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Native American Studies, B.A. | Class of
Marlette Grant-Jackson
Academic Advisor / Cultural Resource Coordinator for ITEPP
Employer: HSU ITEPP
Job description: I work directly with students, teachers, and professors on campus and the community. As the CRC Coordinator, I assist students with everything from finding the materials they need for a research paper, or speech, to laying out and editing videos shot for High School projects and graphic art layouts for visual aids, as well as flyers/posters for club activities.
As a Professional Academic Advisor, my job is to help the students. I work with students the way I would want others to treat and interact with my own children, with firm guidance, positive role modeling, and current, accurate information.
About Marlette
Why did you choose this program?
The major had the most interesting topics. Information that made me enthusiastic to read, to do personal interviews with family members who never spoke of "relocation in the 50's", boarding school experiences, creation of the reservation systems, and even history/stories about how our ceremonies were created and why. My grandparents didn't talk about most of these things and when I asked why they didn't tell me, their answer was, "You didn't ask."
How did this program prepare you for your job?
NAS has helped me hone skills to research topics and books written by and about Native Peoples; deeply connecting me to my community by knowing our (native) history and the history of the state (for example there were 18 treaties made by the government of California with Tribes throughout California and NONE were ratified. The state decided that a bullet was cheaper and spent more than $1 million dollars a year for several years exterminating Native people). My senior project for NAS was actually developing the ITEPP Website, allowing me to develop my computer skills as well as my graphic arts skills.
What did you enjoy most about the program?
I loved my professors and classmates, and I found the courses stimulating and intriguing. I could not believe that we (as Natives) hadn't been taught most of the information. I tried five other majors: Nursing, Math, English, Journalism, and Industrial Technology before I decided on NAS. I then minored in American Indian Education, and Business Admin.
What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?
I think all Native students should at least minor in NAS, the information is priceless. If you plan on working in your Native community, or in many different areas (forestry, fisheries, land management, social services, mental health care, recreation, nonprofits, or library services) Native American Studies can give you breadth in NA law, natural resources, language, and education. Every student I know (and I've worked with students for 20+ years now) works for the betterment of their Native Communities as attorneys, social workers, teachers, fish biologists, tribal chairpersons/council reps, and directors of nonprofit entities. Not to mention that you make lifelong connections with peers and mentors.