We share a few examples of projects that honor Native Americans on other higher education campuses. These projects honor the land on which the campus resides, and the Indigenous people who, for thousands of years, inhabited and stewarded the land before their forcible removal. Campuses are acknowledging the painful past and engaging in projects to increase understanding and awareness of Indigenous cultural practices and traditions.
The University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia First Nations House of Learning was established on its campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1984. The UBC First Nations Longhouse opened in 1993 to provide a second home for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students, along with social, academic, and spiritual support and opportunities for cultural exchange. In addition to the First Nations House of Learning, UBC acknowledges the land on which it sits as the traditional land of the Musqueam through numerous campus markers. These include three residence halls that bear Musqueam names, the double-headed serpent post, and the House Post of Capilano, among others.
The University of Oregon
The first University of Oregon Longhouse opened to students on its campus in Bend, Oregon, in the 1970s as the Native American Student Union. Housed in a decommissioned World War II army barracks, the Longhouse fell into disrepair and was demolished in 2002. In 2005, the university entered into an agreement with the nine Tribes of Oregon to establish the principles and spirit for a new Longhouse. The university and the tribes jointly constructed the Many Nations Longhouse, with contributions of timber, materials, and funds. The University of Oregon opened the Many Nations Longhouse in 2005, which offers a space of support, cultural exchange, and community for American Indian/Alaskan Native students.
Evergreen State College - Olympia Campus
Evergreen State College's Olympia Campus in Olympia, Washington, opened s'gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ: House of Welcome in 1995 as “a gathering place for people of all cultures.” Its mission is to advance education, cultural exchange, and intergenerational teaching and learning. The building also hosts lectures, performances, and gatherings for the campus and community. The mission of the House is “to advance Native American Tribal arts and cultures through education, cultural exchange, intergenerational teaching and learning, and economic opportunity while embracing and advancing relationships with Indigenous peoples in the world.”
The University of California, Riverside
UC Riverside opened the 20,000-square-foot Native American Landscape Garden, replete with California native plants, located at the center of the campus, in 2023. The project was led by a committee of staff, faculty, students, and Indigenous representatives.
The University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Gabrielino/Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians in 2022 to integrate traditional ways of planting, harvesting, and gathering into campus landscaping and caretaking, under the guidance of the Gabrielino/Tongva tribe. Members of the Gabrielino Tongva tribe will help the campus create programs to promote cultural awareness. They planted 15 types of native plants and created a traditional basket weaving garden in UCLA’s Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden. The historic MOU guarantees the Tongva people access to the land that UCLA occupies, for purposes of “ceremonial events, workshops, and community educational events.”