作者：辛西娅·休伯特

2024年3月8日

萨克拉门托 State’s campus rests on the homelands of Native people, including members of the Miwok, Maidu and Nisenan tribes.

Now, the University’s Native students have a special place to gather and learn: the Esak’timá Center, which celebrated its grand opening on Friday, March 8.

“Today, 囊状态 takes another step toward fulfilling our mission of being a fully inclusive campus,” President Luke Wood told those gathered for the celebration.

新中心向所有种族背景的学生开放，这对该大学来说是一个重要的里程碑。该大学开设了美洲原住民研究的辅修课程，并设有一个土著学者项目。

The cultural center’s name, pronounced “eh-sack-tee-ma,” means in the Nisenan language “a place where knowledge comes.” It reflects the center’s goal to create “a sense of belonging for our Native students,” said Native Success Coordinator Rena Horse.

• See photos from the Esak’timá Center's grand opening celebration

霍斯说，该中心为长期落后于教育体系的学生提供学术咨询、研讨会、同伴咨询、领导机会等更多服务。

萨克州立大学有200多名学生是美国印第安人，这一群体在进入大学和从大学毕业时面临着重大挑战。

人口普查数据显示，在全国范围内，不到1%的大学生是美洲印第安人或阿拉斯加原住民，截至2021年，只有大约15%的美国原住民获得了大学学位。 此外，据美国印第安人教育基金会（American Indian education Fund）称，西方教育体系往往缺乏对美国原住民文化的了解，许多为保留地学生提供服务的学校缺乏适当的资源。

从萨克州立大学（囊状态）获得民族研究学位的霍斯说，进入大学的本土学生往往感到孤立和孤独。

“I certainly didn’t feel like I belonged,” she said. “I didn’t receive a lot of help and support. Now at the Esak’timá Center, we will be here to provide students with all of the things they need to succeed,” from help with processing financial aid applications to academic advising.

该中心位于拉森大厅内，包括学习和会议室，休闲聚会和研讨会的公共区域以及办公空间。 它还展出了尼塞南艺术家蒂芙尼·亚当斯（Tiffany Adams）的一件大型艺术品，以及土著部落领袖和萨克州立大学教师捐赠的艺术品。

“We want students to feel welcomed, seen and heard,” said Chao Vang, assistant vice president for Educational Equity Programs and 学生的成功.

盛大的开幕庆祝活动包括参观中心、演讲、传统舞蹈和音乐，以及美国原住民长老的祝福。 演讲嘉宾包括博彩平台校董会主席方文达； 詹姆斯·拉莫斯，第一位在加利福尼亚州议会任职的加州印第安人； 以及整个地区的部落领袖。

The Esak’timá Center “will help us unleash our voices,” said Ramos, a lifelong resident of the San Manuel Indian Reservation in San Bernardino County. “It’s time that our voices be heard” in the educational system and beyond, he added.

对于萨克州立大学的本土学生来说，该中心将为他们提供一个减压、分享经验和保持文化联系的地方。

政治学专业的莉莲·威斯（Lillian Weese）说，作为一名本土学生，她在校园的第一个学期感到孤独和想家。

“Native Americans are the smallest ethnic group here, so it can be hard to make connections,” Weese said.

“I want people to feel safe here,” said Mickey Nelson, a Native student who is studying Kinesiology. “I hope students take advantage of everything the center has to offer.”

Those aspirations were echoed by the speakers at Friday’s gathering, including Wilton Rancheria Elder Mary Tarango, who told attendees that she hopes the new center will help students “remember who you are, and where you come from.”

“It makes my heart feel so good to see this happening,” she said.