Meet our Culture Team
David Sway-La Duenas - Director of Culture
haʔɫ sləx̌i(l) txʷəl gʷəlapu, gʷəlapu dʔiišəd dsyayayəʔ čələp! David Sway-La Cougar Duenas ti dsdaʔ, spuyaləpabš yəxʷ ti Blackfeet ʔaciɫtalbixʷ čəd ʔal ti dbadaligʷəd čədə Comanche & Choctaw ʔal ti dsḱʷuyaligʷəd. ʔəsḱʷədiitubuɫəd čəd txʷəl ti dsux̌udx̌udbitubuɫəd ʔə tiiɫ siʔab ləšx̌aý x̌alalʔtxʷ. tib čəɫ ʔuyayus ʔal tiiɫ sgʷəlčəd ʔə ʔalalus ʔə ʔaciɫtalbixʷ, čəɫə ƛ́əbč́əd ʔə tiiɫ sləluƛ́tədčəɫ. ƛ́uləqʷibidčəɫ ti x̌əččəɫ čəɫə kʷaxʷad tiiɫ sixʷyayusčəɫ ʔal dišəʔ. ʔəƛ́əxʷ čələp gʷəl ɫulabdubicidəxʷ čəɫ! huy’!
Good day to all of you my friends and relatives! My name is David S. C. Duenas and I am enrolled Puyallup. I am also Blackfeet on my fathers side and Comanche and Choctaw on my mothers side. I am grateful to speak to you about Chief Leschi Schools. We work diligently in our instruction of the traditional customs of the first peoples and we focus on our beloved elders. We prepare ourselves and assist our co-workers as well. So come on down and we’ll see you soon, until we meet again!
Thank you hawatubš čələp,
Culture Teachers
Yvette Duenas Aponte is a culture teacher on the Secondary side of Chief Leschi Schools. She is descendent of the Quileute tribe, but spent the majority of her life in the Puyallup community. Her husband and daughter are both enrolled Puyallup. She has been a part of the Leschi community since 2015.
She began her journey as a paraeducator, and as years passed, she had the opportunity to grown into the role of teacher. She is dedicated to the students here at Chief Leschi to support their cultural and academic endeavors. Her academic achievements: She received her Associates of Art from Pierce College, BA from The Evergreen State College, Teaching certification for Northwest Education, Native Education Certification for The University of Washington, and her First Peoples certification, as a Level 1 certified language instructor, currently working towards level 2. Mrs. Duenas’ work experience is also a lived experience. She actively participated in numerous tribal gatherings, and events. She gives her all in any role she holds and the work in the Chief Leschi community is no different. She will continue to remain ƛ’ububƛ’ub, kʷaxʷalikʷ, ʔabalikʷ, kind, helpful, and sharing in her work.
Davina Barril English xh’eináxh, Khukandagéin Tlingít xh’eináxh. I was born into a Tlingít matrilineal clan – Wooshkeetaan, or Shark Clan. I was born in Petersburg Alaska, as were my parents and one sister. I attended schools in San Francisco, CA, and Seattle, WA; I received my BA from University of Washington, and MA from Seattle University. I am married to Florentino “Tiny” Barril, Sr., Tlingít-T’akdeintaan, and Filipino. He is the dance group leader of the Alaskan dance group, Kuteeyaa Dancers. I am the lead drummer and song leader. I am a Ravenstail and Chilkat weaver and I love my indigenous foods! Since 2008, I have taught at Chief Leschi Schools. My husband and I now live in Lakewood, WA.
I am Bart Brewer, and I am of Yakama, Flathead, Puyallup, Snoqualmie and Canadian descent. My father was David C Brewer Jr. of the Yakama Nation. My mother, Karen Brewer is of Swedish/Norwegian heritage. My grandparents were Amy and David C Brewer, both enrolled Yakama members. I am not enrolled since the Yakamas have a ¼ blood quantum.
I am in my 36th year of teaching here at Chief Leschi, with the last 5 years working in the culture program. I enjoy drumming and singing at circle, and I have a passion for family/tribal history. Prior to working here, all I knew was my 2nd great grandmother was Ellen Brewer, a Puyallup allottee. I have since learned that her father was Klo’out, a Medicine Creek Treaty signer. My great grandfather was James Brewer, who was at Chemawa boarding school when they issued the Puyallup allotments. James’ brother David was allotted land in Puyallup, but James had to get his land over in Yakama, and then he became enrolled in the Yakama tribe. Growing up in Puyallup, prior to the American Indian Religious Freedom act of 1978, I wasn’t exposed to much native culture. I grew up participating in football, wrestling and baseball. I enjoy learning and taking part in all cultural activities, learning the language, and traveling with our canoe family. I am an avid sports fan, and I enjoy taking a good vacation to reset myself.
My name is Carl Lorton. I am from The Quinault Tribe. I am a Culture Teacher currently at Chief Leschi School in Puyallup. I have been here for 12 years. I currently teach many different subjects. I teach Cultural Projects, Drumline, Indigenous Culinary Arts.
I grew up hunting, fishing, and harvesting throughout the Northwest on tribal lands. If we don’t teach our children to be stewards of our traditional foods and harvesting methods, these recipes and traditions will be lost. I am also the Skipper of our Chief Leschi Canoe Family. My other tasks are I am the Head Wrestling coach, and a member of the school's Drum and Dance group. I remember long ago someone told me, “Make it hard for them to fire you, be active and do it for the right reasons."
My name is Sophia Loucks. I am from the Quileute and Yakama tribes and am a Chief Leschi Schools Alumni, class of 2002! I am in my 10th year as a Culture Teacher with my Certification in Native Education from the University of Washington, as well as a dual endorsement in Lushootseed and Culture from the OSPI. Over the past decade, I have had the privilege to teach our students from Pre-K to Highschool. My current roles include Elementary Culture (3-5), Elementary Drum and Dance Coordinator and ASB advisor. I enjoy Native Arts and dancing . As a teacher, I truly believe that language is the expression of our culture and land, as well as a direct connection to our ancestors and that we cannot have one without the other. For that reason, I strive to integrate the Lushootseed language into as many lessons as possible.