2019-2020 Birdwoman Scholar Spotlight: William Feather, MSW Candidate, Humboldt State University

The Birdwoman Scholarship is a monetary grant awarded to Native American/Native Alaskan master’s or bachelor’s social work degree candidates in California. Birdwoman Scholarship recipients in the past have worked or volunteered in both public and nonprofit agency settings.

For the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting each of our scholarship recipients for 2019.

William Feather

William Feather is a 38-year-old American Indian from the Round Valley Indian Reservation. He is a descendent of the Maidu, Concow, Yokayo Pomo, Yankton Lakota Tribes.

William has six children, one deceased, two step children and three young children. Most of his accomplishment are tied to his community, family and supportive partner (someday wife) Yolanda Torres.

William is a suicide survivor and recovering methamphetamine addict and alcoholic. His sobriety birthday is October 27, 2008.

William has been pursuing western education since 2010. He is currently in a social work masters program at Humboldt State university with an emphasis on rural and indigenous communities and correctional social work and death and dying tribal chaplaincy.

William is the Inmates Services Coordinator at the Mendocino County Sheriffs office where he oversees all of the inmates programs in a 300 bed maximum security facility. Using his own theory he aims to empower, educate and employee his clients using Native American frameworks blended with evidence based treatment approaches.

William credits his successful achievements to those who have championed him along the way. Special thanks to my deceased mother, grandmother and son for the motivation to push through whatever life throws at you.

Interested in applying for next year?
Applicants must be a member of NASW or join NASW to apply.
Graduate and undergraduate students must be enrolled in a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited school of social work in California.

If applying as an undergraduate, you must be in your senior year with a declared social work major. If applying as a graduate student, you must be enrolled or accepted into a MSW program starting in the fall. Previous scholarship recipients are welcome to apply again with the understanding that applicants with no history of receiving this scholarship will have priority.

Application Deadline: October 31, 2020

Please apply here: http://www.naswca.org/?page=NativeAmericanApp
Email all attachments or inquiries to membership.naswca@socialworkers.org