Akwesasne Mohawk Kateleen Ellis recently graduated from Syracuse University and reflects back on how indigenous student programs help make Native American students feel welcome, while cultural ignorance in faculty, staff and other students remains.
Native American students made history on November 11, 2022, hosting the first-ever PowWow on UGA grounds since the school's charter in 1785. The Native American Student Association (NASA) is the smallest and youngest student organization at UGA, yet their event played host to an audience of more than 100 people. The PowWow was originally scheduled to be held on Reed Field and had to be moved to Tate Theater due to rain, a move that didn't affect audience enthusiasm in the least.
As of Fall 2021, Indigenous students make up only around 0.001% of student enrollment but that does not mean their culture is insignificant. Native American history still should be taught