{"id":46838,"date":"2025-11-10T18:33:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T18:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/46838\/"},"modified":"2025-11-10T18:33:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T18:33:08","slug":"native-american-and-indigenous-resource-center-opens-as-a-hub-for-community-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/46838\/","title":{"rendered":"Native American and Indigenous Resource Center Opens as a Hub for Community, Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"NativeThe Native American and Indigenous Resource Center, located in Pollak Library, Room 170\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

When Chase Sheriff was a student at Cal State Fullerton, he imagined a space where students could feel a strong sense of belonging on campus.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Surrounded by faculty, staff, students, fellow alumni and university leaders, Sheriff saw that vision come to life at the grand opening of the university\u2019s Native American and Indigenous Resource Center<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBeyond building community, there needs to be resources and support, and that\u2019s what this center will do for students,\u201d said Sheriff \u201919 (B.S. mechanical engineering), who was part of the student group that led the effort for a new center.<\/p>\n

Open to all students, the Native American and Indigenous Resource Center is the newest addition to CSUF\u2019s Diversity Initiatives and Resource Centers<\/a>. Its mission centers on belonging, education, engagement and honoring cultural traditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In addition to hosting community-building events, the center provides academic support and professional development opportunities to help students achieve their goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vanessa Cota, the coordinator for the center, said that the opening is a testament to the power of student-led advocacy and cross-campus collaboration.<\/p>\n

\"VanessaVanessa Cota, coordinator of the Native American and Indigenous Resource Center, left, was joined by students, faculty, staff and alumni at the Nov. 5 grand opening. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to look back on the work that our community members have done and will continue to do,\u201d said Cota. \u201cIt\u2019s an honor to share this space and be part of such a great milestone for Cal State Fullerton and for the California State University system.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fellow alum Anna Tiger \u201913 (B.A. art) spoke to the importance of community and the impact that it had on her college experience and career path.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing part of CSUF\u2019s Inter-Tribal Student Council taught me something I couldn\u2019t find in a textbook: Leadership isn\u2019t about titles. It\u2019s about holding space for others,\u201d said Tiger, who now serves as an outreach coordinator for United American Indian Involvement Inc.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Returning to campus to celebrate the center opening, Tiger said she\u2019s excited to see that students today have even more opportunities to get involved in their community: \u201cI see the growth, strength and the way our students are carrying the flame higher and higher.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I look around today, I see future leaders, artists, educators, healers and protectors of our community. You are already making change simply by being you. My hope is that you continue to build this space the way our ancestors taught \u2014 with respect, courage, humor and care for one another.\u201d<\/p>\n

Estre Perez, president of CSUF\u2019s Inter-Tribal Student Council, expressed hope for future collaboration and continued growth to support student success.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to forming more connections across campus and expanding on what we\u2019ve built here,\u201d said Perez, a transfer student from R\u00edo Hondo College studying gender and sexuality studies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is Cal State Fullerton\u2019s second resource center to open this year, following the launch of the Southwest Asian and North African Resource Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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