Native Artist Scholar Events with Dr. Luhui Whitebear

As the 2025-26 Native Artist/Scholar in Residence at Lewis & Clark, Dr. Luhui Whitebear (Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation) will engage in a series of lectures, workshops and events for faculty, students and the campus community throughout the academic year.

In August, Dr. Whitebear will kick off New Student Orientation with a lecture and panel exploring themes resonant with an excerpt from the graphic novel collection “This Place”. Incoming students will all read the common reading in preparation for the fall and have the opportunity to hear more about Dr. Whitebear’s research which include indigenous knowledge systems, Indigenous feminisms, Indigenous rhetorics, Indigenous activism, MMIW, national law & policy, and Indigenous land & water rights.

In September, Dr. Whitebear will return to campus to lead 2 days of workshops. These include a zine-making workshop for students and a workshop for faculty exploring art-making as pedagogy for teaching the Humanities.

Finally, Dr. Whitebear will join us in the spring to facilitate activities around the exhibit Transgressors (co-curated by last year’s Native Artist/Scholar Anthony Hudson) at the Hoffman Gallery. Exact dates and activities will be announced soon.

2025-2026 Native Artist Scholar Residency Schedule:

New Student Orientation- Common Reading Lecture and Panel

Friday, August 29th (9-10:10am)
Agnes Flannagan Chapel

Join Dr. Whitebear for a talk on Brandon Mitchell’s graphic essay “Migwite’tmeg: We Remember It”, followed by a panel discussion including Professor Nancy Gallman and students.

Zine Making Workshop

Monday, September 8th
Fowler Student Center- FSC 310 Stamm East

1:50-2:50pm - CORE classes

3:00-4:00pm - Open to all students

Faculty Pedagogy Workshop- Integrating Arts into the Humanities

Tuesday, September 9th
3:30-5:00pm
Albany Quadrangle 218

Transgressors Exhibition- Dialogue and Art Workshop

Thursday, February 26th, 5pm
Hoffman Gallery - Transgressors Exhibition

Join Dr. Luhui Whitebear and Steph Littlebird, an artist, author, curator, and enrolled member of Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes, in conversation on themes arising from the current exhibition at the Hoffman Gallery, Transgressors. Following the conversation, Dr. Whitebear will facilitate an artistic workshop exploring mosaics and painting.

About Dr. Luhui Whitebear

Dr. Luhui Whitebear is an enrolled member of the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation with Huestec and Cochimi ancestry. She is an assistant professor in the School of Language, Culture, and Society (Indigenous Studies) and previously served as the Center Director of the Kaku-Ixt Mana Ina Haws at Oregon State University. Institutionally Luhui serves on the core leadership of the President’s Commission on Indigenous Affairs, the Bias Response Team, and on the Faculty Senate representing the College of Liberal Arts. In the community, she serves as the Chair of the Corvallis School Board, as the Vice President of the OSBA Caucus of Color, and on the MMIW USA board. Luhui is a mother, poet, and activist engaged in community-based work. Dr. Whitebear received her PhD from Oregon State University (OSU) in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; her MA from OSU in Interdisciplinary Studies; and BS degrees from OSU in Anthropology and Ethnic Studies. Her research focuses on California Indigenous studies, Indigenous feminisms, Indigenous rhetorics, Indigenous activism, MMIW, national law & policy, and Indigenous land & water rights. Prior to her time at OSU, Luhui served as the College Advising and scholarship Coordinator for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

The 2025-26 Native Artist/Scholar Residency Program is made possible by a generous donation from Ronni Lacroute, a member of the Arts@LC Advocacy Council.