As an undergraduate English student, Kohler explored the ethical implications of Indigenous self-identification without communal accountability
Tayah Kohler
By Taylor Pedersen, CLA Student Writer - July 3, 2025
When Tayah Kohler, ‘25, arrived at Oregon State University in 2022, she didn’t expect her academic journey to collide so powerfully with questions of identity, representation, and cultural responsibility. Raised in Inchelium, Washington, a tiny town on the Colville Reservation, Kohler is an enrolled member of the Spokane Tribe. This past spring, she graduated with a degree in English, an unexpected minor in Indigenous Studies, and a sharpened voice that’s already making waves in literary and academic spaces.
“I didn’t set out to get the Indigenous studies minor,” Kohler admitted. “But I kept taking classes that resonated with me. Classes about Native histories, sovereignty, and literature.” That impromptu minor, paired with her lived experience, now deeply informs both her academic and creative pursuits.
While at OSU, Kohler took on a high-profile internship at CALYX Press, the longest running feminist press in the U.S., headquartered in the heart of downtown Corvallis. As part of the editorial collective, she helped select prose submissions and contributed to writing promotional materials. “Being behind the scenes really showed me how much community it takes to keep a press running,” she said. “It’s not just about publishing. It’s about lifting each other up, especially underrepresented voices.”
Kohler’s identity as an Indigenous woman made her a critical addition to CALYX’s editorial board at a time when conversations around race-shifting and cultural appropriation are intensifying. One project in particular, researching the life and work of the late Gail Tremblay, forced her to confront those issues head-on.
Tremblay, a celebrated artist and educator, publicly identified as Indigenous for decades. But after her passing in 2023, questions about the authenticity of her claims surfaced. CALYX had previously published her work. “I was told she was found not to be Native, but I still wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt,” Kohler said. “There’s been so much cultural loss because of colonization, and I didn’t want to accidentally silence a genuine voice.”
Her resulting paper, “The Irony of ‘Being’ Indian”, deconstructed Tremblay’s identity claims and the ethical implications of self-identification without communal accountability. Kohler presented the project at the Undergraduate Humanities Conference in May 2025, drawing attention from faculty and peers alike. “It felt good,” she reflected. “I have a background in Washington politics, so being able to use writing to engage in these conversations felt like a return to something I care deeply about.”
At the heart of her research lies a vital tension: the difference between individual self identification and recognition by a community. “Community is everything in Indigenous identity,” Kohler explained. “When someone falsely claims Indigeneity, they’re not just lying—they’re taking space, resources, and opportunities from actual Native people.”
Her paper doesn’t stop at critique. It offers a roadmap forward. “We need to reframe the work of inauthentic creators and replace it on the stage,” she writes in her conclusion. “Only by naming what happened and uplifting real Native voices can we begin to undo the harm.”
As for her post-grad plans, Kohler is taking things one intentional step at a time. “I want to explore opportunities that allow me to contribute meaningfully to my community and keep growing as a writer and person. I hope to keep moving toward work that feels real and work that matters.”
Looking ahead, Kohler hopes institutions will take more responsibility in validating identity claims. “Admiring a culture doesn’t entitle you to claim it,” she said. “The most respectful thing anyone can do is support that culture in their own skin, not by assuming someone else’s.”
If there’s one thing Kohler’s story makes clear, it’s that representation isn’t just about who gets to speak; it’s about who we choose to listen to. And in her case, we should be listening closely.