The Indigenous Student Association was established in the spring of 2022. They aim to empower and bring attention to Native American and Indigenous culture, traditions and impact to the United States and abroad. ISA plans and participates in culturally relevant programming on campus to diversify the community properly and to educate people on topics often not taught in public schools. Overall, the group is committed to Indigenous representation in higher education & fostering a safe, inclusive environment for Indigenous students. The ISA logo includes arrows, feathers, a circle, a turtle, and a star above the established date. Below is what each symbol represents: • The arrows: An arrow symbolizes reaching your goals and achieving your targets. Protection – An arrow has traditionally been used to protect someone from potential harm. Arrows represent protection and defense from any evil that can come to you. • The turtle: To most tribes, the turtle also represents healing, wisdom, spirituality, health, safety, longevity, protection, and fertility. Some Native Americans believe that the turtle contributed to creation because the turtle dove into the primeval waters to retrieve mud to create Mother Earth. • The feathers: are a powerful symbol that signifies honor and a connection between the owner, the Creator, and the bird from which the feather came. • The circle of healing: The circle is a sacred symbol of the interdependence of all forms of life; the circle is a symbol in Native spirituality, family structure, gatherings of people, meetings, songs, and dances. • The star: The Morning Star symbolizes hope and guidance.
NATIVE KNOWLEDGE 360 Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) provides educators and students new perspectives on Native American history and cultures. Most Americans have only been exposed to part of the story, as told from a single view through the lenses of popular media and textbooks. NK360° provides educational materials, virtual student programs, and teacher training incorporating Native narratives, more comprehensive histories, and accurate information to enlighten and inform teaching and learning about Native America. NK360° challenges common assumptions about Native peoples and offers a view that includes the past and the vibrancy of Native peoples and cultures today. Explore educational materials here.
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