By Leah Bosworth/reporter
“In Native American communities, it’s up to us to raise awareness,” said Burge, who began working on NE as an academic advisor in January.
One lecturer said it’s important for Native Americans to have a voice.
“We have so small of a number of Indians to speak out about our issues,” said speaker Peggy Larney, a full-blood American Indian and citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. “We’re the invisible minority. I teach to unlearn the American Indian stereotype. I want people to know that we are active members of society and not just hiding away on reservations.”
Burge recalled an experience she had three years ago in which a teenager had mistaken her to be a Mexican-American. After clarifying that she was a Native American, Burge said the teenager was surprised and said, “Oh my gosh, I didn’t know there were any Indians alive today.”
Another speaker, Craig Marroquin, a member of the Apache tribe and a NE academic advisor, said about 565 Native American tribes are in the United States and more than 200 Native American students are enrolled at TCC.
“I want people to know they [American Indians] are present in the Metroplex and are involved in many areas of the community,” said Marroquin, who is also a co-advisor of the Circle of Nations Club.
The Circle of Nations Club was started at TCC in fall 2009 and has about 20 members, Burge said. She explained that she is working on increasing membership in the club, which is open to all students.
“I want this club to more inclusive,” she said.
Meeting dates and club information are posted on CampusCruiser’s club information.
