Aug. 14, 2019
There are Indigenous tribes throughout the world and programs to connect Indigenous scholars to each other. So why not a program to connect Indigenous students?
The Indigenous Cultural and Education Exchange is a groundbreaking program founded five years ago by Chad Hamill, vice president for Native American initiatives at NAU, and Maggie Walter, provost vice chancellor at the University of Tasmania. Centered on providing an opportunity for Indigenous students to engage with their Indigenous peers in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, the exchange also includes Indigenous Elders and faculty, who facilitate educational programs in Indigenous communities. The program, now in its fifth year, has expanded to include Thompson Rivers University (British Columbia); the University of Arizona, the University of Sydney and the University of Waikato (New Zealand). NAU will welcome students and Elders from Australia and New Zealand in January.
“It’s continued to grow and evolve in a wonderful way,” Hamill said.