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Volume 41, Issue 4
October 14, 2003
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October
14, 2003
Group aims to retain Native Americans
Myte
Alleyne
Contributing Writer
A pilot program has been re-launched on campus this year by the name of
Native Cousins.
The program, designed to help Native American students, was originally
established in 1999 by Loretta Damon.
The program sat dormant for a year or so due to budgeting and demand.
However, that has changed recently and the program is currently in the
works to re-establish itself.
The program essentially matches continuing Native American students with
first year Native American students.
“Colleges and universities are constantly recruiting minority students,
especially Native Americans in Arizona; however, they don’t keep
them. That is why Native Cousins was actually reactivated this year,”
Loretta Damon, the program director, said.
The pilot program has about 50 members right now. Native Americans, whether
they are first-year or continuing students, are encouraged to participate.
The group meets every two weeks, Wednesdays in the Pima room at the Kirk
Center, at 1 p.m. Beginning and continuing students are matched up and
become each other’s “cousins” for the next nine months.
“Native Cousins is a learning process – communicating so that
the person you mentor can understand you, and you them. You are learning
that inner person. By communicating at that level, they will build a level
of confidence. A mentor can help students feel strong and help them realize
they can make a difference,” Fred J. Yazzie, Native Cousins mentor,
said.
Damon is looking into to some activities in which all students could participate,
including visiting some out-of-state universities and listening to guest
speakers from the Native American community speak on resources available
in the valley to help with continuing education. Native Cousins plans
to have information sessions on how to transfer to a university, as well
as financial aid resources. The group’s discussion focuses on daily
issues that Native Americans face on a college campus.
“They have to follow many restricted guidelines for financial aid.
They have to follow the rules and regulations for federal financial aid,
and follow the rules and regulations of their tribal groups,” Damon
said.
A large part of the dilemma among Native American students is cultural,
and culture shock for those who come to community colleges from the reservation.
“It’s hard for them to get used to – the transition
from small high school to college campus,” Damon said.
“Native Americans tend to shy away from the group. It’s normal
– a cultural thing. That is what we are taught – only to speak
when spoken to. There is a hierarchy within each tribe. We are taught
to be a humble people,” Leigh Anne Hayes, Native Cousins mentor,
said.
Several tribes are represented in Native Cousins. Navajo, Hopi, Tohono
O’Odham, Gila River Tribe, Salt River Tribe and White Mountain Apache
are all represented, and are all primarily Arizona tribes. Also represented
are Lakota Sioux (South and North Dakota), Mandan (North Dakota), Ho-Chunk
(Wisconsin), Quechan (California), Black Feet (Montana), and Laguna/Acoma
(New Mexico)
For more information you can contact Loretta Damon at Multicultural Services
at (480) 461-7454, or (480) 461-7154.
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