How do you say hello in Indian? No, it’s not How as popular television would have you believe. It is misconceptions like this that have led me and fellow students in organizing to re-establish Pepperdine’s Native American Student Organization. Pepperdine once had a group centered on this topic, however, due to lack of interest, the group fell apart. I have thus led a charge with co-chairman Sierra Reicheneker in getting Native American issues back into the conversation on campus.
One purpose of our organization is to bring real life examples of Native American lives. You see, Native Americans are not only an ethnic minority, but the minority of the minorities — numerically speaking. If you look across the country’s landscape, you will see a disproportionate ratio in the numbers of Native American high school graduates, and those that go on to higher education and the number that succumb to substance abuse and pregnancy. Knowing this, we should all work to protect this important heritage that so much of our history is based upon. Plus, it is our organizations’ desire and responsibility to help those who may not always be in a position to help themselves We share this vision and value with Pepperdine.
Another purpose of our group is to help educate the student population. Last spring, in our exploratory semester, we hosted a fry bread meet-and-greet and a convocation with Dr. David Baird, talking about the religion of Native Americans. These two events served dual purposes: first, getting our organizations name out among the students; and second, helping foster a greater level of understanding on campus. The feedback I received was amazing. Students approached me after expressing their appreciation for our clubs’ willingness to share and desire to learn more.
Native Americans are historically an often very reserved group. It comes down from the tradition that elders deliberate and decide, and then everyone carries out those decisions. Hence, since the colonial period, Native American’s have had a certain degree of distrust with claimed knowledge, especially as it is related to the customs and traditions that are unique to the Native American culture. Recently though, there have been greater efforts to share these customs, ensuring the survival of these traditions. Events like Pow Wows, sweats and meditation gatherings are things we can all learn from. Trust me, even though I identify as Native American, once I get outside my comfort box, I get shy. That is what happens nearly every time I take a friend to a Pow Wow or Native American related function. Our group wants to help guide you through that by educating from experience and have some fun along the way. That way, you can explore on your own, without that sense of not knowing what is going on.
As a descendent of the Klamath Tribes and growing up on the ancestral homelands in Oregon, I have been able to spend a great amount of time mentoring, tutoring and assisting Native American students for the past eight years. Our student organization is a perfect outlet for both Native American and non-Native American students who want to help make a difference in the lives of others possible. We hope to assist the volunteer center in supporting the San Carlo’s Indian reservation. We want to expose different stories of trials and tribulations the Native Americans have endured.
Where does PNASO go from here? We would like to host a friendship Pow Wow, but an event of that magnitude will only be possible with student input and participation. There is nothing but positive things on the horizon for our young group, and it’s my hope students would embrace that. That way you’ll know that there are more than 200 different ways to say hello” in Indian country. PNASO meets next on Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. in the HAWC.