An eye on Nespelem

Colleen Leskinen has had her eye on Nespelem for a very long time, essentially since her birth year, 67 years ago.

Some people know her as the lady who runs the daycare, within the shadow of the town limits.

Others know her as the town mayor and councilwoman and town administrator.

Everyone knows Colleen.

Currently, she runs a daycare on an 80-acre ranch, just a stone’s throw from town center; maybe a hefty toss.

Colleen welcomes some 28 kids on weekdays.

Her daycare acts as an extension of the public school system, with 15 students and another nine preschoolers.

Colleen has three helpers.

School kids bring laptops and get their schoolwork done.

Over the years, Colleen has met and become friends with just about every parent of small children in the area.

Leskinen has served terms as mayor of Nespelem, as a town council member, and a stint as town administrator, because she couldn’t appear on the ballot twice.

For just over 66 years she has developed a real love of the town.

How long does she plan on having a daycare? She says just as long as she can do it.

Her ranch includes farm animals of three horses, four ponies, and 30 peacocks. That’s right, 30 peacocks,

Colleen says the peacocks are her watchdogs. They put up a fuss whenever anyone drives onto the farm.

She is beginning to take ranch life seriously. Her 80 acres has lain dormant for too long.

So Colleen purchased a tractor and is looking to maybe planting a field of corn.

“I might make a corn maze on the property,” she stated.

She has survived floods and range fires, the most recent fire this year when grasses burned on three sides of her property.

She’s not looking to close her daycare anytime soon.  “They keep me going,” she confided.

The farm operation would be in addition to what she does now.

She’s never run for tribal council but is probably as well known and respected as any of the council.

Her parents had a long history at Nespelem (Nissens).

Hundreds of kids have passed through Colleen’s daycare over the years.

Colleen also picked up a disc for her ranch.

Driving onto the property, visitors will see a metal sculpture created by Smoker Marchand.

He is making her urn, which will eventually hold her ashes,

She only has praise for her kids and their work ethic.

They learned the rewards of hard work from their mother.  Colleen’s husband passed away 13 years ago. She has been busy all her life and taken every opportunity to help others.

One day, perhaps soon, she will become known as the lady farmer near Nespelem.

Can’t wait to wander through her corn maze.