American Indian club promotes culture
American Indians have a voice at Utah State University.
The Native American Student Council promotes American Indian culture and serves as an empowerment group for Native American students.
Orlando Norton, the president of NASC, has been with the organization for two years. One of the things the council members do is schedule awareness activities and presentations for schools and scout troops in Cache Valley to educate people and dispel myths about American Indians, he said.
“We went to one elementary school where a teacher said the topic of Native Americans came up, and she was surprised at what her students thought about them,” Norton said. “She said some of the students thought Native Americans still lived in tepees and wore the traditional outfit.”
She invited NASC to visit her classroom at Riverside Elementary to do a presentation and talk about the American Indian culture, Norton said.
“Anyone who approaches us and asks about Native Americans, we try to educate to the best of our abilities,” Norton said.
NASC also has an Adopt an Elder Program at the Rug Show in Park City. Families who weave Navajo rugs come to Park City to demonstrate their weaving skills and to sell their rugs. Members of NASC volunteer at the event, Norton said.
“The rugs are all handmade. Some may take a couple of months to make and can cost up to $2,000,” he said.
NASC members do security, stand at the door, check people’s receipts, collect the cans of food donated to the weavers and show people around at the event. Members of NASC who speak Navajo fluently serve as interpreters, Norton said.
“In appreciation, they give us a little rug. [The first time], that was way cool and something we didn’t expect,” he said.
NASC also tries to support other clubs at USU. The clubs have meetings throughout the year with Associated Students of Utah State University where they plan activities.
Norton said that NASC has a lot of goals.
“Our biggest [goals] are to promote the culture, educate students, and provide support to Native Americans students,” he said.
“We try to be a support to them away from home while they are here at USU and carry on the same traditions they have at home, like the powwow.”
Margaret Lubke, the faculty adviser to NASC, said the council would like to establish a Native American assistance program focused specifically on Native American students, as is available on many other campuses. Currently, NASC is associated with the Multicultural Center.
“Our current relationship with the center is important. But so we can provide more tailored services, outreach, recruitment and retention, we would have more strength if we had a program that was devoted specifically to Native American students,” said Lubke, who has been the adviser for eight years.
Another goal of NASC is to get more American Indian students involved in their activities. The organization also seeks to establish a working relationship with high schools that serve American Indian students, to encourage the students to do well in school and attend USU.
“I am dedicated to the mission. The reason I am so involved is because I believe in higher education, empowerment of Native people and them working and learning from each other,” Lubke said. “I believe we need to work together to make the educational experiences of Native American students relevant and meaningful.”
It is not necessary to be American Indian to join NASC. Interested students can show up at the weekly meetings, Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Room 101 of the Animal Science Building. For more information, call 797-2891 or visit multiculture.usu.edu/organizations/nasc.
–erina@cc.usu.edu