NSS and Other Native-Centered Organizations Strengthen Communities on Campus
“We’ve had countless students, staff, faculty and community leaders who have worked tirelessly to make USD and the greater Vermillion area better for Native people,” said Megan Red Shirt-Shaw, director of Native Student Services. “It really speaks to how much we as Native people believe in the past, present and future, and that if we create spaces that make students feel empowered, they will feel powerful to make change.”
On campus, USD focuses on supporting and celebrating Native and Indigenous students through student support services, designated spaces, student organizations and more.
A significant source of support is Native Student Services (NSS), a student resource aimed at providing unique opportunities for Native American students to learn and connect with one another through academic support services, leadership development, cultural gatherings and other culturally relevant programming throughout the year.
“We strive to create a familial network through hosting meal gatherings, scholarship workshops, speaker series, tutoring opportunities and conversations about culture, community and language,” Red Shirt-Shaw said.
The NSS makes its home in the Native American Cultural Center (NACC), which has served as a location for Native students to gather, study and enjoy food and community since 1988. Inside the NACC, students have access to a student lounge, designated study spaces, offices, a computer lab, a full access kitchen and free printing.
“The NACC has been in its current location since 1988 with generations before who fought for that space to be possible,” Red Shirt-Shaw said. “Every family needs a home, and the NACC is ours. Every student on campus deserves to have a space where they can be themselves and connect with others who make them feel safe, valued and a part of a community.”
USD’s new Native undergraduate student enrollment continues to steadily increase, with a 17.9% improvement over last year. A contributing factor in this growth is the new Native Living Learning Community (LLC), named the Wiyuskinyan Unpi Tipi, which has been a valuable resource in recruiting and retaining Native students.
Currently in its second year, the Wiyuskinyan Unpi Tipi – which translates from Lakota to “they are living contently” – is a community dedicated to Native American or Indigenous students, as well as Native American studies majors and minors.
This semester, there are 27 students enrolled in the LLC. Each week, the students gather for weekly programming, including shared meals, speakers, events, conversations with Native faculty and staff, movie nights and more.
There are a variety of other organizations and student clubs that support Native students on campus, including Tiospaye Student Council, Nations, American Indian Students into Engineering and Science (AISES), Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and the USD Native Student Drum Group.
In addition to supporting students through Native-centered organizations, the NSS strives to create meaningful connections across campus and strengthen community between student groups through collaborative events and initiatives.
“So far, we have partnered with Admissions, Veteran Services, the Department of Sustainability, Tiospaye Student Council, the medical school, the Department of Physical Therapy, the Native American Law Student Association and others,” said John Little, Ph.D., director of Native Recruitment and Alumni Engagement. “We hope that cross-campus collaborations and partnerships expand Native presence on campus and connect students with other resources. It’s been great expanding students’ minds and getting them to think about other resources on campus and their futures.”
On Feb. 4, NSS is hosting the second annual Native Heritage Day in collaboration with USD Admissions, Athletics and the Alumni Association. In the morning, prospective students will attend an academic resource fair and hear from NSS and USD Admissions. The morning programming will also feature a current Native student panel to discuss their experiences and accomplishments at USD.
After the morning programming, the students will attend the men's basketball game against the University of North Dakota (UND) at 1 p.m. USD's 12 current Native student athletes will be honored prior to tipoff. The USD Alumni Drum Group will perform an honor song and the Lakota Flag Song for the athletes and those in attendance. Native USD faculty, staff, students and alumni athletes will also be honored throughout the game and during halftime.
"This event is important to showcase and highlight Native athletes, students, faculty, staff and alumni and also Native culture and history," Little said. "It's a big recruitment day with an estimated 250-350 prospective students to be in attendance. It's also important to celebrate USD's Mason Archambault (Standing Rock) and UND's Treysen Eaglestaff (Cheyenne River), who are both playing in the game."
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