Community Fund selects Colville Tribal member as Hatfield Fellow

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and Spirit Mountain Community Fund have selected Kwani-Fawn Marcellay as the 2024-25 Hatfield Fellow.

Marcellay is a citizen of the Colville Confederated Tribes in Washington. She is a recent graduate of Portland’s Reed College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology.

The Tribe established the Mark O. Hatfield Fellowship in 1998 as a living tribute to Sen. Hatfield to honor his accomplishments as Oregon’s governor and a U.S. senator.

Each year, Spirit Mountain Community Fund sponsors a highly motivated Native American to serve as the Hatfield Fellow and intern in an Oregon congressional office, enhancing the mutual understanding between leadership in Washington, D.C., and Indian Country.

Marcellay is set for an eight-month term in Rep. Val Hoyle’s office. Hoyle represents Oregon’s fourth congressional district.

While studying at Reed College, Marcellay served as president of the American Indians Student Union. She also worked as a legal assistant for her Tribal public defender’s office and conducted community-based research for her Tribe related to sexual assault reporting.

Marcellay is the 25th Native American to serve as a Hatfield Fellow. She will begin her fellowship in November with a month-long orientation at the American Political Science Association in Washington, D.C.

Following orientation, she will begin her congressional placement in Hoyle’s office. It is Hoyle’s first time hosting a Hatfield Fellow.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Kwani to my office this fall and I look forward to seeing the unique perspective she brings to the table,” she said. “The Hatfield Fellowship, established by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, is key to strengthening relationships between Oregon’s Tribal governments and the congressional delegation. It also creates the opportunity for talented individuals to work in our nation’s capitol to promote positive, systemic change and gain first-hand knowledge of the legislative process.”

Marcellay said she was honored to be selected as the next fellow.

“I am passionate about protecting Tribal sovereignty and want to leverage the skills I will gain from the Hatfield Fellowship to advocate for policies that advance Tribal rights and promote meaningful consultation with our communities,” Marcellay said.  “My long-term professional goal is to become a powerful Native attorney who will proudly represent my Tribe and pursue justice throughout Indian Country. I feel the most passionate about legal issues concerning criminal jurisdiction, violence against Indian women and treaty rights. I view this opportunity as the beginning of an industrious career fighting for Tribes in and beyond the courtroom. I am eager to serve as a bridge between Tribal-federal relations and continue the legacy of public service as exemplified by Sen. Hatfield.”

Visit www.thecommunityfund.com for more information about the Hatfield Fellowship program and the Spirit Mountain Community Fund.