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Welcome Indige-Lumberjacks!
NAU Land Acknowledgement Statement: Northern Arizona University sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, on homelands sacred to Native Americans throughout the region. We honor their past, present, and future generations, who have lived here for millennia and will forever call this place home.
NACC 10 Year Anniversary Celebration Video
Celebrating a Decade of Culture and Inclusivity
The Native American Cultural Center (NACC), a unit under the Office of Native American Initiatives opened its doors to become a “Home Away from Home” for many in the NAU Community in October 2011. From its inception, the NACC has striven to support students and to educate the larger community on the histories, cultures, and issues facing Native American/Alaska Native/ Native Hawaiian and Indigenous communities. The Native American Cultural Center was a dream 30 years in the making for the NAU and Flagstaff community. There were many people involved with the creation of the NACC, including tribal officials, two past NAU Presidents (Dr. Clara Lovett and Dr. John Haeger), and countless NAU students, faculty, and staff.
The 12,000-square-foot facility houses activities supporting student recruitment and retention, serving as a connection point for Native and Indigenous groups and programs on campus and with Tribal communities. The center embodies Native values and symbolizes NAU’s commitment to Native Americans. Our main doors open to the east, greeting the sun every morning. Like many traditional Indigenous homes, the NACC has an opening in the center of the building. The NACC also hosts a Story Room specifically designed to accommodate our students’ spiritual needs.
Since 2016, the NACC has served over 10,000 students annually and has hosted over 70,000 guests in various capacities, such as tours, educational presentations, concerts, cultural events, and student services. The pandemic disrupted how the NACC supported students, and our services turned to virtual spaces to bring the community together. Although this virtual environment provided us with unique engagement opportunities, we share and hold space with our community in-person with hybrid options.
Operating Hours for May 2023
The NACC will offer extended hours for the NAU Community from Monday, May 1, 2023, until Friday, May 5, 2023, from 8 am to 10 pm!
The NACC will operate in the NAU True Blue Summer Friday hours from Monday, May 15, 2023, to Friday, August 11, 2023. Our hours will be 8 am to 6 pm during this time, with no room reservations on the evenings or weekends. We appreciate your understanding. If you have any questions feel free to call us at (928) 523-9557 or email us at nau-nacc@nau.edu.
The Office of Indigenous Student Success will be available and can be reached by calling them at (928) 523-8086 or emailing them at: ISSNatives@nau.edu.
NACC Programs & Services
The NACC has four programs that provide support for the next generation of Indigenous Leaders and Advocates by providing a community of understanding and success the Indigenous Way. These 4 Programs are the Elders Program, the Indigenous Cohorts of Care Program, the Indige-Jacks student staff Program, and the Resources for Success Program.
Each of these programs is designed with the assistance of Indigenous knowledges and philosophies directed at providing a holistic approach to supporting students by way of focusing on cultural education and expression, inclusive academic education, social outreach, and health and well-being. All four of the NACC Programs offer opportunities to attend events at the NACC, to join in critical conversations, and to find your community of support and success! For additional information about how to become involved at the NACC, email us at NAU-NACC@nau.edu.
Office of Native American Initiatives
Vice-President Ann Marie Chischilly leads ONAI. The Office of Native American Initiatives has 5 different programs and many partners that strive to support NAUs goal to become the leading university serving Indigenous Peoples:
- The Native American Cultural Center (NACC) is the central hub for Native American & Indigenous activities at NAU, providing resources for Indigenous students, Arizona tribes, local organizations, and students, staff, and faculty throughout the NAU campus.
- The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals focuses on protecting and sustaining Native American land, strengthening tribal capacity and sovereignty in environmental and resource management through culturally relevant education, research, partnerships and policy-based services.
- The Institute for Native-Serving Educators, or INE, aims to be the premier preK-12 professional development institute of choice for Native Nations in the United States.
- The Development program of ONAI focuses on locating resources for NAUs Native American and Indigenous community.
- The Tribal Leadership Initiative provides training and support for current and future tribal leaders in Indian Country through graduate curricula, executive education, youth leadership programs, fellowships, and more.
ONAI offices are located on the second floor of the NACC and in office 105. ONAI seeks to make a substantial and enduring contribution to a new era in Native American and Indigenous self-determination by:
- partnering with Native American and Indigenous communities
- collaborating with tribal colleges and universities
- contributing to a culture of support for Native American and Indigenous students
- building bridges to and from Indigenous-serving institutions across the globe
Questions about ONAI? Call 928-523-9124 or email Shirley.Conrad@nau.edu. ONAI is open from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.
Honoring Roots
Supporting and Encouraging Indigenous Students
The Office of Native American Initiatives in conjunction with NAU Marketing, worked together to create logos and graphics that represent ONAIs Core Values of Relationships, Responsibility, Respect, and Resilience. These logos and graphics are a collective representation of values that are upheld within many different Indigenous communities.
- The Relationships graphic was inspired by the staple imagery of the four cardinal directions that are considered sacred in Native American cultures. The feathers represent the trust, honor, wisdom, and strength that is necessary in establishing and cultivating relationships.
- The Responsibility value is a sun that illustrates responsibility by showing the effect that it has by reaching out with its rays. It also signifies the beginning of a new day as it rises from the east. Both of these express dependability and accountability which are essential parts of responsibility.
- The Respect value is represented by a water graphic that uses a droplet shape often utilized in Native American jewelry and other inspired circular designs. Water is used here to visually express the importance of respect and the value of community approval and honor.
- The Resilience value is represented as a corn stalk that is found in many Native American images. Corn is a resilient crop that ties directly to the concept of resilience. It also symbolizes the growth students experience through support in their education.
NACC Rooms
The NACC is currently operating at a reduced capacity. The NACC will be accepting Room Reservations on a very limited basis. Please use the NACC Room Reservations Form to submit your requests.
Are you a Student Organization looking to reserve NACC space for AY 23-24? Contact us directly at NACCRooms@nau.edu and provide your Student Organization meeting day and time, Contact information, and preferred room.
The NACC will begin charging a nominal administrative fee for room reservations beginning Fall 2023; fees will differ for each room based on size and amenities offered. If you have any questions, please email us at NACCRooms@nau.edu.