Honoring Our Past, Empowering Our Future: The 2025 Pretty Bird Woman Scholarship
At NativeAudio, I believe that the love of science and music flows through generations. It's in the voices that carried our stories through song and the students who will carry them into tomorrow.
That's why I'm beyond proud to announce our 2025 Pretty Bird Woman STEM and Arts Scholarship recipient: Trysten.
The Story Behind Pretty Bird Woman
Pretty Bird Woman is the birth name given to my grandmother, Yvonne Salois, who embodies the values of our Blackfeet (Amsskaapi Piikuni) people. When I was a young, I would sit with her as she shared stories of our ancestors. Those moments shaped everything I am today.
The Pretty Bird Woman represents those pillars in our lives who hold a special place in our hearts—the ones who serve as our Northern Star when we lose our way, the foundation that reminds us who we are and who we want to become.
They are the warriors in our lives who will go to war for our wellbeing. They embrace exploration and encourage the pursuit of dreams.
This scholarship isn't just about financial support—it's about honoring that legacy of guidance, strength, and unwavering belief in what's possible.
Where Science Meets Heart
Trysten's passion for nursing, particularly in Labor and Delivery, the NICU, and pediatrics, speaks to the most sacred of our traditions: the protection and nurturing of new life. In her desire to advocate for new mothers, their babies, and children, I see the continuation of our people's commitment to caring for the next generation.
Building Tomorrow, Today
Each year, this scholarship honors our ancestors by investing in the future of our youth, encouraging both science and the arts for students on the Blackfeet Nation. It's my way of paving the path for future students while staying rooted in who we are.
Our ancestors survived by adapting their knowledge to changing times while holding fast to essential truths. They innovated with what they had, creating tools and art that carried their stories through generations. Today's students like Trysten are doing the same—blending tradition with innovation, heritage with progress.
Like ripples from a stone cast into still water, Trysten's dedication to healing will spread outward, touching countless lives in their most vulnerable and precious moments. She stands at the beginning of her own journey, carrying not just her dreams, but the dreams of all who came before her.
Never Walking Alone
At NativeAudio, I know that transformation doesn't happen in isolation. It happens in community. Trysten carries with her the strength of her people, the wisdom of her elders, and now, our belief in her journey.
She embodies that same spirit of innovation and caring that our people have carried for generations. I see her potential to blend precision with creativity, to see beyond what is to what could be.
When science and music come together, something magical happens. That magic isn't just in the sound that emerges—it's in the connections made, the barriers broken, and the futures reimagined.
A Reminder to All of Us
This scholarship serves as a reminder to love and cherish the Pretty Bird Women in all our lives—those who guide us, believe in us, and encourage us to pursue our wildest dreams. They are the foundation that keeps us grounded while giving us wings to soar.
My grandmother taught me that the Blackfeet people have always been innovators. Today, as I watch students like Trysten step into their power, I see that same spirit of innovation alive and thriving.
To Trysten: You never walk alone. You carry with you the strength of your community, and I can't wait to see the incredible impact you'll make in this world.
Congratulations from all of us at NativeAudio. We’re beyond excited to see where your journey takes you next!
