Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
September 15, 2015Location: Offices of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Portland, Oregon.
Tana Atchley (b. 1977) is a Modoc, Paiute and Karuk member of the Klamath Tribes, who grew up in Sprague River, Oregon on what had once been the Klamath Indian Reservation. After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, Atchley pursued a master's degree in College Student Services Administration at OSU, completing the program in 2005. In the years since, she has worked as a counselor and advisor at Portland State University, and has been deeply involved with salmon camps and other forms of outreach to Oregon's tribal youth. Since 2013, Atchley has worked as the tribal workforce development and outreach coordinator at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. Her interview focuses on her upbringing and tribal traditions; her educational path and professional career; her engagement with young people; and her reflections on the challenges and opportunities facing Native American communities in Oregon.