New American Indian Student Center Opens in Sub

This semester, NIC has officially unveiled its new American Indian student center.

Formerly located in the basement of the Student Union Building, the new expanded and renovated center is on the SUB’s second floor. Featuring murals painted by local Coeur D’Alene tribe artist Valerie Adrian, along with other decor from Cookie Allan,  the center is designed for students with tribal affliction to have a place where they are absolutely welcome and can make their own.

Ray Miramontez, president of NIC’s American Indian Student Alliance (AISA), describes the space as “a total game changer.”

“This room is much brighter as opposed to the other room,” he said, “which is more like a dungeon.”

Miramontez said the importance and value of higher education to the Coeur d’Alene people is being reflected in the Tribe’s coordination with the college. The Coeur d’Alene tribe has always had a connection to the land as long as the tribe has existed. Miramontez described the relationship between the tribe to the college as being an open one, “we extend our hands in coexistence”

Amy Bardwell, NIC’s American Indian Student Advisor, elaborated on the history behind the space. The creation of the new center is related to North Idaho College’s nine-point agreement with the Coeur D’Alene tribe. Point two of this agreement was for NIC to build a “longhouse” to represent the Coeur D’Alene tribe. While there is no separate longhouse, the money donated by the Coeur D’Alene tribe as part of the agreement was used to fund the development of this new space. 

Bardwell said, “It is open to all students of good will, especially those who are curious and interested to learn more about the various native cultures.”