Support
Our office recruits promising Native American students to pursue a college education at UNO. We provide students with a connection to the Native American community on campus, in Omaha, and surrounding reservations.
We invite community members to visit our campus and participate in our events.
All Native American events on campus are free and open to the public.
Intertribal Student Council (ITSC)
The purpose of ITSC is to be available to all UNO students and promote inter-tribal unity, academic support, professional development, and an awareness of Native American/Indigenous students, cultures, and issues off and on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).
ITSC engages in a variety of social events and community gatherings and annually hosts both the Wambli Sapa Memorial Powwow and Native American Heritage Month Celebrations. For additional information or questions, please contact Gary Saul.
President: Gary Saul (gsaul@unomaha.edu)
Vice President: Courtney Foster (courtneyfoster@unomaha.edu)
Indigenous Student Center
The Indigenous Student Center was established in 2019 within the Office of Multicultural Affairs. The Indigenous Student Center is here to help cultivate a positive student experience at UNO by enhancing our student’s capacity to succeed.
The center provides a space for all Indigenous students, irrespective of their mode of study while creating a holistic and indigenous campus community space.
We provide the following services through the Indigenous Student Center at UNO:
- Cultural activities
- Cultural-specific support
- Academic/social advising
- Scholarship and FAFSA assistance
- UNO Native Garden with traditional medicines
- Community Outreach
- Computer access and Wi-Fi
- Quiet student space
- Resources for faculty and staff
- Advocacy and referrals
Community Outreach
Circle of Grandmothers
At UNO our Native American students are supported and mentored by the Circle of Grandmothers (COGs). The Circle of Grandmothers is a circle of inter-tribal, multicultural women who are either grandmothers themselves or supportive elders.
We consult often with the COGs on Native American issues and events held on campus. The COGs attend several of our events such as the Native Studies Honoring, collaborate with our Inter-tribal Student Council, and teach sewing, beading, and other cultural crafts. The COGs are valuable to the UNO community as they share cultural knowledge and wisdom with our students.
Community Partners
Omaha Public Schools – NICE Programs
Lincoln Indian Center – Youth Suicide Prevention
Fred Leroy Health and Wellness Center
Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition
Recruitment
Multicultural Affairs actively recruits Native American students by working with many different organizations to create strong opportunities.
Working closely with the Native Indigenous Centered Education (NICE) program, we partner together to host their Summer Film Camp at UNO. The Summer Film Camp is a weeklong camp where students create and showcase their films at the festival held in November.
Collaborating with the Service Learning Academy and the Omaha area schools, UNO students have the opportunity to mentor Native American students in our community.
We also work with Ho-Chunk Development on the Winnebago Reservation, under the “Challenge Our Youth to Succeed" grant. We visit the Winnebago and Omaha Reservations twice a month to work with students on college preparedness and sponsor FAFSA and scholarship nights.
