Fort Lewis College Center for Southwest Studies (CSWS) received LATC funding for the Star Wars Native Art exhibition and Rainbow Bridge-Monument Valley Expedition film lecture series.

Rainbow bridge-monument Valley expedition time lecture series

The CSWS hosted a two-day lecture series on March 15 and 16, 2023. The event focused on films documenting the Rainbow Bridge-Monument Valley Expedition in Utah, produced by Ansel Hall during the 1930s with featured guest speakers.

Star wars Native Art Exhibition

The Return of the Force exhibition celebrated the influence the Star Wars movies have had on Native artists. The exhibition was on view from September 27, 2023, to September 2024.

It showcased the work of notable artists such as Jason Garcia (Santa Clara Pueblo), Ryan Singer (Diné), and Jonah Hill (Hopi & Quechan), highlighting themes of resistance, place, belonging, aesthetic appropriation, and colonialism. There were also several public events to further community engagement, including an artist panel, which attracted over 1,000 visitors.