Celebrating a culture not lost

NIC continues to honor the Nine Point Agreement with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe through the dual naming of campus buildings.

Students returning to classes in January were met with new signage on most of the buildings on campus. The addition of Coeur d’Alene Tribal Salish names helps to fulfill point three of the more than 20-year-old agreement between NIC and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

“I think it’s wonderful for us, it’s fulfilling the commitment we made as part of the Nine-Point Agreement,” Graydon Stanley, vice president of Student Services said. “It’s also just doing honor to the ground that we’re on- that the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has let us be on.”

McLain Hall, home to Outdoor Pursuits now includes the name Yeatsechen, “Place Where Many Play.” Photo by Jamie Sedlmayer.

Other campus locations had already been given a dual name in the years since the agreement was made. The Ts’elusm Dining Room in the SUB, Cheamkwet Park and Hnya'(pqi’nn at the beach have had tribe names displayed for many years. For Stanley, he said it was important to complete the promise of point three by also naming the more well-known buildings on campus.

 “I love it,” Stanley said. “I chair the committee for it and that was one of our projects for the last 18 months or so. We went through the process to work with the tribe to get the names, to develop the designs and get it installed.”

Student Emily Polmateer said she wondered about the names she saw and what meaning they held. When she learned why the tribe names were represented she said she hoped native students felt included and honored.

Hnp’ekwle’n “Place for all Sports” was added to Christianson gym. Photo by Jamie Sedlmayer.]

“I noticed the beach had two names, so it’s nice to see some continuation on campus,” Polmateer said. “I particularly like the word on the SUB; it’s true and it’s good to see it in such a prominent place.”

Campus Life Programs Coordinator Kyle Johann said he was excited to see the names go up last month. He seems to also share Polmateer’s sentiment about the inclusion the names convey.

The heart of campus known as the SUB gained a fitting name of Chawnekwhen “We Are All Together One.” Photo by Jamie Sedlmayer.

“You walk up and see a part of your identity, something you recognize and it reaches to a different part of you in a way NIC otherwise may not have been able to do,” Johann said.

 Stanley said NIC is committed to maintaining and furthering a connection with the tribe and native students. Through a planned walking tour of campus, students and visitors will be able to use an app and explore campus learning the rich native history of the grounds. A committee is currently working on the tour with plans to roll it out in about six months, Stanley said. Some historic places on campus might not be stops on the tour though.

Hnp’ekwle’n “Place for all Sports” was added to Christianson gym. Photo by Jamie Sedlmayer.

 “The Powder Magazine and Fort Sherman Officer’s Quarters are not necessarily part of our history with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe that everybody’s most proud of,” Stanley said. “It came at a time in our history when it wasn’t about working together but working against each other, not the honorable part of our past.”

 Stanley and the committee understand the sensitive nature of how the land NIC sits upon was acquired. Through theft by the United States Army in 1978, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe lost their land and the place they had gathered for what is believed as centuries before. Polmateer questioned whether for some students the dual names would just be a reminder of the theft of their land.

Ts’elusm Dining Room in the SUB. Photo by Jamie Sedlmayer.

“If I were a native I’m not sure if I’d feel resentful knowing that this was sacred land to my ancestors or if I’d appreciate the gesture of goodwill,” Polmateer said

 ASNIC Senator Paul McLeod said he hopes the additions are received as intended: as a sign of respect.

 “I think it shows we care about the area and its history,” McLeod said.

Ts’elusm means “It stands up toward the fire.” In regards to the NIC dining room it means ‘cookfire,” thus the “Cookfire Dining Room.” Photo by Jamie Sedlmayer.

  For Stanley one of his goals is to convey that same message, NIC does care.

 “I think that’s so important for them to have a sense that this is their place before it was ever our place,” said Stanley. “For them to have a sense that this is their home by seeing a name. It’s great to have that part of the Nine Point Agreement lived out.”

To view and learn more about the Nine Point Agreement visit, https://www.nic.edu/about/9PointAgreement.pdf