NAIS Initiatives is about creating events and opportunities that celebrate the vibrant cultures of Native American and Indigenous peoples. By partnering with campus and community organizations and Indigenous leadership, we work to support student success, honor our rich cultural heritage and encourage meaningful cultural exchanges.
Here’s how we aim to enhance the college experience for Native American and Indigenous students:
- Host events that celebrate diverse Native American and Indigenous cultures and knowledge, featuring inspiring guest speakers from community leadership.
- Provide outreach and mentoring opportunities to build relationships and networks across academic disciplines and diverse cultures, and support lifelong, meaningful experiences in a supportive environment.
- Work to create more campus spaces that celebrate and honor Native American and Indigenous cultures and knowledge, ensuring that our students feel valued and heard.
- Promote a greater understanding and inclusion of Native American and Indigenous cultures throughout the campus community, which leads to fresh perspectives, innovative thinking, and collective efforts towards a more equitable, just and enlightened society.
Annual events include the Haudenosaunee Festival, Rock Your Mocs Social Dance and Fashion Show, and the planting and harvest of the Three Sisters' Garden. Visit the MRC calendar to learn about other upcoming events.
Contact
Tonya Shenandoah, Ph.D.
MRC Assistant Director for Native American and Indigenous Student Initiatives
Multicultural Resource Center and Q Center; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Division of