2008 Woodie Awards
Campus center provides resources
The American Indian Center provides programs to empower indigenous SCSU students and others
Andrea Weber
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: News
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"We would like to get to know every one of our returning students as well as our new first-year students," said Jim Knutson-Kolodzne, director of the American Indian Center.
The purpose of the SCSU American Indian Center (AIC) is to respond to American Indian students' self-defined goals and needs, at the university and in the community.
The AIC utilizes many resources to empower indigenous people through quality educational programs.
The center organizes many outreach activities to promote awareness and to encourage understanding among individuals and communities at large.
The American Indian Center was established in 1993, through many efforts of an advisory committee, faculty and students.
Student programs evolved from categorizing people into a larger group of "minorities," to recognizing more individual and personal cultural identities.
Jenna Maschino, a third-year student and student employee at the AIC, welcomes all with open arms.
"Anybody's welcome at any time, no matter (their) race, creed, ethnicity. I'd like to see more students come through those doors," she said.
The AIC, with the help of student workers and volunteers, provides lunch every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m.
Maschino, who helps prepare and serve lunches, said this program was for, "Anyone who wants to come and meet people that work here, and it's a way for all of us to get together once a week to talk, laugh, share stories and concerns," she said. "Nothing really brings you closer than sitting down and having a meal together."
There is a sense of family at the AIC. Maschino describes the environment as "very open and free for people to come and express themselves, they have a support system here. We are proud to have space here, where students can come to study, relax and share in this home away from home." She explains that the AIC is like a second-family, supporting individuals personally and socially. Benefits do not necessarily have to come in the form of conversation, Maschino points out, "We also have a great media-resource center."
American Indian Awareness Week is April 7-12, which will be concluded with the 15th Annual All Tribes Council Pow Wow, in Halenbeck, on the 12th. The AIC will be making some key speeches available by podcast, Indigenous Rights: Land and Environment with Tom Goldtooth on Monday April 9 and Historical Grief and Trauma: Impact on Native Peoples and Communities with Ray Daw on Wednesday April 25.
AIC has been hosting an ongoing series of American Indian Speakers. The next speaker is scheduled at the center, on Thursday November 15, at 7 p.m.. These speaking events offer support to members of the American Indian community as well as opportunities for university students and community members, of all diverse backgrounds, to advance common knowledge and understanding.
The AIC Director would like to invite all new, first-year students to the upcoming, 2nd Native Leadership Retreat on September 29th & 30th. "This is a time to meet other American Indian students as a community, to share food, fun, and culture. We will be gathering together and conducting talking circles to see how the semester is going for everyone," said Knutson-Kolodzne.
The AIC strives to provide a supportive environment for American Indian students: socially, academically, and professionally. The AIC provides a resource center focused on American Indian issues, support and socialization for American Indian students.
Maschino encourages, "This is a great, relatively untapped resource. A lot of students might not even consider coming in here. Students are more than welcome to come here anytime; I'm sure they will benefit in many ways. We don't have things just purely for Native American students; we embrace everyone here."