UA News

Native American Student Affairs is holding a month of events to honor its heritage and its commitment to recruitment and retention.

Two decades ago, students, faculty and community advocates called for the creation of a Native American student  center, a place where American Indian and Alaskan Native students at the University of Arizona could receive culturally sensitive academic counseling and support services.

Today, the UA Native American Student Affairs office continues building upon that mission and will host an array of events to celebrate National Native American History Month and its 20th anniversary.   

The monthlong series of more than 20 events began last week with a sunrise prayer on Monday, followed on Tuesday with a reading by Regents' Professor of Linguistics and noted Tohono O'odham poet and MacArthur Fellow Ofelia Zepeda from her book "Where Clouds Are Formed."

A kickoff celebration held last week was a reunion that brought together current and past directors of the Native American Student Affairs office.

One former director, Vivian Juan Sanders of the Tohono O'odham Nation, said the effort to open a center for American Indian or Alaskan Native students was important and a formal recognition of the unique needs of those students.

"These students came to the UA campus as the majority population in their home communities – everyone around them looked like them and had the same background and cultural experience. Once on campus, though, the students had no place to feel that same level of comfort. Campus leaders of diverse backgrounds did not understand the significance of having a community center but did understand the importance of feeling comfortable on campus and they helped to support the creation of a center," Sanders said.

In 1989, there were 434 American Indian and Alaskan Native students at the UA, representing 1.2 percent of the total UA student population; in 2008, thanks largely to the creation of the UA's Native American Student Affairs office, there were 1,006 Native American students including Alaskan Natives studying at the UA, representing 2.6 percent of the total student population. Those students represented more than 75 tribes, with a majority of students coming from Arizona tribes and reservations. 

Sanders, who worked at the center from 1989-1992, worked to bring awareness to the communities about the University's commitment to ease the transition of American Indian students to the UA with the establishment of the Native American Resource Center, which was the precursor to Native American Student Affairs.

She also developed retention programs such as freshman composition classes specifically for American Indian students. The courses provide a more culturally relevant learning environment and include works by  American Indian writers.

She also worked to create a living community called the "O'odham Ki: Wing" (meaning "people's house" in the Tohono O'odham language), located in Graham-Greenlee Hall.

According to the UA Office of Institutional Research and Planning Support, 1989 saw some of the lowest retention rates for first-time full-time freshmen American Indian students, with only 48 percent continuing their studies. By 2007, that number has risen to 71 percent. 

"The progress is a demonstration of the committed leadership of directors of the center but also of the UA's continued recognition and support to address critical retention issues of Native students," said Karen Francis-Begay, special advisor to the UA president on Native American Affairs.

The four-year graduation rate for first-time full-time American Indian students was 2 percent in 1989 but had risen to 12 percent by 2004. 

"Twenty years shows the legacy of support for Native American students," said Amanda Tachini, director of Native American Student Affairs.

Building upon established programs such as the O'odham Ki: living community, the First-Year Scholars Program, now in its sixth year, was designed as a living-learning community concept and includes workshops, weekly study sessions, tutoring and cultural and social activities that have directly led to increases in retention and recruitment.

"The statistics show how important it is to continue to support underrepresented populations at the UA. All of us together, coming together whether non-Native American or Native American or from a reservation, or not, helps us learn to respect one another and helps us to understand our differences," Tachini said.

Among the events being held this month: 

Heritage Month Awareness Display | Through Friday at the Alumni Plaza, located in the front of the Administration Building.

The Heritage Month Awareness Display touches on various themes and issues that are prevalent among American Indian communities. Imagery includes stereotypes, historic moments that impacted Native communities and powerful quotes.

American Indian Youth Conference | Thursday and Friday at the Student Union Memorial Center.

Native American Law Students Association Annual Heritage Day Celebration featuring professor Rob Williams | Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., James E. Rogers College of Law.

This event will feature demonstrations by Native artisans, drumming, a traditional foods sale and an open Indian law lecture by Williams.

"Bear Down with James and Ernie" Comedy Show | Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Social Sciences, Room 100.

This comedy show will feature the Navajo duo James and Ernie to benefit the American Indian Education Association Scholarship Fund. Email bear.down.je@gmail.com for more information or to order tickets.

Native Eyes 2009 Film Festival | Thursday through Sunday, various locations.

The Arizona State Museum and the University of Arizona Hanson Film Institute, in collaboration with the National Museum of the American Indian, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution, present award-winning films by and about American Indians. For more information, visit www.statemuseum.arizona.edu.

Professor S. James Anaya speaks on fundamental freedoms of Indigenous people | Friday, 12 p.m., Rogers Rountree Hall, College of Law, Room 204.

Professor S. James Anaya will talk about his work as a U.N. Special Rapporteur and on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of Indigenous people. The talk is free and open to the public. Sponsored by Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program.

Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) Speaker Series | Monday, 12:15-1:15 p.m., James E. Rogers College of Law, Room 164.

This discussion will be on the recent Arizona Water Settlement Act, specifically the provision that calls for the abrogation of certain tribal rights.

Native American Storytelling and Song | Monday, 6- 8 p.m., James E. Rogers College of Law, Room 164.

Families are invited to join in on this evening of Native storytelling and song. Sponsored by NALSA.

Embracing Yaqui Heritage | Nov. 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nugent building, Room 205.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona Education Division will host an array of events, including sharing moments with community elders and tribal council members and viewing art displays and demonstrations on traditional arts and food. A video presentation of Yaqui storytellers also will be shown.

Fun Walk/Run | Nov. 21, 7 a.m., UA Mall.

Start off your day with an early-morning walk, jog or run while enjoying the company of family and friends from the University of Arizona community and the Tucson Indian Center.

Words of Poetry with Luci Tapahonso | Nov. 23, 4:30 p.m., UA Bookstores Student Union Memorial Center

Well respected author, Luci Tapahonso will read from her works.  Professor Tapahonso's work has appeared in many print and media productions in the U.S. and internationally. Her poems have been translated into German, Italian and French.

"Navajo Courts and Navajo Common Law" with author Ray Austin | Nov. 30, 5-6 p.m., location TBA.

The major topic of Austin's book is the use of Navajo customary law in Navajo court decision making. His book explores the notion of how American Indian tribes can use their own customs and traditional ways of doing things to solve problems in their communities.

A complete list of events is available online.