The Mountain Stories Podcast The Institute for Mountain Research at Westminster College

In our final (for now) episode of our collaboration with Dr. Xiumei Pu on her project, "Mountains and Stories: Building Community Among Asian and Pacific Islander Refugee and Immigrant Families in Salt Lake Valley," We talk with Margaret Yee. The project is supported by a Whiting Public Engagement Programs Seed Grant and is anchored in the theme of mountains. It is our hope that these efforts will amplify the environmental voices of Asian and Pacific Islander refugee and immigrant communities, and spark more public interest in thinking about the connection between culture, identity, and the natural environment.


At the heart of the project is a podcast series featuring the life and work of twelve storytellers who come from a range of age groups, occupations, and ethnic and racial backgrounds. Some of them are born in the United States; many of them are born in another Asian country or Pacific Island and immigrated to the US at a young age. Their stories show fascinating complexities of immigration routes and histories, incredible cultural richness and resilience, and long-lasting contributions of the Asian and Asian Pacific Islander communities to the social life and cultural landscapes of Salt Lake Valley and the broader Utah. You can listen to previous episodes here on the IMR Podcast website.





Margaret Yee is an energetic life force. She has dedicated herself to serving the Asian community for over 55 years. She is the Co-founder of Chinese Railroad Worker Descendent Associations( CRWDA )and has brought the Asian community together to celebrate their culture and heritage through various events, as well as, to gain recognition for their achievements (both historical and present).


She has served on numerous boards and committees at the Federal and State level, including being the Governor’s advisor for Asian Affairs for the State of Utah 1989-1998; Utah’s Transcontinental Railroad 150th Celebration Commission 2018-2019; Advisor for Chinese American Heritage Foundation 2019-present; Advisor for Chinese New year celebration committee 2019-present; Advisor for Yee Fong Toy Benevolent Association of Utah, 2008-present; Advisor for Millcreek Seniors center 2014- 2019; One of the founding board members for the Asian Festival and served on the board for the last 45 years (which is the longest continually running festival west of Mississippi) 1976-present; Board member Multi- Ethnic Business Committee, Salt Lake City, Ut 1997-1999; Board member Salt Lake county Economic Development Loan committee,1987-1992; Board member Utah Pacific Rim Business Council 1992-1993; Oversea Chinese Affairs Commission 1988-1994; Board member International trade committee, SL Chamber of commerce 1997-1999; Board member Salt Lake Sister City serving 1993-present; President of the Chinese Seniors United Association of Utah, 2018-present at the community level.


Awards received include Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Utah Organization of Chinese Americans ( UOCA) 2011; Outstanding Business Owner Award presented by the Utah Asian Chamber of Commerce, 2009; Humanitarian Award by the Salt Lake City Police Department, 2005; Philanthropy Award by Easter Seals of Utah,2001; Governor’s Golden Service Award for 30 Years Outstanding Service by Governor Michael Leavitt, 1997; Outstanding Contribution and Community Service Award by A.A.U. Utah, 1990; Outstanding Achievement and Leadership Award by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and the Utah Minority Bar Association,1993; “Once In A Hundred Award” by Utah Centennial, Salt Lake County 1996; Raymond S. Uno Legacy Special Achievement Award 2018


In addition to her extensive community involvement, Margaret Yee is a successful business woman, conducting business internationally, as well as co-owning the iconic Jade Café for 56 years at the same location, which was the longest operating Chinese Restaurant in State of Utah and being the Co- founder/partner of the

We continue our collaboration with Dr. Xiumei Pu in her Project, "Mountains and Stories: Building Community Among Asian and Pacific Islander Refugee and Immigrant Families in Salt Lake Valley," with the support of a Whiting Public Engagement Programs Seed Grant anchored in the theme of mountains. It is our hope that these efforts will amplify the environmental voices of Asian and Pacific Islander refugee and immigrant communities, and spark more public interest in thinking about the connection between culture, identity, and the natural environment.


At the heart of the project is a podcast series featuring the life and work of twelve storytellers who come from a range of age groups, occupations, and ethnic and racial backgrounds. Some of them are born in the United States; many of them are born in another Asian country or Pacific Island and immigrated to the US at a young age. Their stories show fascinating complexities of immigration routes and histories, incredible cultural richness and resilience, and long-lasting contributions of the Asian and Asian Pacific Islander communities to the social life and cultural landscapes of Salt Lake Valley and the broader Utah. You can listen to previous episodes here on the IMR Podcast website.





In this episode, we talk with Otolose Fahina Tavake-Pasi. Fahina has been the Executive Director of the National Tongan American Society (NTAS) since 2003 where she developed programs that help thousands of Pacific Islanders in Utah to healthier lifestyles, increased civic engagement, obtain citizenship, access higher education, address social justice issues and cultural preservation Before joining NTAS, Fahina worked for 9 years for the University of Utah (UofU) as an Academic Advisor. Her degrees include: Degrees include AA in Aeronautics from the College of San Mateo, CA, BA in Sociology, MS in Health Promotion and Education, both from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. She has received many leadership awards and have served on international, national, state and local board of directors and advisory committees.


Fahina was born in Tatakamotonga, Tonga, grew up in San Mateo, California, and now resides in Salt Lake City, Utah with her family.


The poeple of Tonga are on our minds this week following the recent volcano eruption and the subsequent tsunami. We've included some links below, including an interview with Fahina about the tragedy, an article about how it has impacted people here in the Salt Lake Valley, and a way to make a donation to support the people of Tonga.


Jeff Nichols and Brent Olson co-direct the Institute for Mountain Research and our 2018-2019 Mountain Fellows are Katie Saad and Naomi Shapiro. Our theme song is “Home” by Pixie and the Partygrass Boys.. As Naomi likes to say, “They are awesome and you should check them out.”


The Institute for Mountain Research is located on the ancestral and traditional lands of the Ute, Goshute, and Shoshone Peoples.
Special Guest: Otolose Fahina Tavake-Pasi.
Sponsored By:
Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah: The Institute for Mountain Research is housed at Westminster College, at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah. At Westminster, You are someone who is always looking to get more out of life, who yearns for the freedom to explore. You want your college experience to be someplace where you matter. Where your education isn’t just about landing your first job, it’s about starting a meaningful life.The Whiting Public Engagement Programs: The Whiting Public Engagement Programs, including the Public Engagement Fellowship and the Public Engagement Seed Grant, celebrate and empower humanities faculty who embrace public engagement as part of their scholarly vocation. They fund ambitious, often collaborative projects to infuse into public life the richness and nuance that give the humanities their lasting value.Links:
Fundraiser by National Tongan America Society : Help to Tonga Tsunam

We continue our collaboration with Dr. Xiumei Pu in her Project, "Mountains and Stories: Building Community Among Asian and Pacific Islander Refugee and Immigrant Families in Salt Lake Valley," with the support of a Whiting Public Engagement Programs Seed Grant anchored in the theme of mountains. It is our hope that these efforts will amplify the environmental voices of Asian and Pacific Islander refugee and immigrant communities, and spark more public interest in thinking about the connection between culture, identity, and the natural environment.


At the heart of the project is a podcast series featuring the life and work of twelve storytellers who come from a range of age groups, occupations, and ethnic and racial backgrounds. Some of them are born in the United States; many of them are born in another Asian country or Pacific Island and immigrated to the US at a young age. Their stories show fascinating complexities of immigration routes and histories, incredible cultural richness and resilience, and long-lasting contributions of the Asian and Asian Pacific Islander communities to the social life and cultural landscapes of Salt Lake Valley and the broader Utah. You can listen to previous episodes here on the IMR Podcast website.





In this episode, we talk with Catherine Elizabeth Seali'itualemalietoa To'omalatai Figiel. Catherine is a Samoan, Polish, and a Park Cook Islander. She was born in Samoa and moved to Utah in 2012. She is interested in international studies, linguistics, and communication, and hopes to participate in community activities and cultivate and inspire change in our Asian Pacific Islander communities.


Jeff Nichols and Brent Olson co-direct the Institute for Mountain Research and our 2018-2019 Mountain Fellows are Katie Saad and Naomi Shapiro. Our theme song is “Home” by Pixie and the Partygrass Boys.. As Naomi likes to say, “They are awesome and you should check them out.”


The Institute for Mountain Research is located on the ancestral and traditional lands of the Ute, Goshute, and Shoshone Peoples.
Special Guest: Catherine Elizabeth Seali'itualemalietoa To'omalatai Figiel.
Sponsored By:
Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah: The Institute for Mountain Research is housed at Westminster College, at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah. At Westminster, You are someone who is always looking to get more out of life, who yearns for the freedom to explore. You want your college experience to be someplace where you matter. Where your education isn’t just about landing your first job, it’s about starting a meaningful life.The Whiting Public Engagement Programs: The Whiting Public Engagement Programs, including the Public Engagement Fellowship and the Public Engagement Seed Grant, celebrate and empower humanities faculty who embrace public engagement as part of their scholarly vocation. They fund ambitious, often collaborative projects to infuse into public life the richness and nuance that give the humanities their lasting value.

This summer we are collaborating with Dr. Xiumei Pu in her Project, "Mountains and Stories: Building Community Among Asian and Pacific Islander Refugee and Immigrant Families in Salt Lake Valley," with the support of a Whiting Public Engagement Programs Seed Grant. Anchored in the theme of mountains, the project consists of a twelve-part podcast, a documentary, and a series of story tellling events, the next of which will be a group hike in the Wasatch Mountains (October 23, 2021). It is our hope that these efforts will amplify the environmental voices of Asian and Pacific Islander refugee and immigrant communities, and spark more public interest in thinking about the connection between culture, identity, and the natural environment. You can listen to previous episodes here on the IMR Podcast website.


At the heart of the project is a podcast series featuring the life and work of twelve storytellers who come from a range of age groups, occupations, and ethnic and racial backgrounds. Some of them are born in the United States; many of them are born in another Asian country or Pacific Island and immigrated to the US at a young age. Their stories show fascinating complexities of immigration routes and histories, incredible cultural richness and resilience, and long-lasting contributions of the Asian and Asian Pacific Islander communities to the social life and cultural landscapes of Salt Lake Valley and the broader Utah.





This week we're sharing Obaid Barakzai's story. Obaid Barakzai is originally from Kabul, Afghanistan. He is Afghan by nationality, Pashtun by ethnicity, and a mountaineer by heart. He has a special profound connection with the mountains in Utah because they remind him of home. He is now a rising senior studying International Political Economy (IPE) with Honors at Westminster College. He has been passionately involved on campus, including as Student Body President for the 2020-2021 school academic year. He is passionate about equity and inclusion efforts on campus and beyond and loves mountaineering, learning languages, and making all kinds of tea.


Jeff Nichols and Brent Olson co-direct the Institute for Mountain Research and our 2018-2019 Mountain Fellows are Katie Saad and Naomi Shapiro. Our theme song is “Home” by Pixie and the Partygrass Boys.. As Naomi likes to say, “They are awesome and you should check them out.”


The Institute for Mountain Research is located on the ancestral and traditional lands of the Ute, Goshute, and Shoshone Peoples.
Special Guest: Obaid Barakzai.
Sponsored By:
Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah: The Institute for Mountain Research is housed at Westminster College, at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah. At Westminster, You are someone who is always looking to get more out of life, who yearns for the freedom to explore. You want your college experience to be someplace where you matter. Where your education isn’t just about landing your first job, it’s about starting a meaningful life.The Whiting Public Engagement Programs: The Whiting Public Engagement Programs, including the Public Engagement Fellowship and the Public Engagement Seed Grant, celebrate and empower humanities faculty who embrace public engagement as part of their scholarly vocation. They fund ambitious, often collaborative projects to infuse into public life the richness and nuance that give the humanities their lasting value.Links:
Dashboard

This summer we are collaborating with Dr. Xiumei Pu in her Project, "Mountains and Stories: Building Community Among Asian and Pacific Islander Refugee and Immigrant Families in Salt Lake Valley," with the support of a Whiting Public Engagement Programs Seed Grant. Anchored in the theme of mountains, the project consists of a twelve-part podcast, a documentary, and a series of story tellling events, the next of which will be a group hike in the Wasatch Mountains (October 23, 2021). It is our hope that these efforts will amplify the environmental voices of Asian and Pacific Islander refugee and immigrant communities, and spark more public interest in thinking about the connection between culture, identity, and the natural environment. You can listen to previous episodes here on the IMR Podcast website.


At the heart of the project is a podcast series featuring the life and work of twelve storytellers who come from a range of age groups, occupations, and ethnic and racial backgrounds. Some of them are born in the United States; many of them are born in another Asian country or Pacific Island and immigrated to the US at a young age. Their stories show fascinating complexities of immigration routes and histories, incredible cultural richness and resilience, and long-lasting contributions of the Asian and Asian Pacific Islander communities to the social life and cultural landscapes of Salt Lake Valley and the broader Utah.





This week we're sharing Anda Xie's story. Anda is a 7th grade student at West High School. He enjoyed acting and doing improv before COVID, and now he enjoys hiking in the mountains and playing WarThunder. He is Chinese American. He loves celebrating his heritage in many ways, especially Chinese food. He is an aspiring entrepreneur and has made quite a sum ($50) by dabbing the food and stock market (selling Kit-Kats and buying one stock of Activision since he likes Call of Duty). He hopes you enjoy his episode of the podcast.


Jeff Nichols and Brent Olson co-direct the Institute for Mountain Research and our 2018-2019 Mountain Fellows are Katie Saad and Naomi Shapiro. Our theme song is “Home” by Pixie and the Partygrass Boys.. As Naomi likes to say, “They are awesome and you should check them out.”


The Institute for Mountain Research is located on the ancestral and traditional lands of the Ute, Goshute, and Shoshone Peoples.
Special Guest: Anda Xie.
Sponsored By:
Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah: The Institute for Mountain Research is housed at Westminster College, at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah. At Westminster, You are someone who is always looking to get more out of life, who yearns for the freedom to explore. You want your college experience to be someplace where you matter. Where your education isn’t just about landing your first job, it’s about starting a meaningful life.The Whiting Public Engagement Programs: The Whiting Public Engagement Programs, including the Public Engagement Fellowship and the Public Engagement Seed Grant, celebrate and empower humanities faculty who embrace public engagement as part of their scholarly vocation. They fund ambitious, often collaborative projects to infuse into public life the richness and nuance that give the humanities their lasting value.Links:
How to Format a Hard Drive For Both Windows and Mac | Laptop Magla vuelta stage 3 map - Google SearchMail - Brent Olson - Outlook

This summer we are collaborating with Dr. Xiumei Pu in her Project, "Mountains and Stories: Building Community Among Asian and Pacific Islander Refugee and Immigrant Families in Salt Lake Valley," with the support of a Whiting Public Engagement Programs Seed Grant. Anchored in the theme of mountains, the project consists of a twelve-part podcast, a documentary, and a series of story tellling events, the next of which will be a group hike in the Wasatch Mountains (October 23, 2021). It is our hope that these efforts will amplify the environmental voices of Asian and Pacific Islander refugee and immigrant communities, and spark more public interest in thinking about the connection between culture, identity, and the natural environment. You can listen to previous episodes here on the IMR Podcast website.


At the heart of the project is a podcast series featuring the life and work of twelve storytellers who come from a range of age groups, occupations, and ethnic and racial backgrounds. Some of them are born in the United States; many of them are born in another Asian country or Pacific Island and immigrated to the US at a young age. Their stories show fascinating complexities of immigration routes and histories, incredible cultural richness and resilience, and long-lasting contributions of the Asian and Asian Pacific Islander communities to the social life and cultural landscapes of Salt Lake Valley and the broader Utah.





This week we're sharing Prashanti Limbu's story. Prashanti describes herself like this:



I am from Nepal and currently an international student at Westminster College. I like to learn more about people, cultures, and places to broaden my knowledge and understanding of the world we live in. I want to work towards protecting the environment and reversing climate change. In order to bring change, I believe that we can work both individually and collectively towards changing the world for the better. Being an international student and pursuing my undergraduate research, I believe in working with harmony and peace and being open to advice and different opinions. When working with others collectively, I want to make sure everyone is heard and respected. I think that education is important and like someone said no one can steal our education or knowledge from us I want to relearn and remember Indigenous knowledge and local knowledge that's spread and apply that outside of academia. Believing this I am studying abroad away from home and that is why I conducted the research “Mountain Time and Beyond” under the supervision of Dr Xiumei Pu . I want to advocate for clean energy use and recycling and was fortunate enough to conduct the first thrift store on campus in my freshman year. Fun fact: I have a twin sister.



Jeff Nichols and Brent Olson co-direct the Institute for Mountain Research and our 2018-2019 Mountain Fellows are Katie Saad and Naomi Shapiro. Our theme song is “Home” by Pixie and the Partygrass Boys.. As Naomi likes to say, “They are awesome and you should check them out.”


The Institute for Mountain Research is located on the ancestral and traditional lands of the Ute, Goshute, and Shoshone Peoples.
Special Guest: Prashanti Limbu.
Sponsored By:
Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah: The Institute for Mountain Research is housed at Westminster College, at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah. At Westminster, You are someone who is always looking to get more out of life, who yearns for the freedom to explore. You want your college experience to be someplace where you matter. Where your education isn’t just about landing your first job, it’s about starting a meaningful life.The Whiting Public Engagement Programs: The Whiting Public Engagement Programs, including the Public Engagement Fellowship and the Public Engagement Seed Grant, celebrate and empower humanities faculty who embrace public engagement as part of their scholarly vocation. They fund ambiti