In the Snohomish culture, family trees are unique and its important in our culture to state family member names for oral traditional recording. Lois Ann Landgrebe was born in Seattle, WA. Her family name on her mother’s side are the Henrys. Lois’ maternal grandmother was Duwamish from the Jackson family and a descendant of Chief Seattle. On her birth father side, she is also Nez Perce. Mrs. Landgrebe has never met him, but he is from the Bob family. Lois was relinquished at birth and was adopted out at 1 year old to a white Coast Guard couple. The Berreths are her adopted family.

I was reunited with my birth mother at 21 years old. I was enrolled into The Tulalip Tribes as an adult and began to discover her people’s history, background and was hired to learn and teach the endangered language, Lushootseed in 1994.

Attending Wenatchee Valley Community College and at Antioch University I furthered my education with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies and minor in Elementary Education. I am state-certified in Lushootseed Through the First People’s language and History.

I was also nestled under the care of two national treasures, Vi Hilbert of Upper Skagit and Raymond Moses of Tulalip. I carry some of their gifts, that are stories, today. Lois was NISA’s Chairwoman of 2017 and 2018. (*Northwest Indian Storyteller’s Association)  I recall a quote from my beloved late mentor, Vi Hilbert, who once told me…”We breathe life into our stories, the testimony of our ancestors, share them so they are remembered and respected as gifts.”

Lois Landgrebe
Language Teacher Assistant
llandgrebe @ tulaliptribes-nsn.gov
(360) 716-4497