Michelle Aguilar-Wells
Michelle is the instructor in charge of the Taholah, Quinalt Reservation site. This program offers liberal arts education that integrates a tribal perspective within the curriculum. Michelle also owns The Indian Way; a business that encompasses consulting and training, and produces arts and crafts. Michelle has also had the privilege of working for three governors, Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas, Governor Booth Gardner, and Governor Mike Lowery, both of Washington.
Michelle has worked in public service for most of her life. She has a deep commitment to making a difference. A basic tenet of her personal philosophy is to do what is possible to provide the tools, to empower others, to effect positive change. In that vein she opened and operated an art gallery to showcase and assist Indian artists in bringing their work to the market place. She has served on many boards and commissions including, the National Indian Child Welfare Association, City of Lacey Planning Commission, Project Interchange Alternate School Advisory Board, Governors Interstate Indian Council, and Northwest Arkansas Cultural Council. In addition she has volunteered over the years with many organizations, currently serving as a tutor in a reading program at the Taholah Education Center.
Michelle has received honors including being nominated as an Outstanding Young Women of America several times and selected in 1986 and 1988. Also in 1986, she was given the opportunity to act as a consultant to The Four Directions Council; a United Nations approved non-governmental organization (NGO). She testified on adoption and child placement, indigenous languages in education, and child labor at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland during the Rights of the Child Concention. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians selected her as one of their Outstanding Women Leaders in 1993.
Michelle is enrolled as a California Indian, Luiseno/Soboba. She is married to Richard A. Wells, Gros Ventre, Quinalt Tribal Planning and Community Development Manager, and has a blended family of five children and one granddaughter. She and her family live near the village of Taholah on the Quinalt Indian Reservation.
Michelle may be reached at:
The Indian Way P.O. Box 599 Taholah, WA 98587 360-276-4598
You can contact Michelle for more information via e-mail at fourstar@techline.com.
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Last modified: Friday January 12, 2001.