As Montana’s first land grant institution, Montana State University was founded on a visionary idea – that access to higher education is critical to social and economic development – and that every student, regardless of background or family finances, has the right to pursue and attain a college degree. Once in school, it is our continued responsibility to provide the resources and support to make sure our students stay and graduate.
Almost fifteen years ago, MSU launched an ambitious fundraising project to support construction of a campus home for our growing number of American Indian students. MSU expects to reach enrollment of over 1,000 American Indian students by fall of 2020, making our need for the student center critical.
The American Indian Hall will be a campus home for our native students, a place to share meals, meet with each other and with students from other backgrounds. A gathering room will create space where people come together to share the collective wisdom of their history, a place to speak openly and honestly, a place to practice native ceremony and culture. Additional rooms will house tutoring, counseling and mentoring, a kitchen, a drum room, space for Elders to provide counsel, and of course, rooms for students to visit, study or work on projects.
The American Indian Hall will also serve as a bridge between American Indian and other cultures, welcoming our native and non-native visitors alike, raising the profile of our American Indian population on campus, and bringing into sharper focus their community. The new American Indian Hall will provide a dedicated space for interchange that will focus on education and will celebrate the unique diversity we share.
With President Cruzado’s leadership, several committees comprised of representatives from across campus have been assembled to guide the process of programming and designing MSU’s new American Indian Hall.
Your thoughts are welcome as we embark on this task.
Building upon original concepts developed by Dennis Sun Rhodes of the Northern Arapahoe and MSU Alumnus from the School of Architecture, the design of the building and accompanying grounds will be guided by a number of important constituents: President Cruzado’s Council of Elders; the Native American Studies department at MSU; the American Indian Council (a student organization); our partners at the seven Tribal Colleges in Montana; the Associated Students of MSU; tribal elders from around the region; and interested community members.
The people of Montana want to write a new chapter based on trust and understanding among groups with diverse interests and world views. To change the conversation, we all must be a part of it. The American Indian Hall at MSU will help advance that conversation and allow our native sons and daughters to spread their knowledge within and beyond the reservation borders, into the world we now live. Our hope is that we can create a better future for everyone from this place, this educational home for our future American Indian leaders and all MSU students.
The people of Montana want to write a new chapter based on trust and understanding among groups with diverse interests and world views. To change the conversation, we all must be a part of it. The American Indian Hall at MSU will help advance that conversation and allow our native sons and daughters to spread their knowledge within and beyond the reservation borders, into the world we now live. Our hope is that we can create a better future for everyone from this place, this educational home for our future American Indian leaders and all MSU students.
Your comments and ideas are welcome.
Friday, March 29 at 3 p.m., followed by MSU Spring Powwow.
Walter Fleming, Department Head
Native American Studies
Montana State University
[email protected]
406-994-3881
Major Robinson, Cultural Design Liaison
Campus Planning, Design & Construction
Montana State University
[email protected]
406-994-5413
Jaclyn Liebscher, Project Manager
Campus Planning, Design & Construction
Montana State University
[email protected]
406-994-5413
