Rodney Frey

Rodney Frey is a Professor in the Department of Culture, Society and Justice at the University of Idaho, affiliated with the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. Over 28 years, he collaborated deeply with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, focusing on cultural preservation, education, and historical documentation.

His work includes developing the DeSmet Center of Higher Education (1992–1998), enabling tribal members to pursue degrees part-time on-reservation, and co-creating a language arts curriculum integrating tribal oral histories. He also contributed to natural resource damage assessments addressing historical mining impacts on tribal lands.

His seminal work, Stories that make the World, preserves oral traditions of Inland Northwest tribes, capturing both content and performance nuances. Honored by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe in 2017 with a blanket and medallion, he retired in late 2017 but maintains connections with tribal communities and academic peers.

Key collaborations include partnerships with tribal leaders, educators, and former students like John Abraham. His legacy emphasizes bridging traditional knowledge with modern education while advocating for tribal sovereignty and cultural resilience.