Nic Plan Reaches Out To Native Americans Nine-Point Proposal Would Turn College Into Magnet For Native American Students

North Idaho College would become a magnet for Native American students under a sweeping proposal accepted Wednesday by the NIC board of trustees.

“What you have before you is a dream,” said board chairwoman Jeanne Givens, a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

The site of the lakeside campus was a traditional gathering place for Native Americans before white settlers arrived. Now, only seven Coeur d’Alene tribal members attend the state community college, said minority adviser Felix McGowan.

“In the past three years I’ve lost about 10 (Indian) kids who didn’t feel they belong, felt left out in the cold,” he said.

“This is not just for the benefit of Native American people, but for everyone. We’re doing the community, as well as NIC, a great favor.”

The nine-point proposal would:

Expand the NIC library collection about Native Americans, emphasizing literature written by Northwest Indians.

Build a campus “Longhouse,” the Indian term for a tribal cultural and social center. It would provide office space for the tribal education staff and NIC minority adviser; space for testing and mentoring minority students; an American Indian Resource Center; and hostel facilities for students needing overnight accommodations.

“If you’ve ever been on Highway 95 in the winter, you might realize how difficult it is to attend NIC,” Givens said of the difficult commute from the Coeur d’Alene reservation.

Name NIC buildings, streets, classrooms and a special place on campus in recognition of tribal leaders or cultural happenings.

Create Coeur d’Alene Tribal Awareness Week, possibly including a powwow.

Present, through sculpture or painting, a history of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Givens said the Indian legend of why Lake Coeur d’Alene is so blue could be told. “It’s a monster story,” she said.

Use college resources to better serve members of the tribe.

Hold recruitment nights for prospective tribal students.

Create an American Indian Studies program, including study of the Coeur d’Alene language.

Use microwave technology and other “distance-learning” methods to offer NIC courses on the reservation.

Trustees unanimously voted to seek an agreement with the tribe by the end of July. Such an agreement would set a timeline and methods for accomplishing goals.

Coeur d’Alene tribal chairman Ernie Stensgar spoke in favor of the proposal, which has the support of the tribal council.

“This place is near and dear to the Indian people,” Stensgar said. “Our kids were taught lifestyles here, how to treat their families, how to be good citizens.

“We need to share this diversity of culture that we have … and what better step than to recognize the Native American presence that was here, that will continue to be here?”

, DataTimes