OSU KLATOWA INA ALUMNI NETWORK

Message from the president

In the last newsletter, the leadership of KIAN asked the question, “How do we move forward?” following the dramatic effects of the coronavirus on our Native and Indigenous communities. As we at KIAN evaluated this question, we realized that the answer to this question is change. We must change the way we socialize as new variants take hold in society and enter our communities. We must change our mindset on vaccines. We must change the allocation of funds and resources to provide better care to our elders, our greatest cultural asset, and protect our communities.

Change is occurring throughout Oregon State University. We have a new interim university president, Rebecca Johnson. Allison Davis-White Eyes, director of community diversity relations, announced her plans to join Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California, as their chief diversity officer. The Native American Longhouse Eena Haws has changed its name. The center will now be known as Kaku-Ixt Mana Ina Haws (KIMIH or Ina Haws) to reflect the proper Native spelling of the name and remove the conflict with the traditional longhouses of our Native and Indigenous communities. 

Within KIAN, change has become a topic of ongoing conversation. Change is necessary to our current networking and outreach programs to expand our network membership. Change is necessary to address the disconnect between our alumni and current students. Finally, change is necessary within our leadership to promote new ideas and increase our strengths as a member of our Native and Indigenous communities. 

We hope you enjoy this edition of our KIAN newsletter. This edition highlights the work of Allison Davis White-Eyes, an incredibly strong Native voice who previously worked within the administration of Oregon State University. KIAN leadership extends an invitation to alumni to join our network and challenge our positions. And, as always, we provide you with news of upcoming events and contact information for reaching out to us.

“When a man does a piece of work which is admired by all we say that it is wonderful; but when we see the changes of day and night, the sun, the moon, and the stars in the sky, and the changing seasons upon the Earth, with their ripening fruits, anyone must realize that it is the work of someone more powerful than man.” – Chased-by-Bears, Santee-Yanktonai Sioux

May we walk in peace with the Creator,

Orman E. Morton III
President of the Klatowa Ina Alumni Network

Announcing A New Name Centered on Collective Strength as an Indigenous Community on Campus

Kaku-Ixt Mana Ina Haws has been selected as the new name for one of the seven cultural resource centers at Oregon State University. Formally known as the Native American Longhouse Eena Haws, this new name centers Indigenous languages and unity.

Name History

The Native American Longhouse was the name of the original Indigenous-based center on campus. It was a repurposed WWII Quonset Hut that served students from fall 1973 until fall 2013. The center itself was a direct result of the collective efforts of the Native American Student Association, the Chicano Student Union and the Black Student Union that established a shared cultural center that opened in spring 1973. The Native American Longhouse was the first standalone center that branched out of the shared cultural center.

The Eena Haws was opened in winter 2013 in a newly built Indigenous-based center on campus that continues to serve students today. The new center was a response to decades of student and staff advocacy to build a new center and the support of generous donors. The name Eena Haws was chosen to reference being a space welcome to all students, hence the translation “Beaver house.” The original center’s name was carried forward and a combination name was used: Native American Longhouse Eena Haws.

The New Name

Kaku-Ixt Mana Ina Haws is a combination of chinuk wawa/jargon and Polynesian languages.

• Kaku-Ixt means “unified” in chinuk wawa/jargon
• Mana means “internal power/strength” in several Polynesian languages
• Ina Haws means “beaver house” in chinuk wawa/jargon

We hope you join us in celebrating the “unified strength of the Beaver House” through this new name! 

Kaku-Ixt Mana Ina Haws Statement of Purpose

The Kaku-Ixt Mana Ina Haws represents the Indigenous people of the Americas and Pacific Islands. It strives to deconstruct colonial borders’ impact on Indigenous identities while also honoring the sovereignty of tribes. While protecting and preserving the rights of Indigenous people, it provides a sense of home and community for Indigenous students that helps preserve their Indigenous identities while in college. The Ina Haws provides a source of support honoring the cultures of the first people of these lands and waters, and also provides educational opportunities to educate all about the regions tribes.

Native & Indigenous Heritage Month 2021 – A Celebration of Community

Oregon State University recognizes the impact that its land grant history had on Indigenous communities in Oregon and accepts its responsibility for understanding the continuing impact of that history on these communities.

Learn more about stories, activities and events that took place during heritage month online and on Facebook.

7 questions for the 7th Generation – Allison Davis-White Eyes, Ph.D. ’13

After 20 years of service and commitment to Oregon State University, Allison Davis-White Eyes, Ph.D. ’13, joined Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California as their new vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. We asked her about her time at Oregon State and what made the most impact on her. 

What were some of your greatest achievements while at Oregon State?

During my tenure at OSU, the things that give me a sense of pride are the work that President Emeritus Ray did in getting the new cultural resource centers funded and the building started. So many wonderful people were a part of the process, it was truly an honor to serve in a community collaboration including students, community members and administrators. Larry Roper led a culture within student affairs that allowed for the student voice to inform the process, and John Paul Jones, Native American architect, pulled together a team of talented architects to build out the designs.

During my tenure as assistant vice provost of student affairs and director of diversity and cultural engagement, we were able to see the completion of all the centers and then the official move and recognizing of Ettihad Cultural Center.

HELP US BUILD A NETWORK

Know of events, activism or employment opportunities for Indigenous community members? Let us help spread the word. Post the information on our Facebook page or email the information to KlatowaIna@osualum.com.

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