A group of Humboldt State students looking for a space to dig deeper into Native American culture

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ARCATA, Calif. (KIEM)- A group of students at Humboldt State University are looking for a space where they can dig deeper into Native American culture.

The idea behind the HSU Native American studies food sovereignty lab and cultural workspace project began as a class project.

“We were asked to design a project that would have benefits beyond the classroom,” said Cody Henrikson, a student at Humboldt State. “Where that we can typically have something last around for future generations to come, to the school, for the local community, for tribes and specifically looking into indigenous representation.”      

Once the students realized that this idea was picking up steam, they decided to start looking for a place to use as the workspace.

The students noticed that there was a vacant building that used to be a store and decided, that was going to be a part of this project.

“The students in the class that conducted the original research notice that that space was empty and unutilized and how synergistic it would be if that was incorporated into the Native forum, the Goudini gallery, if it was also a space to celebrate and learn with indigenous peoples,” said Amanda McDonald, Research Assistant at Humboldt State.         

It took a lot of time and effort to get the university on board with using the empty store, but they got the approval of the university to use that vacant building.

The students say this workspace is needed at HSU because it will provide a space where they can learn about basket weaving, food preparation and other Native American traditions.

“This lab is so necessary because you have students coming to HSU for Native American Studies or for program in resource management and stuff like that,” said Henrikson. “Where this rhetoric is now at the fore front of sustainability and also environmental justice and social justice.”

If you would like to donate money to help these students build this workspace, click here.         

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