Post by blackcrowheart on Jun 17, 2007 22:08:31 GMT -5
CSUSM names 'Tukwut Courtyard'
SAN MARCOS ---- The tribal chairman of the Pauma Band of Mission Indians shook a turtle shell rattle as he sang a traditional Luiseno song Thursday afternoon during a ceremony naming Tukwut Courtyard at Cal State San Marcos.
Accompanied by his son and nephew, Chris Devers then blessed the courtyard, which is on the third floor of Craven Hall, with incense from burning sage, a Luiseno tradition he said was meant to protect the area and ward off evil spirits.
"We'd like to ask the creator to look down on this area for all those who will come here to sit and think ... and to guide them on the journeys they make," Devers told a crowd of more than 100 students, staff, administrators and members of the local Indian community who gathered to witness the dedication. The courtyard takes its name from the Luiseno Indian word for mountain lion.
The courtyard was built last fall as part of the university's comprehensive renovations to create Cougar Central, a one-stop shop for student services that opened at the beginning of the semester. Roy Lee, president of the university's student government, said the courtyard will serve as a permanent symbol of academic success and integrity, which make up the spirit of the Tukwut.
Thursday's ceremony was meant to honor the Luiseno Indians, who once lived on the land on which the university was built. In 1990, the university's first class of students looked for a way to recognize the campus' roots and selected the "Tukwut" as an informal mascot of the college, explained Bonnie Biggs, professor emeritus and tribal liaison at Cal State San Marcos. The Tukwut name was given to the school as a gift from a Luiseno elder.
"Tukwut represents a spiritual symbol for our campus," said Biggs. "It's crucial we recognize the people who came before us."
Although the use of the Tukwut name came and went over the years, and the cougar was adopted as the school's official mascot, student leaders pushed to revive the meaning of the symbol this year by dedicating the new courtyard in its name.
"It's an honor to commemorate the Luiseno people and to celebrate a new day for Cal State San Marcos," said Lee, who donned a navy blue T-shirt that read, "With the mind of a Tukwut and heart of a Cougar."
"One of (Associated Students Inc.'s) missions is to educate students on the spirit of Tukwut and give them ownership of the word," he said. "Tukwut is here and it's not going anywhere."
In addition to speeches by members of the Cal State San Marcos Native Advisory Council, university President Karen Haynes addressed the crowd, detailing plans to raise funds to build a memorial statue in the courtyard.
"The memorial will demonstrate the proud impact and influence the Luiseno people have had on this university," said Haynes.
Reclaiming the Tukwut spirit reconfirms and strengthens ties with not only the Luiseno people, but with all tribes served by Cal State San Marcos, she continued.
"This comes at a good time when the university has really been working hard to make those connections formal," said Haynes, adding that last month, the university became the first in the 23-campus California State University system to forge an academic and admissions partnership with an American Indian tribe.
Patricia Duro, a Luiseno from the Rincon Band of Mission Indians, said she was pleased the university has finally embraced the gift Luiseno elders bestowed upon it 17 years ago.
"It is a great honor to have our people and our language recognized here," said Duro.
<http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/03/02/news/inland/21_51_103_1_07.txt>
SAN MARCOS ---- The tribal chairman of the Pauma Band of Mission Indians shook a turtle shell rattle as he sang a traditional Luiseno song Thursday afternoon during a ceremony naming Tukwut Courtyard at Cal State San Marcos.
Accompanied by his son and nephew, Chris Devers then blessed the courtyard, which is on the third floor of Craven Hall, with incense from burning sage, a Luiseno tradition he said was meant to protect the area and ward off evil spirits.
"We'd like to ask the creator to look down on this area for all those who will come here to sit and think ... and to guide them on the journeys they make," Devers told a crowd of more than 100 students, staff, administrators and members of the local Indian community who gathered to witness the dedication. The courtyard takes its name from the Luiseno Indian word for mountain lion.
The courtyard was built last fall as part of the university's comprehensive renovations to create Cougar Central, a one-stop shop for student services that opened at the beginning of the semester. Roy Lee, president of the university's student government, said the courtyard will serve as a permanent symbol of academic success and integrity, which make up the spirit of the Tukwut.
Thursday's ceremony was meant to honor the Luiseno Indians, who once lived on the land on which the university was built. In 1990, the university's first class of students looked for a way to recognize the campus' roots and selected the "Tukwut" as an informal mascot of the college, explained Bonnie Biggs, professor emeritus and tribal liaison at Cal State San Marcos. The Tukwut name was given to the school as a gift from a Luiseno elder.
"Tukwut represents a spiritual symbol for our campus," said Biggs. "It's crucial we recognize the people who came before us."
Although the use of the Tukwut name came and went over the years, and the cougar was adopted as the school's official mascot, student leaders pushed to revive the meaning of the symbol this year by dedicating the new courtyard in its name.
"It's an honor to commemorate the Luiseno people and to celebrate a new day for Cal State San Marcos," said Lee, who donned a navy blue T-shirt that read, "With the mind of a Tukwut and heart of a Cougar."
"One of (Associated Students Inc.'s) missions is to educate students on the spirit of Tukwut and give them ownership of the word," he said. "Tukwut is here and it's not going anywhere."
In addition to speeches by members of the Cal State San Marcos Native Advisory Council, university President Karen Haynes addressed the crowd, detailing plans to raise funds to build a memorial statue in the courtyard.
"The memorial will demonstrate the proud impact and influence the Luiseno people have had on this university," said Haynes.
Reclaiming the Tukwut spirit reconfirms and strengthens ties with not only the Luiseno people, but with all tribes served by Cal State San Marcos, she continued.
"This comes at a good time when the university has really been working hard to make those connections formal," said Haynes, adding that last month, the university became the first in the 23-campus California State University system to forge an academic and admissions partnership with an American Indian tribe.
Patricia Duro, a Luiseno from the Rincon Band of Mission Indians, said she was pleased the university has finally embraced the gift Luiseno elders bestowed upon it 17 years ago.
"It is a great honor to have our people and our language recognized here," said Duro.
<http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/03/02/news/inland/21_51_103_1_07.txt>