The Gathering Place: North Idaho College Has Services for Native Students
The sounds of drums and tribal singing once rang out on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene at the summer gathering place of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Various bands of the tribe would return from their winter travels and meet on what is now the North Idaho College beach to sing, dance, play games, and host other Native American tribes in celebration of the start of a new season.
NIC’s beach is named Hnya’(pqi’nn, pronounced Hin-Yap-Keehn-Un and is Coeur d’Alene for “The Gathering Place.” Now, here on the shores of the Coeur d’Alene’s summer home where Lake Coeur d’Alene meets the Spokane River, North Idaho College serves as a gathering place for students who are planning for a new season of their life as well.
North Idaho College
Drummers by the lake.
North America is full of the rich history of many different American Indian tribes. In collaboration with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, NIC created the American Indian Studies program to examine the contemporary and ancient experiences of the nation’s Native Americans from their perspective. The associate’s degree program serves both Indian and non-Indian students and the coursework is offered in a variety of delivery methods, including an option that is offered entirely online.
Courses include American Indian literature, history, and even Coeur d’Alene language courses. The coursework provides a diverse foundation of knowledge and skills that apply to a number of career options, including:
Tribal business and economic development
Tribal government
Natural resource management
Cultural diversity
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Environmental rights
Museum and cultural center management
Human services and health care
Federal and state services
For information about the American Indian Studies program, contact Kathy Lewis, American Indian Studies Program Instructor by calling (208) 665-5077 or email her at: kathy_lewis@nic.edu.
Services available to American Indian students at NIC
American Indian Student Advisor
American Indian Student Alliance Club
Scholarships for American Indian students
Native American Out-of-State Tuition Waivers for eligible tribes
