SWAN award nominees gather at Garden Club

The Skagit Women's Alliance Network and its leadership award nominees gathered here Aug. 29 for a two-hour meet-and-greet at the La Conner Civic Garden Club.

Nominees for annual SWAN awards were honored guests at the historic venue, which proved an ideal setting. That's because one of the honorees has lifelong ties to the community.

La Conner High School alum and Swinomish Tribal Community elder Janie Beasley has been nominated for the 2024 SWAN Lifetime Achievement Award. Her nomination is based on her long commitment to public service at Swinomish, in La Conner and across Skagit County.

Beasley served 15 years on the La Conner school board, succeeding her late sister, Susan Edwards Wilbur, the panel's first Native American member.

But that reflects just a snapshot of a resume a half-century in the making.

Following her 1970 graduation, she studied at Seattle Central Community College and joined the U.S. Navy Reserves. She worked at the Swinomish tribal health clinic, in the tribe's legal and planning departments, as a realty officer, as assistant manager for the Swinomish Longhouse Restaurant and in tribal gaming.

In time, Beasley rose to an advocacy position on behalf of Swinomish Indian Tribal Community with the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County, Skagit Valley College Foundation Board and Tribal Leaders Congress on Education.

In 2007, she graduated from EDASC's Leadership Skagit program, designed to transform communities by developing individual, business and community leaders at all levels. The program has, over the course of two decades, graduated nearly 600 alumni.

For Beasley, more service beckoned. She assumed duties with the Community Advisory Panel for Marathon Refinery, the Project Mother Earth Committee, the Native Studies Advisory Group for Northwest Indian College, the Young Life Committee and Leadership Skagit Curriculum Committee.

She learned to speak the traditional Lushootseed language, teaching it to La Conner students and accepting invitations to offer bilingual greetings at various community events.

In 2020, Beasley received the Native Action Network's Enduring Spirit Award.

"As an honored elder," a Native Action Network spokesperson said at the time, "Janie Beasley continuously assists with speaking, sharing knowledge, preparing community meals and serving as an advocate to many in need of support or a strong mentor."

Now SWAN leaders have recognized those same traits.

A nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women of achievement in Skagit County, SWAN each year honors multiple awardees in categories that include professional achievement, mentorship, transformative leadership and community engagement.

In addition to Beasley and fellow Lifetime Achievement award nominee Kay Knott, four honorees have been tabbed for 2024 Women of the Year recognition and two others have been selected as Rising Swans.

Kathleen Petrzelka and Maddy MacKenzie are the Rising Swans picks. Kristen Keltz, Viry Delgado, Nikki Behner,and Erin von Fempe are the Women of the Year choices.

"These incredible women have made a profound impact on the greater Skagit County community," a SWAN representative said.

The awards will be presented at an Oct. 17 program at Swinomish Casino & Lodge.