{"id":2041,"date":"2021-05-25T21:46:56","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T21:46:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nau.edu\/aspirations\/?p=2041"},"modified":"2021-09-13T23:10:16","modified_gmt":"2021-09-13T23:10:16","slug":"nacc-serves-as-gathering-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/stories\/nacc-serves-as-gathering-place\/","title":{"rendered":"Home away from home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NAU\u2019s Native American Cultural Center<\/a> (NACC) serves as a gathering space for Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Emile Eich, BS Psychology, \u201919, the NACC became her home away from home. Exactly as its designers intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBefore I came to NAU, I had a hard time finding my identity,\u201d Eich said. \u201cBut taking Applied Indigenous Studies<\/a> classes and having this Native American Cultural Center building, I was really able to find my niche. I practically lived there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 12,000 square-foot NACC opened in 2011. Its design was the result of input from the leaders of 22 tribes. The beautiful building features curved hallways around a central social space, rooms for resident Elders, a modern conference room, and a window framing the sacred San Francisco Peaks. The main doors open to the east. 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 students\u2019 spiritual needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NACC is a place to celebrate culture and build community.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Located in the heart of campus, the building serves as a gathering space for Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian students. It is a place to celebrate culture and build community. Through the center, students can interact with peers, seek academic support, and feel pride in their university involvement, whether they are on campus or linking to the university through extended campus programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The facility houses activities that support student recruitment and retention, serving as a point of connection for Native and Indigenous groups and programs on campus and with Tribal communities. The center embodies Native values and symbolizes NAU\u2019s commitment to Native Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI like to express my experience in this building as a full immersion,\u201d Eich said. \u201cI heard Navajo every day there. I could just pop into a faculty member\u2019s office and ask all these questions\u2014ask how to pronounce a word.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t

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What you will find at the NACC<\/h2>\n\t\t\t
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Services at the NACC:<\/strong><\/p>\n