Q: What is Native Engagement?

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Native Engagement at Pitzer refers to a variety of initiatives, courses, projects, and programs that engage with American Indian and Indigenous Nations and communities. These efforts reflect a common set of perspectives and goals although they are decentralized rather than being controlled or authorized by any single office or department. A set of faculty, staff, students, and community members, in conjunction with partners at other Claremont Colleges, create and implement this mix of engagement efforts and collaborate together in various ways on an ongoing basis.

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These efforts seek to support American Indian and Indigenous Nations, communities, and individuals, as well as promote non-Native students, faculty, and staff learning about, and learning from, the Indigenous nations and communities. Through these combined efforts we seek to create deepened relationships, critical dialogue, expanded collaborations, and transformational learning and action.

 

Q: Is this the same as American Indian or Native Studies?

No, although many classes and projects reflect interests, topics and practices of those academic disciplines and programs. HOWEVER, there is an ongoing effort to create a Native Studies concentration, minor, program or the like at the Claremont Colleges, or 5Cs. 

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Q: Is this just for American Indian or Indigenous students?

No, a distinct thing about Native Engagement initiatives and projects at Pitzer is that they involve students from many backgrounds learning and acting together. Sometimes some of the learning involves working together on sensitive and difficult topics (such as historical trauma and racial subordination) with people from different backgrounds. At the same time, we work hard to support American Indian and Indigenous students, who often do want or need time and space to meet with others of similar backgrounds.