T'ašii Hašah: the Pathway for Keeping

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Brad Dennis is Huu-ay-aht First Nation from the West Coast of Vancouver Island. His Huu-ay-aht name is Qwa uun nahs aht, "from the place of the chiefs."  He lived as a child in his traditional territory of Kuukswiis (Sarita Bay). While in the Masters of Social Work program at Walla Walla University, He was selected as the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Outstanding Student of the Year in 2003 for his volunteer work empowering youth leadership in the Confederated Tribes of Walla Walla, Umatilla and Cayuse community, as well as in the Yakama Nation community.  Throughout his life, Brad has been passionate about empowering and uplifting Indigenous People to heal, thrive and reach their fullest potential for leadership.

Brad received his Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree and Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Walla Walla University in 2001 and 2003, respectively. Following licensure supervision under Terry Cross (LCSW) and Karen St. Claire (LCSW), both of whom are Indigenous Social Workers, he received his License of Clinical Social Work (LCSW) certification from Oregon State in 2015 and is currently registered as a Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW) in British Columbia. 

During the past 20 years, he has served professionally in multiple capacities. His direct practice includes community development, county mobile crisis team in Portland, OR; homeless youth outreach for urban Native youth in Portland, OR; inpatient psychiatric care; psychiatric emergency room social work; community advocacy and policy development for urban Native community members; and school social work with predominantly Native students. His leadership experience includes having worked as full time Assistant Professor with the Graduate School of Social Work (MSW Program) at Walla Walla University and as Adjunct Instructional Faculty with the Graduate School of Social Work (MSW Program) at Portland State University. His instructional experience includes Historical Development of Social Welfare, Social Work Perspectives of Mental Health Disorders, Practice with Couples and Families, Privilege and Oppression, Spirituality in Social Work, and Advanced Practice with Groups. He serves as a spiritual leader, helping churches and religious organizations in their process of healing through reconciliation with Indigenous Communities. He  currently works with his wife, DeeAnna Garcia Dennis, MSW, in their community wellness consulting business, Tašii Hašah Consulting, providing consultation, training and coaching for First Nation Governments and organizations seeking to reclaim and restore traditional ways of wellness for their communities.

He has served professionally in a collaborative capacity with the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla, Walla Walla and Cayuse, the Yakama Nation, the Ermineskin Cree and Samson Cree Nations, the Nuxalk Nation and Huu-ay-aht First Nation.