Haskell preserving Indian cultures

Haskell Indian Nations University sure isn’t what it used to be.

Founded in 1884, Haskell was one of several government-run schools set up to begin the processes for assimilating American Indian children into the white man’s culture.

While being trained for off-the-reservation jobs, students were expected — in many cases, forced — to cut their ties to their families, religion and language.

Haskell’s history is loaded with accounts, both heroic and tragic, of students resisting efforts to strip them of their souls. Runaways were commonplace.

Today, Haskell is all about preserving Indian cultures. And at every turn, students are encouraged to take pride in who they are and to use their educations to help others.

“One of the main points in our new mission statement is that we’re to empower our students to be successful nationally, either as Indian people or as tribal members,” said Haskell spokeswoman Lori Tapahonso.

“If they choose not to return to a reservation, we want them to be successful,” she said. “If they choose to return to the reservation, we want them to be successful there, too.”

Through the years, Haskell has evolved from a boarding school to training center to a junior college to a four-year university.

Today, the university offer’s bachelor degrees in elementary education, business administration, environmental science and American Indian studies.

Haskell also offers two-year associate degrees in science, business, computer systems, tribal management, physical education and the liberal arts.

Currently, Haskell has 919 students, representing more than 130 tribes from 30 states. Most of the students come from reservation settings.

Each year, Haskell hosts a wide variety of powwows, sporting events, speakers and exhibits. The annual Haskell Indian Art Market, held on the second weekend of September, and a performance by the award-winning Thunderbird Theater group are popular attractions.

The Thunderbird Theater group’s fall schedule has not been announced. When it’s available, it will be posted on the university’s Web site: www.haskell.edu.

The university’s new Cultural Center and Museum, 155 Indian Ave., is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

On the athletic front, Haskell fields men’s teams in golf, cross country, track, basketball and football, and women’s teams in volleyball, basketball, cross country and track.