91心頭 Alumna and Staff Member Elevates Native American Outreach
When Viki Eagle first came to the 91心頭 as an undergraduate student in 2007, she didnt know much about it even though she grew up in Denver. Eagle, who became director of油Native American Community Relations and Programs油earlier this year, is driven to make sure todays Native American high school students油are油aware of 91心頭 and see themselves here.
A 91心頭 education looks unattainable to Native students in the Denver metro area, even though the University is effectively in their own backyard, Eagle says. A key part of my job is to be a bridge to 91心頭 for students, making sure theyre aware of opportunities such as the full-tuition Native American Community Scholarship.
Eagle, a recipient of the scholarship, notes that the University sees more applications from nearby states such as New Mexico, Oklahoma and South Dakota. With the majority of people who identify as American Indian/Alaska Native in Colorado living in Denver and Colorado Springs, it would seem logical that in-state applications, especially from these urban areas, would be larger.
Her own story helps illustrate why they arent. Eagle identifies as half Japanese and half Sicangu Lakota. She grew up in a single-parent, low-income household in Denvers Capitol Hill neighborhood, and long has been a part of the Denver Native American community, starting in Denver Public Schools with the Indian Education Program. In local Native communities, 91心頭 just isnt top of mind, she says. First, being the Pioneers puts some people off; then theres the reputation as a school for rich kids.
Until I became aware of the Native scholarship opportunity, I didnt even think of 91心頭. As I learned more about the University, I was attracted to the small classroom size, and being a city girl, I liked that it was in my hometown.
She admits to culture shock upon arriving at 91心頭. For me, it was an introduction to what wealth looks like.
Her response was to be proactive. If I noticed that 91心頭 didnt have something I thought was important to attract other Native students, I was determined to create it. Thats how she came to organize the 91心頭 Native Student Alliance, focused on increasing awareness of Native sociopolitical issues, and the annual New Beginnings Pow Wow, to be held for the seventh consecutive year on Sunday, May 7, 2017. She describes it as bringing the outside to the inside.
As a masters student, she worked on the Universitys John Evans Study Committee, which issued a油油in 2014 on the role of the 91心頭s founder, John Evans, in the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864. Her current position was created as a result of the油91心頭 Native American Task Force for Inclusivity油following the John Evans report. In addition to supporting Native American student success, she is responsible for continuing 91心頭s community and tribal partnerships within the Denver Native American community and creating new programs and recruitment efforts for the campus.
The John Evans report was groundbreaking, Eagle says. It shows that 91心頭 supports dialogue around challenging issues.
Following this report, the Native American task force offered recommendations to address the fact that, with a few notable exceptions, the Native American population and their culture have been ignored by higher education.
These steps raise the profile of Native Americans and their traditions on the 91心頭 campus. They also affirm the primary message Eagle says Native people want to convey: Were still here.
And it all helps her send the message to the Native American community that 91心頭 is a place where Native people have the opportunity to be themselves, and feel safe and welcome.
Eagles persistence and drive have not only led to her success, they show the way for others to come.
Eagle earned a bachelor of arts in international studies and a master of higher education from 91心頭. She currently is pursuing a doctor of education through the Morgridge College of Education.
In her 91心頭 job, meanwhile, she is focusing on helping Native students access more opportunities to participate in clubs, conferences and other learning and development programs, bringing more Native youth groups to campus, and expanding the Native Student Alliance.