Harvard Native American Program: Alumni

As we approach the close of the Fall semester, it was fitting that the Harvard University Native American Program community gather for a final dinner with an Alutiiq elder, Mr. Ronny Lind, and alumnus, Dr. Sven Haakanson Jr., from Kodiak Island, Alaska. Making new acquaintances, sharing stories, joking and laughing, engaging in conversation about our work and research, and receiving guidance, counseling, and encouragement from the visitors, HUNAP continues to foster a vibrant community. Mr. Lind encouraged us to keep a strong heart; remember that we are at Harvard not only for ourselves, but also for our people; and for us to keep our feet on the ground when we return to help our communities.

My name is Carmen Lopez and it is my great honor to return to the HUNAP community as the Interim Executive Director. I have been in this position since mid-July. I continue to meet many alumni for the first time and I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and the staff, provide an update about the program, and begin to strengthen the communication and community between HUNAP and the alumni. Lee Bitsoi, Associate Director for Recruitment and Student Affairs, will provide a separate letter to update you on HUNAP's recruitment efforts this past year.

HUNAP is in a transformative time. We are poised to sustain and bolster the scholarly work of our students and faculty, to nourish and invigorate our core programs, and to strengthen and stabilize our position within the University. While we face many challenges, we have many opportunities before us. In this time of change, I would like to call upon our distinguished alumni to help HUNAP fulfill our mission. The HUNAP alumni are a wonderful resource, and I am looking forward to connecting with you to discuss how we can further strengthen this institution we care so much about. Below, please find some current information about HUNAP and opportunities for Alumni involvement.

Introduction of HUNAP Staff & Scholars
To introduce myself in the Navajo tradition, I am of the Bitter Water clan born for the Anglo clan. My family is from the Forest Lake area of Black Mesa, Arizona and I have also grown up in Farmington, New Mexico. I return to Harvard after teaching in the History Department at Cushing Academy and the Native American Preparatory School. As a proud graduate of HGSE, I cannot over emphasize how wonderful it is to be back in Cambridge and I would like to thank all of you who have made my young tenure at HUNAP such an enjoyable one.

I would also like to introduce you to the staff of HUNAP and recognize and thank them for their many contributions to the program. Lee Bitsoi (Navajo, Ed.M, '98) is the Associate Director for Recruitment and Student Affairs and has worked with the Program since 2001. Mellor Willie (Navajo) is the Visiting Administrative Fellow through the Office of the Assistant to the President and is working with HUNAP for a one-year management experience in higher education. Ann Marie Russell is HUNAP's new Staff Assistant. Dr. David Burgess (Cherokee), professor of biology at Boston College, is the HUNAP Visiting Senior Scholar, and leads the 1665 Pre-Doctoral Fellowship seminar. Professor Dr. Joseph Kalt is the Faculty Chair of HUNAP and Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Please click here for complete biographies.

New Announcements & Changes to HUNAP
Internal & External Review of HUNAP as an Interfaculty Initiative
This fall, HUNAP has been busy completing the final phase of the Interfaculty Initiative (IFI) review process. In 1998, HUNAP was designated as an IFI of Harvard University and seeks to foster collaboration among the ten schools of the University, faculty members, and students. As an IFI, HUNAP's specific goals are: 1) to promote scholarly work and curriculum development at Harvard on issues relevant to Native Americans; 2) to engage the Harvard academic community in outreach activities that address the needs and problems of Indian Country; and 3) to recruit, retain, and graduate greater numbers of Native American students at Harvard University.

In September 2001, Harvard's new president, Lawrence Summers, took office and appointed Steven Hyman as Provost. The Provost's office was tasked with undertaking a comprehensive evaluation (consisting of an internal review and an external review) of the ten Harvard IFI's. In April 2003, the HUNAP Internal Review Committee comprised of a graduate student, an undergraduate student, and three Faculty Advisory Board (F.A.B.) members submitted a 75 page report to the Office of the Provost. The report provided a description of the program, an assessment of the program, and suggested next steps. On December 15, 2003, the External Review Committee comprised of three faculty members from three outside universities met with HUNAP leadership, staff, F.A.B. members and other Harvard faculty, and students. The External Review Committee report will be completed in upcoming weeks, after which I will meet with Provost Hyman to discuss the findings.

Read House
As a result of becoming an IFI, HUNAP has made several administrative changes. As many of you already know, in September of 2002, the HUNAP offices and staff moved out of the Read House to the Kennedy School of Government, 124 Mt. Auburn Street (our current location) per the administrative reorganization of interfaculty initiatives through the Provost Office. By June 2003, HUNAP also vacated the lounge space of the Read House. We have created a new student office space within the HUNAP suite that, at minimum, provides the functional computer, phone, fax, library capabilities, and meeting place that the Read House lounge offered. For larger gatherings (such as dinners and town meetings), we also have access to a large conference room within the suite.

I recognize that the Read House was an important venue for the HUNAP community and that all of us have fond memories of the space. I want to assure you that I am working diligently with the University administration to find short and long-term solutions to meet our needs for a space where students and others can gather for administrative, cultural, social, and intellectual exchange. To this end, we now have in place a HUNAP Lounge Committee, and I would be most grateful if you would contact me if you have any questions or would like to get involved in this effort.

New Fundraising Cycle
As HUNAP looks to the future, we need to pay careful attention to our fundraising base and needs. Our current core funds, which comes from the Office of the Provost and a number of individual donors, needs to be replenished by the summer of 2004. Please contact me if you are interested in assisting with our fundraising efforts. As you know, the mission of HUNAP is to bring together Native American students, faculty, and interested individuals from the Harvard community for the purpose of advancing the well-being of indigenous peoples through self-determination, academic achievement, and community service. Through quality classroom instruction, innovative interdisciplinary scholarship, extensive outreach programs, and leadership development, HUNAP is contributing to the revitalization of Native communities across North America. We are actively fundraising for HUNAP and hope to provide you with positive news in the near future.

350th Commemoration of the Harvard Indian College (1655-2005)
HUNAP is preparing for the 350th commemoration of the Harvard Indian College for academic year 2004-2005. To provide a brief history of the Harvard Indian College, the New England Company funded the construction of the Indian College in 1653, and a two-story brick building, housing twenty scholars was built between 1655 and 1656. The Indian College was the fourth structure constructed in the “Yard” and stood near the southern end of Matthews Hall. By 1695 the building fell into disrepair, and the New England Company & Commissioners agreed to have it torn down “provided that in case any Indian should hereinafter be sent to [Harvard] College, they should enjoy their studies rent-free in said building.” Today, the Indian College Commemorative Plaque (unveiled in 1997 at Matthews Hall) honors the first Native Americans to attend the College. To commemorate the Indian College, HUNAP plans to highlight the work of students, faculty, and alumni through conferences and lecture series; engage the Harvard community in the issues, research, and outreach being done and needed in Indian Country; and build institutional memory of the legacy that Native peoples have had with Harvard. As with all HUNAP events and activities, we very much welcome your input and suggestions.

Native Alumni Society – Building Community with HUNAP Alumni
Alumni Reception
In conjunction with the annual conference of National Congress of American Indians, HUNAP hosted the first Native Alumni Reception of the year on November 18th at the Hyatt in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a wonderful opportunity for HUNAP staff to meet area alumni, and for alumni to reconnect and network, meet with prospective students, and engage with the conference attendees. Given the success of this alumni reception we plan to host additional gatherings at other Indian conferences and gatherings. In fact, the next Alumni Reception will be held in conjunction with the April 10th, 2004 HUNAP Pow-wow. Please hold the date!

Get In Touch & Stay In Touch with HUNAP
Alumni are an invaluable part of the HUNAP community – producing scholarly work and research, leading our communities in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, promoting the issues and addressing the needs of Native America, and assisting HUNAP's efforts with recruitment. To strengthen alumni engagement and communication between HUNAP and our alumni, I encourage you to visit our website to gather information, view our current programming efforts, and update your contact information with our office. Please visit our “ Get In Touch ” page and take a moment to update your contact information so that we can provide you with regular updates about HUNAP and its activities.

To provide another source of communication between HUNAP and alumni, one of my goals for 2004 is to explore – and hopefully launch – a “Native Alumni Society” as part of the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA). In addition, I am working with HAA to create some HUNAP events through such alumni programs as: Continuing Education, Travel-Study Program, Harvard Comes To…Program, and Alumni College Program. For more information on the HAA programs, please visit the HAA web site at http://www.haa.harvard.edu/.

Commencement Exercises
Over the years, HUNAP has received numerous requests from students and alumni to find a way to include Native representation in the university's Commencement Ceremony. I am pleased to report that Patrik Johansson (MD, MPH ‘01), has been working with the HAA and Commencement Exercise Committee to suggest the inclusion of local tribal representation (Wampanoag of Mashpee and Aquinnah) as a regular component of Harvard University's Commencement Exercises to honor the first people of Massachusetts; recognize and honor Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck, the first native graduate from Harvard; and recognize the Charter of 1650. Patrik and I had a productive meeting with Reverend Peter Gomes in early December and are continuing our conversations to have a Native elder give the prayer at Commencement.

The beginning of this 2003-2004 academic year has been an exciting time for me and the Program. This year brings many changes and many opportunities for Alumni to help HUNAP fulfill our mission. It would be impossible to overstate how excited I am to be back at Harvard and to work with you, our distinguished alumni, to bring HUNAP to even greater heights. I hope you will join me, the HUNAP staff, and your fellow alum in this endeavor. Please do not hestiate to contact me if you have any ideas, suggestions, or questions. I can be reached at 617-495-9064 or Carmen_Lopez@harvard.edu .

With warm regards and best wishes for a happy and healthy new year.
Ahéhee' (Thank You),