{"id":73686,"date":"2025-01-22T10:03:28","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T17:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=73686"},"modified":"2025-01-22T10:03:28","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T17:03:28","slug":"council-of-indigenous-ambassadors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/council-of-indigenous-ambassadors\/","title":{"rendered":"Club Spotlight: NAU Council of Indigenous Ambassadors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What to know\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Who can participate: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students attending NAU<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Meeting days: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Wednesdays<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Meeting time: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">6:30-7:30 p.m.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Meeting location: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The gathering room in the Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">About the club<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The NAU Council of Indigenous Ambassadors upholds the two-decades-old mission of the Miss Indigenous NAU organization, formerly the Miss Indian NAU organization: to represent and advocate for NAU\u2019s diverse and growing population of Indigenous students. After being chosen as the year\u2019s Indigenous ambassador and co-ambassador, two students excelling in leadership and activism host weekly meetings, spiritual trips and events rallying against injustice, inviting Indigenous students at NAU to find solidarity in their work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Q&amp;A<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">B\u00e1\u00e1s\u00e8 Pike<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a junior studying accounting, has been involved with the council since coming to NAU, an experience that culminated in her serving as the 2024 Indigenous ambassador and president of the club. As she prepared to pass the baton to the incoming 2025 ambassadors, she reflected on what she has accomplished as a representative of hundreds of Native American students and her hopes for NAU\u2019s future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved with the Council of Indigenous Ambassadors!<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I am enrolled in the San Carlos Apache tribe. I\u2019m Chiricahua Apache. I come from the Hastin\u2019naiye\u2014The old people standing in a row clan\u2014and the Bendok\u2019o\u2019he\u2014The last people coming band. I always say it is a very resilient, humble lineage, and I\u2019m very grateful for that.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I\u2019m also a part of a nonprofit organization called Apache Stronghold, where we advocate for Indigenous religious rights. We just filed a Supreme Court case against the United States and Resolution Copper for the projected land swap of Oak Flat, which is one of my people\u2019s sacred lands.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It has a lot of historical artifacts, so we\u2019re saying that this land swap for the mine project will be a direct violation of our religious freedom. It would cause us to lose access to our medicinal herbs and plants, and that\u2019s where some of our women\u2019s ceremonies are conducted. We\u2019re still waiting for a response to see if our case will be accepted. That\u2019s just a bit about myself and what I do outside of NAU.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/A96D8A65-FC5A-4F9D-A035-7BA3FCA3788C_1_105_c.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-73688\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/A96D8A65-FC5A-4F9D-A035-7BA3FCA3788C_1_105_c.jpeg\" alt=\"2024 Indigenous Ambassador B\u00e1\u00e1s\u00e8 Pike presents on a stage for the 2024 Indigenous Ambassador Pageant. \" width=\"433\" height=\"289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/01\/A96D8A65-FC5A-4F9D-A035-7BA3FCA3788C_1_105_c.jpeg 1086w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/01\/A96D8A65-FC5A-4F9D-A035-7BA3FCA3788C_1_105_c-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/01\/A96D8A65-FC5A-4F9D-A035-7BA3FCA3788C_1_105_c-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/01\/A96D8A65-FC5A-4F9D-A035-7BA3FCA3788C_1_105_c-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px\" \/><\/a>When I came to NAU, I really wanted to find a community for myself. I knew I had a passion for advocating for Indigenous communities. Knowing that this was the mission statement and one of the values of the Council of Indigenous Ambassadors, that\u2019s when I became a member. Then, I wanted to be more involved, so I was elected as the treasurer of the club.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I decided I wanted to make a change and revitalize the cultural side of NAU and bring that balance to Indigenous students because it\u2019s so hard to be away from reservations. There\u2019s a culture shock. I wanted to really give students that balance on campus, and that\u2019s when I decided I wanted to be president and run to be the ambassador.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tell us a bit about this organization\u2019s history. How was it formed? What is your mission statement?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As the NAU Council of Indigenous Ambassadors, we are stemming from the Miss Indigenous NAU organization, which was the pageant for student ambassadors. Miss Indigenous NAU also stems from Miss Indian NAU, which was the original. The name has been changed multiple times, and I believe this switch happened more recently. My co-ambassador <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Denver Seaton<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and I were the fourth annual Indigenous ambassadors, so that\u2019s how long we\u2019ve used that name.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We wanted to be more inclusive to all genders and allow anyone to be the spokesperson of Indigenous students. As the Indigenous ambassador, you also get to be president of the club, and so that is where you can implement your platform. It is definitely a way for students to come together to build cultural awareness within the NAU community and an understanding of Indigenous nations. We\u2019re student leaders on campus who really want to promote and advocate for Indigenous nations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What does the process of becoming an ambassador look like?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To be the Indigenous ambassador or the Indigenous co-ambassador, which is the vice president role, you are put into our showcase. It kind of stems from our past pageants because with the ambassador position, you do represent the school and have to manage the student organization part. We continue the showcase to really show students that if they have that public speaking ability and can present and show their leadership, they have a chance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The showcase is a competition that tests all these skills. Our latest ambassador showcase was on Nov. 15, and our candidates basically presented what their platforms are and how they want to implement their platforms, so proving they have that groundwork. Candidates will also talk about why they want to be the ambassador, wear traditional attire and perform a traditional talent. That\u2019s where they show their cultural knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Other than that, if you just want to be a member, you just come to our weekly meetings and get involved that way. The gallery room is very big and intimidating, but Denver and I always worked to make the place as friendly as we could.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What kinds of things does the NAU Council of Indigenous Ambassadors do throughout the year, both at regular meetings and any other events?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">During our meetings, we go over any events that we are planning and have group discussions on any new, creative ideas. Then, we always play a game for team bonding. We\u2019ll give out prizes like gift cards and little things like that for the students. It\u2019s really fun, and everyone\u2019s always laughing and having a good time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We always do Kahoot! trivia. We play a card game called Navajo Tens. That\u2019s something that members from different tribes who are not Din\u00e9, like me for example, get to learn and has become a meeting staple.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/CA878CF5-BC3F-4783-8C2E-58F3FF2A2C98_1_105_c-e1736893282116.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-73693 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/CA878CF5-BC3F-4783-8C2E-58F3FF2A2C98_1_105_c-e1736893282116.jpeg\" alt=\"NAU Council of Indigenous Ambassadors members pose in front of a large tree.\" width=\"447\" height=\"302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/01\/CA878CF5-BC3F-4783-8C2E-58F3FF2A2C98_1_105_c-e1736893282116.jpeg 955w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/01\/CA878CF5-BC3F-4783-8C2E-58F3FF2A2C98_1_105_c-e1736893282116-300x203.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/01\/CA878CF5-BC3F-4783-8C2E-58F3FF2A2C98_1_105_c-e1736893282116-768x519.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 447px) 100vw, 447px\" \/><\/a>Outside of our meetings, we\u2019ll figure out rides and schedules and go on trips to emphasize cultural awareness. In my community, there have been multiple times in my family where we\u2019ve had a sunrise dance, so I wanted to give that opportunity to members of our club to experience what an Apache sunrise ceremony is. It\u2019s just one of the ways we can spread cultural awareness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So, we go to these ceremonies, we\u2019ve done \u201cprotect Oak Flat\u201d runs, we\u2019ve traveled with Apache Stronghold to Malibu, California, and visited the Wishtoyo Chumash Village. We\u2019ve been able to experience prayer and what other tribes do, which is beautiful.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We do our showcases every year, so that\u2019s always something to look forward to. Last semester, we also had our \u201cOff the Rez\u201d skate competition, which is a collaboration we have with the NAU Skate Club and KJACK radio. We all came together to highlight Indigenous peoples during Native American Heritage Month and build those bridges between Indigenous communities and the skating community.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Like Indigenous communities, the skating community is often forgotten or depicted incorrectly. Indigenous students, especially those coming from the reservations, also often struggle to stay motivated and further themselves. These are two communities, but Indigenous peoples have really taken skating as something that can build positivity. A lot of younger people who are Indigenous are really looking into skating, so we also reach out to the high schools nearby and try to build that motivation to pursue your education while pursuing something you love.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Last semester, NAU reported the highest percentage of incoming Native American students in school history, making up 4.2% of the undergrad population. Because a key aspect of this organization is advocating for and improving recruitment rates for Indigenous students, what does this record number mean to you?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To me, it\u2019s very exciting and hopeful. That just means more of our Indigenous people are going out there to get a degree and do good for themselves. In this world, it\u2019s very hard to get a good-paying job without a degree. Indigenous peoples, we always talk about going out and getting our education and coming back to give back to our communities. I find this very hopeful for our Indigenous peoples, our futures and the children yet to come.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">During your time as ambassador, the organization has been recognized extensively for its leadership and activism, including receiving multiple High Pines Awards. Tell us a bit about how you&#8217;ve used your voices and platform to speak out against a range of injustices.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sometimes, where you\u2019re at, the institutions you\u2019re working with are not perfect. You really have to be out there to represent yourself and advocate for what the students want. It\u2019s been really amazing that our members have been wanting to go out there and advocate for sacred lands. We\u2019ve been to climate change conferences and were able to teach others about which sacred lands are being destroyed and the ways they can help. Those are values within our Indigenous communities that we\u2019re implementing here at NAU.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s also amazing when we go outside to different communities to help and be an ally. At the beginning of our ambassadorship, we went out with BSU for their MLK\u2019s Echo march. It\u2019s strengthening to see that alliance between two clubs that represent their people. BSU has always been there for us. It\u2019s little things like this that really represent what our club is about.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I\u2019m just so grateful that there are student organizations because they really give students the ability to make a change themselves for bettering the community. Like with nonprofits, for example, organizations like the federal government are not always going to provide for everyone. There will always be a need, and that\u2019s where student organizations and nonprofits fill those holes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Student organizations make NAU a community. They don\u2019t just strengthen it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There are so many Indigenous clubs, and there are more that are coming. They\u2019re taking those steps to build community, and that\u2019s amazing. I\u2019m really excited for our next ambassadors and seeing where they take the group and what they advocate for.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What is something you\u2019re most proud of accomplishing during your time as ambassador?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/3577D9BD-C0F9-4390-B63C-4E236812F353_1_105_c.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-73692\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/3577D9BD-C0F9-4390-B63C-4E236812F353_1_105_c.jpeg\" alt=\"NAU Council of Indigenous Ambassadors members pose with skateboards in an indoor gymnasium. \" width=\"475\" height=\"356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/01\/3577D9BD-C0F9-4390-B63C-4E236812F353_1_105_c.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/01\/3577D9BD-C0F9-4390-B63C-4E236812F353_1_105_c-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/01\/3577D9BD-C0F9-4390-B63C-4E236812F353_1_105_c-768x576.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 475px) 100vw, 475px\" \/><\/a>I would really like to say our skate competitions. Our skate jam, \u201cSkating on Stolen Land,\u201d was an event I first hosted as an ambassador. Back home, there is a very strong skating community that I\u2019m a part of. That\u2019s something I see within our young ones going to school. They really connect with skateboarding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We have these big competitions and get people from big skating brands and teams. At those events, you see the kids look up at them and say, \u201cOh my God, they\u2019re here!\u201d That motivation and inspiration was something I wanted to bring to NAU and Flagstaff. When I did, it was actually so huge. Over 200 people came to our event. It was amazing to have live bands there and about seven local sponsors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We had Apache Skateboards, which is an Indigenous-owned skating brand, and Doug Miles Jr., a professional Apache skater, come and do a demo. That collaboration with the NAU Skate Club was definitely something I\u2019ll never forget. Their president and members were so easy to connect with. We both had an understanding and a mission to bring positivity, and that\u2019s what we did.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What advice do you have for the incoming 2025 Indigenous Ambassadors?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Stay true to your platform and the dreams motivating why you want to be an ambassador. There\u2019s always going to be so many opportunities, but at the end of your term, you\u2019re going to want to look back on your platform and say, \u201cI did make that impact. I did make that change.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That\u2019s definitely something me and my co-ambassador can say. We did that, and that\u2019s the greatest part.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Find out more about the council\u2019s upcoming events by following @nau_cia on Instagram.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"search-results-excerpt-link\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/council-of-indigenous-ambassadors\/\">What to know\u00a0\u00a0 Who can participate: Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students attending NAU\u00a0 Meeting days: Wednesdays\u00a0 Meeting time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.\u00a0 Meeting location: The gathering room in the Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures\u00a0\u00a0 &nbsp; About the club The NAU Council of Indigenous Ambassadors upholds the two-decades-old mission of the Miss Indigenous NAU organization, formerly&hellip;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":73691,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1825],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-club-spotlight"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73686"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73686\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}