Sharing Stories and Protecting Culture

As a journalism student at UW (’08), Jordan Dresser loved writing as a form of art and expression.

“I enjoyed being able to tell stories, because storytelling has always been very important to Native American people. That’s how we passed down the culture and traditions,” he says.

Dresser, a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe, grew up in Fort Washakie. At the time he attended UW, the Native American Education, Research and Cultural Center didn’t yet exist.

“There were very few of us at the time, but we were able to support and help each other—be each other’s biggest cheerleaders and really push each other to the finish line,” he says.

After graduation, he interned with the Denver Post and went on to earn a master’s degree in museum studies from the University of San Francisco. He now works as a collections manager for the Northern Arapaho Tribal Historic Preservation Office.

“This job is important because we’re protecting what we have as Native people,” Dresser says. “We’re out there every day doing the work to ensure that our voices are heard, that these sites are protected and that we’re preserving everything for future generations.”

Dresser continues to tell stories through the documentaries he creates, including one he’s finishing on the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. He was also featured in the PBS documentary What Was Ours.

“I use my degree every day, and I get to tell stories still—most of all, stories that are about the Native experience and how we can learn from each other and have empathy for each other,” he says.

Dresser also continues to stay involved with UW and gives back to future generations as a member of the Northern Arapaho Endowment Scholarship Committee.

“It’s a really rewarding experience,” he says. “It’s exciting to see students spread their wings. I always advocate for students. I come to different events the Native students hold and try and build connections and let students know that we support them.”