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Community Voices: Whatcom Women Share Their Stories

Published on 4/12/2026

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On March 15, 2026 the Racial Equity/Healthy Democracy Issue Group brought together six women to tell us stories about their lives. Whatcom County is enriched by its diversity - rural and urban, longtime residents and newcomers, different cultures, faith traditions, careers, and life journeys. By hearing directly from women whose lives reflect that breadth, we gain insight into both our distinct experiences and our shared commitments to community.

Dr. Lexie Tom, the President of Northwest Indian College, was our first speaker. She shared about the challenges of growing up on the Lummi Reservation with its rich indigenous culture
and attending school in Ferndale which reflected the settler culture and values. Dr. Tom talked about her circuitous path to a meaningful education culminating in a PhD in Indigenous Studies at the University of Alaska and her current work with Northwest Indian College.

Our second storyteller was Dr Jacqueline Hughes who is the Chief Diversity Officer at Western Washington University. She talked about her work helping people with different beliefs and viewpoints to listen to each other openly and the importance of examining the roots of one’s own beliefs and questioning them. We learned a little about her Caribbean upbringing and the journey to her work here in Bellingham.

Shirley Osterhaus, who has been an activist in Whatcom County for 42 years, shared her story starting from her childhood. She was raised on a family farm in the Midwest and was brought
up with a connection to the land and to be of service to others. Shirley first came to Western Washington University to be the Catholic missionary at the Campus Christian Ministry. She
later taught at Fairhaven. Her passion is human rights. At the CCM she helped lead trips to the border with Mexico and give students a chance to see what was happening and help by building houses and other work. In the 1980s she helped start CARA Central American Rights Association which helped people from Central America have a safe place to stay while waiting for their hearings at the Canadian Border. Her activism continues.

Ellen Torres, a leader of the Civic Engagement team of Community 2 Community, was our next speaker. They gave us a lot of insight into the work of C2C as an eco-feminist, farmworker supporting human rights organization.

The last two storytellers were from the Nikkei Northwest group. Sandy Fugami told the story of James Kazuo Okubo, a local man who volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 442nd
Regimental Combat Team in the US Army and is a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor. We learned he was a member of one of the 33 Japanese American families in Bellingham who were sent to the concentration camps and deprived of their rights. None returned to Bellingham. There will be a memorial bench dedication on May 30th at Memorial Park in Bellingham to honor Okubo.

Viva Barnes shared about her life in Whatcom County as a single mother and her work to support the family. She took one class a quarter at Western and finally graduated after 21 years with a double major. Viva then got a job in the Anthropology Department where she worked for many years. Dr. Tom remembered her with great appreciation for how she was caring and encouraging to her as a student at Western.

In a healthy democracy, every voice matters. We hope to offer more events that center respectful dialogue, thoughtful listening and civic engagement.

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