Nation are central to Quileute life and culture. In our program, we will emphasize how understanding the geomorphology of the landforms and waterways around us, from both indigenous and western perspectives, can allow us to better understand and prepare for future Cascadia geohazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods.
Program Outline
Winter 2024: Site Visit
- Teach (1 day geomorphology lesson)
- College Table at lunch
- Get to know students and community members
- Meet with interns
February 2025
- Hosting QTS High School students on UW campus
UW Spring Break 2025
- Teach (5 day geomorphology curriculum)
- Participate in cultural activities
- Learn more Quileute language skills
Follow
Quileute CASE Blog
Follow the journey of the 2024-2025 Quileute CASE program and hear from high schoolers in the program!
Coming Soon!
Meet The Team
Quileute CASE Leadership
Madeleine Lucas
Quileute CASE Lead
University of Washington
Madeleine is a 5th year PhD student in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and love for the Earth Sciences with communities directly impacted by her research on Cascadia earthquake and tsunami hazards. Madeleine aims to inspire kids from all walks of life to pursue the geosciences. Over the past three years, she has led the development of a partnership between UW Riverways program and the Quileute Tribal School to exchange culture and science with high school students, teachers, and the broader Quileute Tribal community. Driven by a deep passion for both teaching, community engagement, and research, Madeleine aspires to merge these interests in her future career. She looks forward to working with CRESCENT on her work building strong educational partnerships with coastal communities in Cascadia to increase community resilience to earthquakes and tsunamis in Cascadia.
Mya Baker
Culture Lead
University of Washington
Mya Baker is a senior studying Computer Science at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science hoping to improve technological literacy and education in underrepresented communities. Mya is into her third year as an Allen School Ambassador and educator of the STEM Culture and Science Exchange program organized by the Riverways Education Partnership. During Spring Breaks, Mya contributes to creating a culturally-sustaining curriculum for Quileute High School students. With an underfunded Native American population, Mya helps support their practices by learning the Quileute language and integrating indigenous traditions into student lesson plans about the geological hazards in La Push, Washington. Mya’s experience contributing to diverse communities and first-hand involvement with students learning new material has driven her to help others who are struggling through similar systemic obstacles and require guidance which can positively impact the course of their futures. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching documentaries, and diving into acrylic painting projects!
Abbey Moore
Science Lead
University of Washington
Abbey is an Oceanography PhD student at the University of Washington. This is her 1st year on the QTS CASE team.
Alyssa Iverson
Communication Lead
University of Washington
Alyssa Iverson is a junior at the University of Washington studying Geoscience. This is her 1st year on the QTS CASE team. Her interests are in structural geology and geomorphology as well as making science more accessible to the non scientific community. She is excited to work with the Quileute CASE team this year to connect with and exchange information with the tribal communities in Washington and share her interest in geology with others. Thank you to the Riverways program, CRESCENT, and the Quileute Tribal School for making this possible!
René Castillo
Internship Lead
Ohio State University
René is an Earth Science PhD student at Ohio State University. This is her 1st year on the QTS CASE team. René’s research is centered on her fascination with geohazards, extreme environments, and outdoor recreation! She is passionate about exploring the dynamic forces of our planet while seeking adventure in the great outdoors. As a geohazard enthusiast, she has always been captivated by the raw power of nature. Whether it’s studying volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or landslides, she is constantly amazed by the Earth’s ever-changing landscape. Her academic and professional journey has led her to study unraveling the mysteries of geohazards and understand their impact on our environment and society. But it’s not all about studying disasters; she is equally drawn to extreme environments. From the depths of the oceans to the icy moons of other planets, René thrives on pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge. When not immersed in geoscience research, you’ll find René indulging in outdoor recreation or baking bread. Hiking, camping, rock climbing, and kayaking are her go-to activities to connect with nature and recharge the spirit.
Meet The Team
Quileute CASE Partner Teachers & Staff
Alice Ryan
7-12 Science Teacher
Quileute Tribal School
Scott Jackson
Math/Science/Quileute Language Teacher
Quileute Tribal School
Jacob Anderson
IT/Field Trip Support
Quileute Tribal School
Alexis Ward
QTS Culture Instructor
Quileute Tribal School