American Indian CenterQuarterlyInside this issue:

Pg. 1Welcome from the DirectorPg. 2New AIC EmployeesPg. 3 & 4EventsPg. 5Speaker SeriesPg. 6NEIAPg. 7Power In DiversityGraduatesPg. 8 & 9Scholarships & RecipientsPg. 10Academic CalendarPg. 11Support ServicesPg. 12Service TripPg. 13Student Spotlight

Welcome from the Director From the AIC Director’s Desk…. The 2015 fall semester started with remodeling the American Indian Center (AIC) building. We had a wall removed between the living room and old library. The new space looks great and will provide additional space for visiting high school groups during our college visitation “Engage” program. This fall we welcomed 49 new entering and transfer students who self-identified as American Indian, with 25 American Indian students living in the residence halls. Combining these new students with our returning students, our American Indian student headcount was brought to 238. The AIC hosted its annual Open House in August and the House Blessing in September. Ojibwe elder Herb Sam (Mille Lacs) provided the blessing and welcomed many new faces. Once again, the fall semester was filled with many events and activities that included; the popular Wednesday Retention lunches, our usual table presence at MAINSTREET!, and a trade show booth at the NIEA conference in Portland, Oregon. Through a SCSU Cultural Di-versity grant, we were able to have two students - AIC GA Emily Olson and Sam Trivette - participate in this important Indian Education conference. This year, the “Truth about Columbus” booth in the Atwood Memorial Student Union included assistance from the Honor’s Philosophy class, where they explained the native perspective surrounding Co-lumbus Day. Eight honor students also presented a resolution to the St. Cloud City Coun-cil to consider recognizing “Indigenous People’s Day on Columbus Day. We continued our AIC pumpkin carving contest tradition and had several artistic entries to consider for a first place winner. We welcomed native elder Ron Leif (Dakota) who did a wonderful presentation at the AIC on Dakota language, history and culture. Our student community continues to grow; if you haven’t yet completed an intake form, feel free to stop by any-time and meet with our AIC staff and student workers. Upcoming AIC winter/spring programs and services include many opportunities to get involved. Every year at the end of January, the AIC collaborates with the Multicul-tural Student Services office on the Power-in-Diversity conference. Come join us for the American Indian Speaker Series on February 18, 2016. Travel with us to the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer, Montana over spring break in March. Volunteer to help with the American Indian Awareness Week and our 23rd annual Powwow on April 9, 2016. Visit our AIC website: (http://www.stcloudstate.edu/aic) for current information and updates regarding upcoming events, programs, services and scholarship opportu-nities. Also, like us on Facebook to see what we are up to. The AIC is open daily from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. We will continue to concentrate on our main mission: “to respond to the self-defined educational needs and goals of American Indian students.” The AIC staff encourage all administrators, faculty, staff and students to increase their knowledge about American Indian sovereignty, and to continue their involvement with the AIC so we can build our future together. Have a safe & happy holiday season!

Sincerely, Jim Knutson-Kolodzne, Director

Fall/Winter 2015

The American Indian Center staff wish you a

safe and happy holiday!

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New AIC Employees

Emily Olson is the newest Graduate Assistant for the American In-dian Center. She began working for the AIC in the summer of 2013

as a student employee. Emily is an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe but is orginally from Eden Prairie, MN. Emily grad-uated with a B.E.S. in Biology in the spring of 2015. She is currently persuing a Master’s degree in Ecology and Natural Resources with an emphasis in Fisheries and Aquatic Biology. When not working, Emily volunteers at The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota work-ing to rehabilitate injured raptors set to be released back into the wild.

The American Indian Center welcomed three new employees to its team this fall! Stop by and say hello to student employees Judy Brunner, Anthony Carlson, and Graduate Assistant Emily Olson!

The AIC is very fortunate to have such a unified team with great team players! Judy, Anthony, and Emily have shown enthusiasm and commitment to the AIC and its mission at St. Cloud State University. Those here at

the AIC are grateful for the work and contributions made by all. Thank you for all of your hard work!

Judith Brunner is a freshman at St. Cloud State University. Judy is from Minneapolis, MN where she graduated from Robbinsdale

Cooper High School. Judy began working at the AIC in August of 2015. She is an Enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Judy is enthusiastic to be involved with the native community present at SCSU. Judy is an intended Accounting Major and decided to attend SCSU be-cause of SCSU’s prominant Herberger Business School. She enjoys spending the majority of her free time at the AIC because it provides the feeling of home.

A nthony Carlson i recently joined the AIC staff in October 2015. An-thony is currently studying Communication Studies and Marketing

to pursue a career in the technology sales field. His hobbies include at-tending SCSU sporting events, recording and playing guitar, and giving back to the community. Anthony is also an enrolled member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Nation in Odanah, Wisconsin.

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American Indian Center EventsFall/Winter 2015

MainStreet! The AIC hosted a booth during Mainstreet! on September 2, 2015. Director Jim Knutson-Kolodzne and AIC GA Emily Olson were there to provide information for new incoming and transfer students about the AIC and its support services. Mainstreet! provides an opportunity to connect with more than 200 student organiza-tions, dozens of academic and student support departments, and St. Cloud community partners representing more than 30 nonprofit organizations promoting local service and volunteer opportunities. Students and the campus community can explore ways to get involved through student organizations and learn about campus services available to them as well as volunteer and service-learning opportunities in the community.

House Blessing The House Blessing was held on September 10, 2015 at the AIC fire ring. Red Tree Drum Group opened with an honor song and closed with a prayer song. Ojibwe elder Herb Sam was also present and said a prayer. Everyone who attended smudged, and AIC Director Jim Knutson-Kolodzne smudged the AIC. This event was a great way to start the semester and get familiar with AIC staff and student employees. Guests were provided tours of the AIC and also shared food, refreshments, and stories.

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Pumpkin Carving Contest The AIC wrapped up another entertaining Pumpkin Carving Contest on Friday, October 30, 2015. There were several wonderful carvings including our three winnners. Congratulations BrieAnna Linquist - 1st place, Judy Brunner - 2nd place, and Carlee Staples - 3rd place!

L to R: E. Olson, B. Linquist, S. Trivette L to R: M. Varela, R. Fink, M. Davis, R. Martin, A. Amoako, J. Brunner

Fall Harvest Feast The annual Fall Harvest Feast took place on November 4, 2015. It was a great opportunity to come together and share a turkey dinner with traditional harvest foods such as corn and wild rice. The AIC was filled with many new and returning faces. Thank you to everyone who joined us and we look forward to seeing you again next year!

L to R: BrieAnna Lindquist, Judy Brunner, Carlee Staples

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American Indian Speaker SeriesOn Thursday, November 12, 2015, Dennis Olson spoke at the American

Indian Center about American Indian Ed. Dennis is the Director of American Indian Ed. at the MN Department of Ed. With over 10 years in working with the 11 tribal communities in MN, Dennis collaborates with multiple agencies on issues impacting Indian Ed. Prior to working at the Department of Ed., Olson served as the commissioner of ed. for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. He has also worked with the University of Minnesota, acting as a project coordinator for the Institute on Community Integration. Olson received his Master’s in education and liberal studies with a concen-tration on Federal Indian Policy from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. Dennis is an enrolled member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Dennis also serves on the American Indian Advisory Board for

Craig Howe spoke at the AIC and the Engineering and Computer Cen-ter (ECC) on Tuesday, November 10, 2015. Craig was on campus to

promote the Lakota Emergence exhibit by the Center for American Indian Research and Native Studies (CAIRNS). CAIRNS is an Indian-controlled nonprofit research and education center that is committed to advancing knowledge and understanding of American Indian communities and issues important to them by developing quality educational resources and innova-tive projects that acknowledge and incorporate tribal perspectives, and by serving as a meeting ground for peoples and ideas that support those per-spectives. The Lakota Emergence exhibit focuses entirely on the short Lako-ta emergence narrative titled, “How the Lakota Came Upon the World.” The exhibit divides the 1,251-word narrative into 16 “passages” and pairs each passage with an outstanding example of a practical or artistic Lakota object.

Dennis Olson

Craig Howe

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NIEA 2015 The National Indian Education Association annual convention was held in Portland, OR from Tues-day, October 13, through Saturday, October 17, 2015. There were over 400 Natives in attendance from tribal communities in the United States and Canada. The AIC hosted an informational booth where we highlighted services and summer programs: the Native Studies Summer Workshop for Educators (NSSWE) and the Native Sky Watchers (NSW) program. AIC Director, Jim Knutson-Kolodzne, Graduate Assistant, Emily Olson, and student employee, Sam Trivette set up and provided information at our SCSU trade show booth. We made many connections with professionals and students from various higher education institutions. They were joined by Associate Director Beth Knutson-Kolodzne from the SCSU Department of Campus Involvement during the trade show. Beth explained the annual service trip that Campus Involvement co-sponsors with the AIC to the Northern Cheyenne Indian reservation in Lame Deer, Montana.

“The trip to Portland was an amazing experience. There was a sense of familiarity seeing so many of the same individuals that we had connected with in Anchorage, AK. However, there were several new faces present that we were excited to share our information with. The scenery was spectacular both within and surrounding the city. My favorite part of the trip was the time I spent exploring the city with Sam, Jim, and Beth.” - Emily Olson

“I really appreciated the opportunity to interact with such a diverse array of people and cultures. It was a rare treat to meet people who spoke my language and be in an environment closer to the one I first grew up in. Ex-ploring Portland and taking in the city’s unique atmosphere was also a great experience, and I only wish I had had more time to see everything the conference and its gracious host city had to offer.” - Sam Trivette

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Jan. 28 - 31, 2016St. Cloud State University’s 7th Annual

Leadership development and personal growth opportunities! The 7th annual Power in Diversity Leadership Conference will offer opportunities for personal growth and leadership development to college students of color and underrepresented students through a variety of workshops, keynote addresses and programs. It will also provide a forum for student leaders to connect with other colleges and universities across the region. Advisors, faculty and staff who work with student leaders will also have a chance to network and share ideas and strategies. Conference attendees will learn from leadership activities that will assist in the development and en-hancement of one’s own skills to successfully navigate through college and into the workforce and to be a support for other students as well. This year’s conference theme, Intersectionality In Action, will provide a framework for conversations that explore power, privilege, discrimination, and systems of oppression as they relate to the numerous identities an individual or group may claim or relate to.

For more information contact:pidc@stcloudstate.edu or 320-308-7432

Congratulations Graduates!!Congratulations to the following Fall 2015 American Indian Graduates!

We wish you the best of luck and great success with your future endeavors!

UndergraduatesChelsea AtkinsonBrooke BodienTaylor Burch

Charlene HansonJared Isham

Matthew KellyMichael LachnerAndrea LowderWiyual Miyom

UndergraduatesJake Morgan

Donald MorrisMaricela Osorio

Keaton ReedBenjamin Sorenson

Nicholas StauffeneckerAshley Sutton

GraduatesShehab Hossain

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ScholarshipsThe American Indian Center gives out three scholarships annually to qualifying individuals. All St. Cloud State

University Scholarships are available in an online application format only.

Please visit http://www.stcloudstate.edu/huskiesscholarships/ to apply to internal (SCSU) and external (commu-nity) scholarships available.

Deadline for applications vary depending on the scholarship and/or department sponsors.

AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

This is an active, annual scholarship. Selection criteria for applicants: Must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe and an entering student at St. Cloud State University; may be a new entering student at any class year level; must be intended to major in teacher education; may intend to teach at any level- pre kindergarten through high school. Preference will be given to those who plan to teach in schools with high populations of American Indian children.

HENRY M. & J. ELEANOR MEYER/JOSEPH M. & THERESA L. HELTEMES MEMORIALSCHOLARSHIP

This is an endowed scholarship founded by a first generation college graduate. Preference for this scholarship isgiven to persons with financial need, who are of American Indian ancestry and who are involved with campusorganizations.

THE JOYCE AND MARVIN HOLMGREN SCHOLARSHIP FOR NATIVE AMERICANS

This is an endowed scholarship. Selection criteria require that the student: verify enrollment in a tribe or is at least one quarter Native American and is from either the U.S. or Canada (there are no other tribal restrictions); must be eligible for unconditional admittance to St. Cloud State University; must maintain scholastic average of “C” or better; must carry at least 12 credits per term. It is the donors preference that the award be given to a first year student and that the award follow that student as long as s/he is enrolled in good standing at St. Cloud State University and is in accordance with the criteria defined in the scholarship.

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2015-2016 Scholarship RecipientsName

Anna Brunelle

Casey Majhor

Emma Needham

Scholarship

Joyce and Marvin Holmgren Scholarship for Native Americans

Joyce and Marvin Holmgren Scholarship for Native Americans

Henry M. & J. Eleanor Meyer/Joseph M. & Theresa L. Heltemes Memorial Scholarship

Amount

$1,000

$1,000

$1,000

Original Ojibwe Artwork for Sale!by William Wilson

William Wilson is an Ojibwe from Ontario, Can-ada near Lake Nipigon. Much of his artwork is inspired by dreams and visions. All of the brightly colored paintings are done in Ojibwe x-ray style. We are seeing the picture as the spirits see us. Art-work is for sale at the American Indian Center. For more information email aic@stcloudstate.edu

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SCSU Academic CalendarSpring 2016

JanuaryDay and Evening Classes Begin

Monday, January 11, 2016

Martin Luther King, Jr. HolidayNo Classes; Offices ClosedMonday, January 18, 2016

7th Annual Power in Diversity ConferenceJanuary 28-31, 2016

SCSU Atwood Memorial Center

FebruaryPresidents Day

No Classes; Offices ClosedMonday, February 15, 2016

American Indian Speaker SeriesFebruary 18, 2016, 5:00-6:00 PM

American Indian Center

MarchLame Deer Spring Break Service Trip

March 5-12, 2016Northern Cheyenne Reservation

Lame Deer, Montana

Spring BreakMarch 7-11, 2016

AprilFaculty Duty Day; No Classes

Friday, April 1, 2016

American Indian Awareness WeekApril 4-9, 2016

April cont’d23rd Annual American Indian Center Pow WowApril 9, 2016; Grand Entries 1:00 and 7:00 PM

SCSU Halenbeck Hall

MSS Awards ReceptionApril 14, 2016, 4:30 PM

Atwood Memorial Center Ballroom

Last Day of ClassesFriday, April 29, 2016

MayFinals Week

May 2-5, 2016

AIC Graduation ReceptionMay 4, 2016, 4:30-6:00 PM

American Indian Center

CommencementsMay 6, 2015

Herb Brooks National Hockey Center

Visit our website at http://www.stcloudstate.edu/aic for resources, news, updates, and information about current events!

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Support ServicesThe American Indian Center offers a number of support services to American Indian students on the St. Cloud Uni-versity campus. All Indian students are encouraged to utilize these services.

Discussion and assistance in:

Admission process Financial AidPersonal concerns Academic concernsTutoring AdvisingHousing Career development

Referrals to appropriate SCSU agencies when necessary.

Native Leadership Retreat for all students helping them to become comfortable in their new campus and communities.

Services to Indian student organizations to enable students to become involved in student activites and meetother Indian students.

Social activities are offered throughout the academic year to help students make connections.

Speaker Series events bring American Indian presenters to the SCSU campus. The presenter speaks on a variety of Indian topics.

Student Retention Luncheons are every other Wednesday at noon. These gatherings are a great oppurtunity to share your story, hear others, and enjoy good food.

Computer lab is available for students to access e-mail and complete coursework.

American Indian Resource Center is a source of educational material relevant to the American Indian.

A quiet place to read a book, write a paper, or study is avail-able.

Are you Native but haven’t stopped by the AIC?

Do you want to learn more about what the AIC has to offer you?

*NEW STUDENTS*

If you are a student who has never visited the AIC, stop by and meet the Director, Jim

Knutson-Kolodzne, to get a tour and learn about our services!

All Tribes CouncilAnother oppurtunity for students to get

involved is joining All Tribes Council. ATC is a student organization which supports the

social and academic needs of American Indian Students at St. Cloud State University.

For more information contactSamuel Trivette (President) at

trsa1201@stcloudstate.edu

ATC Office located at Atwood Memorial Center 117

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MONTANASpring Break Service Trip

Lame Deer, Montana

Work with American Indian children through the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Cheyenne nation.

Cost includes transportation, meals on site and housing.

Apply online at: Department of Campus Involvement, Volunteer and Service Learning

Application Deadline: February 5, 2016 Fee Deadline: February 19, 2016

Contact: Civic Engagement Email: cega@stcloudstate.edu Phone: (320) 308-2205

St.Cloud State University is committed to legalaffirmative action, equal opportunity, access and

diversity of its campus community.(http://scsu.mn/1us7k5D)

A week that serves a lifetime.

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Student SpotlightJudy Brunner

Judith Brunner is a traditional first year student at St. Cloud State University. She plans to major in Accounting. She graduated from Robbinsdale Cooper High School in the spring of 2015. She grew up in Minneapolis, MN. Judy is enrolled member in the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Her mother is from the Leech Lake Reservation, and her dad is from the Red Lake Reservation. Judy is the youngest of three children. In her free time, she loves to be outside. She plays softball in the summer, and she likes to go to open gym with her friends and family. She also loves to hike. Judy’s favorite place to hike is Harney Peak in Custer State Park, South Dakota. When not at the AIC, Judy works at the SkyZone indoor trampoline park, in her hometown. You can find her there for teen nights almost every Saturday. Judy loves to work with kids. She is currently volunteering at the South Side Boys and Girls club in St. Cloud. When she is older, her dream is to create a sports program for the kids on the reservation so they can have the opportunity to travel the country for the sport they love, just like she did growing up.

Judy Brunner

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American Indian CenterSt. Cloud State University720 Fourth Avenue SouthSt. Cloud, MN 56301-4498

SCSU American Indian Center 720 Fourth Avenue South St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498Phone: (320) 308-5449 Fax: (320) 308-5451

E-mail: aic@stcloudstate.edu Website: www.stcloudstate.edu/aic

TTY: 1-800-627-3529 SCSU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer. This publication will be made available in large print or audio tape upon request.

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