Established in 1973, the Odegaard Award honors individuals whose leadership in the community exemplifies the former UW president’s work on behalf of diversity. It is the only University and community-selected award and is regarded as the highest achievement in diversity at the UW. In addition, Denny won the Patricia Whitefoot Leadership in Education Award.

 “I feel that the importance of documenting American Indians in the 20th and 21st centuries is of the utmost importance.  As we continue to protect our sovereignty and our culture and traditions, we are at a critical point in our history where we have turned the corner from complete genocide."

 The cultural revitalization of our Nations is tremendous. Tribal Nations, and Indigenous People throughout the world are reclaiming what rightfully belongs to them, including their traditional lands, history, culture, traditions and language. The ‘Canoe Journey’ is one of these events in the Northwest and gives much PRIDE and meaning to our people.

" I began taking pictures of the journey at Quinault in 2002, and the experience of the event was so awesome that I knew I needed to document these events.”

 PHOTO EXHIBITS include Washington State Historical Museum, Evergreen State College, 25^th Anniversary of the Centennial Accord Meeting, Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration, Seattle; Squaxin Island Tribal Museum, and In The Spirit, WSHM.

Lyn Dennis -  a member of the Lummi Nation, whose Mother was Lummi and father was Tahltan, British Columbia, B.C. Graduated from WWU in Bellingham with a Broadcast Communications Degree.  

In 2015, she produced, directed and narrated a 23 minute documentary, the “Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Sla-Hal 2015 Tournament. The film will be showing during the Karshner Center’s “A Celebration to Honor the Canoe Journey” on August 2 and 3^rd, 2018.  The film premiered at the “41^st Annual Film Festival” in San Francisco, was one of 24 to be selected for the International Women Director’s Film Festival in Bellingham and in May of 2018 Lyn was elected to the Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival Board of Directors.

She has worked with the Lummi Indian Business Council and helped with the fundraising and public relations for the Annual Lummi Stommish Water Festival, an event that honors the tribal veterans and cultural events including canoe races, slahal bone game tournament, and traditional dancing. Lyn researched and wrote the captions for Denny Hurtado’s photo exhibit which documents the past canoe journeys since 2002.  She has had started and owned such business endeavors as MyTribeTV, Northwest Indian News, Native Shopping Network.com in addition to serving as the Executive Director for Northwest Alliance of Gaming Tribes (now known as WIGA, Washington Indian Gaming Association), on the board for the Native American Public Telecommunications Inc.; Chief of Staff for the Lummi Business Council Chairman and assisted the Governor’s office in preparing for the Annual Centennial Accord meeting in 2003 and on top of it all owns her own gillnetter fishing boat named by her Mom, the Humdinger. 

Harvest Moon means “A light shining forth in the midst of darkness”. She speaks from her heart and spirit, leaving people looking at a different perspective of the Northwest Coast Native Americans. Receiving the “Peace and Friendship Award”, from the Washington State Historical Society in recognition of significant contributions to the understanding of N.W. Indian Heritage.

In her presentations she describes in depth programs of the Coastal Salish Natives. Harvest Moon brings in hands on artifacts, which deliver a clearer perspective of how things were done. She will speak of the abundance of life amongst the Northwest Coast Tribes, whose rich culture has been handed down from generation to generation. Discover the unique heritage that they hold close to their hearts.

Native basket weavers, once close to extinction in most tribes, are now experiencing a rebirth of their traditions and skills. Harvest Moon delves into the history of Native American basket weaving, explaining the rituals of gathering materials and the place of skilled basket weavers within traditional society. She sees each basket as an expressive vehicle of the weaver, embodying her traditions and spiritual aspirations. Her talk is enhancing by examples of traditional baskets. Celebrating over 25 years of weaving baskets allowing her to be known as a Master Basket Weaver; teaching and displaying her work at festivals, museum gift shops and Art in Public Places and drumming and singing songs of the basket weavers of the Quinault Tribe.