Haskell Indian Nations University

Haskell Indian Nations University is a Bureau of Indian Education-funded university located in Lawrence, Kansas, that offers a range of academic programs to Native American students from federally recognized tribes, including the Navajo Nation, Cherokee Nation, and Seminole Tribe of Florida. The university has a long history, dating back to 1884, when it was established as a residential boarding school for Native American children, with the goal of assimilating them into European-American culture, similar to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and Phoenix Indian School. The university is named after Dudley Haskell, a Kansas Congressman who advocated for the establishment of the school, and has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1979, and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

● History

The history of the university is closely tied to the Indian boarding school system, which was established by the United States federal government to educate Native American children, including those from the Lakota people, Ojibwe, and Iroquois Confederacy. The school was originally known as the United States Indian Industrial Training School, and was designed to provide vocational training to Native American students, with the goal of assimilating them into European-American culture, similar to the Dawes Act and Indian Appropriations Act. Over the years, the school has undergone several name changes, including the Haskell Institute, before becoming a university in 1970, with the support of the National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Rights Fund. Today, the university is a leading institution for Native American higher education, with a strong focus on Indigenous studies, American Indian studies, and Native American law, and has been recognized by the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and the National Indian Education Association.

● Campus

The university's campus is located in Lawrence, Kansas, on a 320-acre site that includes a range of academic and residential buildings, including the Tommaney Hall, Blalock Hall, and Winnipeg Hall, which are named after notable Native American leaders, such as Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse. The campus is also home to several cultural and recreational facilities, including the Haskell Cultural Center, Haskell Stadium, and the Coffin Sports Complex, which host events such as the Native American Music Awards and the National Native American Basketball Tournament. The university's campus is situated near the Kansas River, and is close to several other educational institutions, including the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Washburn University, which are all part of the Kansas Board of Regents.

● Academics

The university offers a range of academic programs, including associate's and bachelor's degrees in fields such as Business administration, Elementary education, Environmental science, and Indigenous studies, with a focus on Native American studies, American Indian studies, and Indigenous knowledge. The university is also home to several research centers and institutes, including the Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center, Haskell Institute for Indigenous Languages, and the Center for Indigenous Nations Studies, which conduct research on topics such as Climate change, Sustainable development, and Native American health, in partnership with organizations such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The university's academic programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and have been recognized by the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and the National Indian Education Association.

● Student Life

The university has a diverse student body, with students from over 140 federally recognized tribes, including the Navajo Nation, Cherokee Nation, and Seminole Tribe of Florida. The university offers a range of student organizations and activities, including the Haskell Indian Nations University Student Senate, Native American Student Organization, and the Haskell Powwow Club, which host events such as the Native American Heritage Month and the Haskell Indian Nations University Powwow. The university also has a strong focus on Indigenous cultural preservation, with programs such as the Haskell Language and Culture Program, which aims to preserve and promote Indigenous languages and cultural practices, in partnership with organizations such as the First Peoples Fund and the Native American Rights Fund.

● Athletics

The university's athletic teams, known as the Haskell Indian Nations University Fighting Indians, compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, and have won several championships, including the NAIA Men's Basketball Championship and the NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship. The university offers a range of sports programs, including Basketball, Football, Volleyball, and Track and field, and has produced several notable athletes, including Jim Thorpe, Billy Mills, and Wilma Mankiller, who have competed in events such as the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games.

● Notable Alumni

The university has a long list of notable alumni, including Wilma Mankiller, the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a former United States Senator from Colorado, and LaDonna Harris, a Comanche activist and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, who have all made significant contributions to Native American communities and Indigenous rights, and have been recognized by organizations such as the National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Rights Fund. Other notable alumni include Vine Deloria Jr., a Lakota author and activist, Suzan Shown Harjo, a Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee activist and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and Wes Studi, a Cherokee actor and activist, who have all been recognized for their contributions to Native American literature, Native American art, and Native American film, and have been honored by organizations such as the Native American Journalists Association and the American Indian Film Institute.