Interview with Gabrielle Allan: The NAC not just for Natives

Grabrielle Allan the program director in the Native American Center at Fort Lewis College. Scheduling events for the NAC and welcoming everyone to come and visit.

What does the NAC offer?

The NAC offers help in the four areas, Wellness, social, culture and academic.

What does each area offer or bring to the NAC?

Wellness: “we partner with the Outdoor pursuits program to get our students involved in that.” The NAC also offers a Sweatlodge and helping navigate students for healthy relationships.

Social: They play games, they plan events during the holidays and events that give students a voice. “Things to bring more community involvement.”

Culture: The NAC support clubs that bring the culture side to the NAC. “ Buffalo Council is doing Tatanka Tales which is like native story telling that provides food with it, Dine club has done a shoe game in the past, Wanbli Ota brings the powwow to campus, pueblo alliance has the Feast Day every spring.” The NAC supports the clubs so they can bring the cultural activities to campus.

Academic: The NAC offers the book loan program, free tutoring, computer lab, faculty office hours so students can meet with professors so they don’t have to search for their offices.

Is the NAC only for native students?
“No, We exist to support Native students, but we welcome everybody to come to our activities because it’s a good learning experience for the non-natives that don’t have much exposure to Native communities or people. While we support our Native students we welcome others.”

How is the Ms. Hozhoni role a major part for the NAC?

This year the pageant is being more inclusive, that whoever wins the competition they are allowed to choose their title. The title will no longer be Miss Hozhoni, it can be Miss, Ms., Mr., Mx. It is someone who is wanting to be an ambassador, and taking on the role of an ambassador for the NAC.