Pat Phillips, Wétana is of the Thátada Tépa itazhi Clan of the Umóⁿhoⁿ Tribe of Nebraska and Iowa. Pat was raised by her Great Grandmother Lucy Mitchell Saunsoci out in the country near Macy, Nebraska. Raised in a traditional way, Pat spoke Umóⁿhoⁿ language within the home. She harvested plants and lived off the land. She hauled water from a spring and butchered meat. To this day she keeps this knowledge in practice. As a certified teacher, she has spent 14 years teaching K-12 children and working to develop materials for Umóⁿhoⁿ Nation Public School. “Our language is our identity…who we are as Umóⁿhoⁿ people.”

Vida Woodhull Stabler, Hiⁿxpéwiⁿ has spent the last 25 years directing both the Umóⁿhoⁿ Language & Cultural Center (ULCC) and the Federal Indian Education Programs (Title VI) for Umóⁿhoⁿ Nation Public School. With both her Bachelors and Masters in Education she has committed to documenting the teachings taught to her by Elder relatives. This effort brought culturally knowledgeable community members into our school to teach and develop Umóⁿhoⁿ language curriculum and other materials. These efforts authored two textbooks, varied publications, language apps, and a language curriculum. She has enjoyed learning and teaching Umóⁿhoⁿ culture with relatives. “My charge has been to include our relatives in teaching our children and community the Umóⁿhoⁿ Ushkóⁿ tʰe, our ‘Umóⁿhoⁿ Way’ of life. We are here to support our community teachings today and into our future.’