Being a Native American Student at UNR
By Connor McCoy
Tsanavi Spoonhunter is an active member in the Northern Nevada Native American community and a student at the University of Nevada Reno.
What are aspects people do not understand about Native American communities?
“That’s a good question! A lot of people have the misunderstanding that being a native person we are all categorized as the same. A lot of times being a native person the general person doesn’t understand that there is over 500 tribes. Within those tribes there are different cultures, customs and languages. For example, i’m enrolled in the Northern Arapaho tribe of the wind river reservation up in Northern Wyoming. However I’m also t of this region I’m Monalate Paiute which is in CA. I think a lot of people kind of generalize Native American people into one group when in reality there are seven different sub groups of the nation.”
What is the importance of community?
“I think that community is really important and it’s something that all tribes across the nation value. Regardless of what tribe that you come from I feel that if you see a native person doing really well in whatever career they are in. For example, sports is a really good example. I know that we have Tommy Robinson here who a lot of Native American communities rally behind because she plays basketball for UNR and a lot of the communities came out to support here. A lot of this community here, which is made up of Washoe, Paiute, and Shoshone tribes, they all rally behind her because she’s a native person. That gives you a sense of community that shows that Native American communities really value their members.”
What resources do Native Americans have on campus?
“The Native American Student Organization here on campus is a very good resource for Native students. It’s located in the center of the Joe Crowley Student Union. The advisor, Sandra, has an open door policy. If you ever have any questions or concerns about anything she’s always there to help you. She has been very supportive of me during my undergraduate career. I am very thankful for that. I feel like a lot of times people being from reservations are secluded and outcasted in a way. So when you come to a city or an area outside of the reservation that experience could be a little daunting or intimidating and so I think that’s one resource that’s really important for our people.”
Do you ever visit any of the reservations here in Northern Nevada.
“Yeah, they have been very welcoming. I do participate in a lot of different events that they have. The Reno Sparks Indian Colony here in Reno represent three different tribes. They represent the Washoe, Paiute, and Shoshone. The Public Relations officer there, Stacey Montue is really good at reaching out to the community and inviting community members to different functions and activities that the tribe puts on as well as reaching out beyond the native community and to the greater Nevada area to invite people to things that we are doing.”
How important are Pow Wows and how accurate do you think they represent the community.
“I think it’s the most mainstream cultural event we have as native people in general however it’s not to say its a representation of this specific group of people. All native tribes have their own culture and customs. The Pow Wow comes from Plains tribes and the tribes here aren’t Plains tribes. However I think a lot of native communities are embracing the Pow Wow. It’s a good place to go and have fun with other Native people. To be able to joke and have that sense of humor a lot of Native Americans have that the outside communities don’t understand. It’s an awesome place to go and be around people you are comfortable with and familiar with that have a lot of the same background as you.”
As a student, did you care at all about the elections?
“It’s really important to pay attention to see what’s happening at the tribal government level because it does impact us. For example my mom works at the Reno Sparks Indian Health Center, she would be impacted by whatever happens at the government tribal level because they have a lot of push on what happens in their land. Being in Nevada a lot of reservations are moved to the outside city limits so they are not really part of that community. Here in Reno its different because the reservation is in the city. Tribal politics are just like any politics.”
Any fun facts about the community?
“I think it’s really important that you educate yourself with the different tribes you come into contact with. A fun fact is that in 1978 the American Indian Freedom Religion act was passed. That was very recently, before 1978 Native Tribes were not allowed to practice their culture and their traditions and their religions. It was prohibited to do that so a lot of tribes have lost their religion and culture because of this. Now a lot of tribes are trying to reconnect with that past that we lost. Little facts like that are interesting because it wasn’t that long ago we have been able to have a stronger voice.”
