Post by Okwes on Mar 18, 2008 20:14:28 GMT -5
Native American Center breaking new grounds
Twila Old Coyote, adviser and coordinator for American Indian Student Services, performs all of her work from inside an old elevator shaft. Her daughter’s baby carriage doesn’t even fit inside the tiny office.
Fortunately for Old Coyote and her daughter, the University of Montana will break ground for a 19,900 square foot, $9.7 million Native American Center on April 19.
“I think it’s been a long time coming,” said Old Coyote, a Browning native and member of the Crow and Gros Ventre tribes. “There’s obviously a need for Native American students.”
UM’s Native American student population has almost doubled since the early ‘90s, growing from 239 in 1990 to 397 this spring, according to Bonnie Holzworth, who handles enrollment and statistics for the registrar’s office.
“It’s really neat that we get our own building,” said Nikki Johnson, a UM student who is also a member of the Gros Ventre tribe. “We get so crammed in here when students want to come visit.” Johnson is majoring in business management and doing her work-study out of the American Indian Student Services office.
Right now, UM’s growing Native student organizations and departments are spread out all over campus. Old Coyote and Johnson’s office is housed in the Lommasson Center, the Native American Studies Department works out of a small house across from Lommasson, and the Kyi-Yo Indian Club/Native American Association has offices in the University Center. The new building will create a one-stop for students by incorporating these offices and departments into one location, said Old Coyote.
“The idea is to create a home-away-from-home for them,” she said. “A place to network and socialize.”
The facility grabbed the last spot available on the Oval and will be built on the southwest side, between Mathematics and Lommasson. Construction is slated to begin later in the summer, once all the bid documents have been completed and the remainder of the fundraising is in place, said Kevin Krebsbach, associate director of planning and construction for UM.
“We’re trying to get a hole in the ground before winter this year,” he said.
Funds for the building are coming from private donors, according to President George Dennison. He said when the idea for a major facility for Native Americans was first conceptualized three years ago when a steering committee was formed to think and plan about it.
“And we made a commitment from the outset that we would raise the money in the private sector, but we would seek to have operation and maintenance from the state,” he said.
Julia Horn, the UM Foundation’s lead fundraiser on the NAC project, said right now they have $6.6 million in gifts and pledges, which includes donations from individuals, foundations and corporations in Montana and all over the U.S.
“Initially, the building had a $6 million price tag, but construction costs have grown significantly,” Horn said.
Dennison cited inflation as the reason for the cost increase.
Once the Foundation receives the total $9.7 million, construction can begin.
Jameel Chaudhry, UM campus architect, said a facility the size of the proposed NAC could take 12 to 14 months to complete.
“About a year is quite typical,” he said. “It depends on the semesters, but (we’re) looking at fall of 2009 for completion.”
Dennison said the new building is UM’s recognition that the first Montanans are a high priority.
“After all, the University is located in Indian country,” he said.
Dennison said when the UM steering committee originally identified the site, they brought in spiritual leaders from all of the tribes to bless the grounds during Homecoming two years ago.
“So it’s a big deal for me, for the campus, for the people off campus as well. It’s a beautiful design,” he said.
UM Tribal Liaison Linda Juneau recalls the healing and blessing ceremony well.
“Our history has been relegated to a non-history,” Juneau said when asked why it had taken so long for UM to recognize Native needs on campus. “Knowing about Native people was not important. It always appeared in history as a sidebar.”
She explained the UM grounds originally belonged to the Salish tribe.
“There are 12 tribes in Montana,” she said. “Our histories weren’t even taught in public schools in Montana.”
Originally the idea for a new Native American building was initiated by the students of the Kyi-Yo Club 40 years ago, she said.
“They looked for a place on campus. Identity and place are so intertwined in all Native cultures.”
Dustin Whitford, president of Kyi-Yo and a member of the Chippewa and Cree tribes, said his group plans on attending the groundbreaking ceremony in April.
“A lot of students and faculty will miss the (NAS) house,” he said. “It’s comfy and welcoming there. But with the new building, it feels like our field is taken more seriously.”
Juneau said President Dennison, being a historian, has made the needs of Native Americans and other students a priority at UM.
“The building is going to be a wonderful place, not just for Native students, (but) for anyone interested in learning about Native cultures,” Juneau said.
Twila Old Coyote, adviser and coordinator for American Indian Student Services, performs all of her work from inside an old elevator shaft. Her daughter’s baby carriage doesn’t even fit inside the tiny office.
Fortunately for Old Coyote and her daughter, the University of Montana will break ground for a 19,900 square foot, $9.7 million Native American Center on April 19.
“I think it’s been a long time coming,” said Old Coyote, a Browning native and member of the Crow and Gros Ventre tribes. “There’s obviously a need for Native American students.”
UM’s Native American student population has almost doubled since the early ‘90s, growing from 239 in 1990 to 397 this spring, according to Bonnie Holzworth, who handles enrollment and statistics for the registrar’s office.
“It’s really neat that we get our own building,” said Nikki Johnson, a UM student who is also a member of the Gros Ventre tribe. “We get so crammed in here when students want to come visit.” Johnson is majoring in business management and doing her work-study out of the American Indian Student Services office.
Right now, UM’s growing Native student organizations and departments are spread out all over campus. Old Coyote and Johnson’s office is housed in the Lommasson Center, the Native American Studies Department works out of a small house across from Lommasson, and the Kyi-Yo Indian Club/Native American Association has offices in the University Center. The new building will create a one-stop for students by incorporating these offices and departments into one location, said Old Coyote.
“The idea is to create a home-away-from-home for them,” she said. “A place to network and socialize.”
The facility grabbed the last spot available on the Oval and will be built on the southwest side, between Mathematics and Lommasson. Construction is slated to begin later in the summer, once all the bid documents have been completed and the remainder of the fundraising is in place, said Kevin Krebsbach, associate director of planning and construction for UM.
“We’re trying to get a hole in the ground before winter this year,” he said.
Funds for the building are coming from private donors, according to President George Dennison. He said when the idea for a major facility for Native Americans was first conceptualized three years ago when a steering committee was formed to think and plan about it.
“And we made a commitment from the outset that we would raise the money in the private sector, but we would seek to have operation and maintenance from the state,” he said.
Julia Horn, the UM Foundation’s lead fundraiser on the NAC project, said right now they have $6.6 million in gifts and pledges, which includes donations from individuals, foundations and corporations in Montana and all over the U.S.
“Initially, the building had a $6 million price tag, but construction costs have grown significantly,” Horn said.
Dennison cited inflation as the reason for the cost increase.
Once the Foundation receives the total $9.7 million, construction can begin.
Jameel Chaudhry, UM campus architect, said a facility the size of the proposed NAC could take 12 to 14 months to complete.
“About a year is quite typical,” he said. “It depends on the semesters, but (we’re) looking at fall of 2009 for completion.”
Dennison said the new building is UM’s recognition that the first Montanans are a high priority.
“After all, the University is located in Indian country,” he said.
Dennison said when the UM steering committee originally identified the site, they brought in spiritual leaders from all of the tribes to bless the grounds during Homecoming two years ago.
“So it’s a big deal for me, for the campus, for the people off campus as well. It’s a beautiful design,” he said.
UM Tribal Liaison Linda Juneau recalls the healing and blessing ceremony well.
“Our history has been relegated to a non-history,” Juneau said when asked why it had taken so long for UM to recognize Native needs on campus. “Knowing about Native people was not important. It always appeared in history as a sidebar.”
She explained the UM grounds originally belonged to the Salish tribe.
“There are 12 tribes in Montana,” she said. “Our histories weren’t even taught in public schools in Montana.”
Originally the idea for a new Native American building was initiated by the students of the Kyi-Yo Club 40 years ago, she said.
“They looked for a place on campus. Identity and place are so intertwined in all Native cultures.”
Dustin Whitford, president of Kyi-Yo and a member of the Chippewa and Cree tribes, said his group plans on attending the groundbreaking ceremony in April.
“A lot of students and faculty will miss the (NAS) house,” he said. “It’s comfy and welcoming there. But with the new building, it feels like our field is taken more seriously.”
Juneau said President Dennison, being a historian, has made the needs of Native Americans and other students a priority at UM.
“The building is going to be a wonderful place, not just for Native students, (but) for anyone interested in learning about Native cultures,” Juneau said.