Haskell Indian Nations University facts for kids
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Former names
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United States Indian Industrial Training School (1884–1887) Haskell Institute (1887–1970) Haskell Indian Junior College (1970–1993) |
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| Type | Public tribal land-grant university |
| Established | 1884 |
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Academic affiliations
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AIHEC, Space-grant |
| Students | 727 (Fall 2022) |
| Location |
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U.S.
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| Colors | Purple, Gold & White |
| Nickname | Fighting Indians |
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Sporting affiliations
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NAIA – Continental |
Haskell Indian Nations University is a special kind of public university in Lawrence, Kansas, USA. It's a "tribal" and "land-grant" university. This means it's mainly for Native American students and gets support from the government to offer practical education.
Haskell started in 1884 as a boarding school for Native American children. Over time, it grew into a university. It is run by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Today, it offers two-year (associate) and four-year (bachelor's) degrees.
Haskell is the oldest federal school for American Indians that has been open continuously. Students from about 140 different Native American tribes and Alaska Native communities attend Haskell. The school does not charge tuition, but students do pay some yearly fees.
Many buildings on Haskell's campus are important historic sites. Twelve of them are even U.S. National Historic Landmarks! The campus also has a cultural center, a museum, and the Indian Leader newspaper, which is the oldest Native American student newspaper in the country.
Haskell is also known for its special events. These include the Haskell Indian Art Market and the Stories-n-Motion Film Festival. These events bring together Native American and non-Native visitors from all over.
Contents
A Look Back: Haskell's History
Haskell's story shows how U.S. policies toward Native Americans have changed over time. When Haskell first opened in 1884, it was called the United States Indian Industrial Training School. It was part of a plan to help Native American children learn skills and fit into the wider American culture.
The school taught boys skills like tailoring and farming. Girls learned cooking and sewing. Students often helped grow their own food on the school's farm. Life at these early boarding schools was very strict. Students wore uniforms and had their hair cut short.
In 1887, the school was renamed Haskell Institute. This was to honor Dudley Haskell, a U.S. representative who helped get the school built in Lawrence.
Over the years, Haskell kept changing. In 1927, it became an accredited high school. By 1935, it focused on vocational training, teaching specific job skills.
From High School to University
During the 1960s, Native Americans began to work for more control over their own education and cultures. They wanted schools like Haskell to better serve their communities. In 1965, Haskell graduated its last high school class.
Two years later, in 1967, the school became Haskell Indian Junior College. It started offering two-year associate degrees. Then, in 1993, it became Haskell Indian Nations University. This allowed it to offer four-year bachelor's degrees.
In 1994, Congress made Haskell a "land-grant college." This gave it more support for its programs. Today, Haskell is a university that helps Native American and Alaska Native communities.
Exploring the Campus
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Haskell's campus is beautiful and full of history. Many of its buildings are U.S. National Historic Landmarks. You can also find many sculptures, murals, and paintings around campus. One famous sculpture is Comrade in Mourning by Allan Houser.
The Haskell-Baker Wetlands are a large natural area next to the campus. These wetlands are home to many different kinds of birds, fish, reptiles, and plants. They are very important for birds that migrate, flying from Canada to Mexico and South America.
Historic Halls and Buildings
Many buildings on campus are named after important Native American leaders or traditions.
- Blalock Hall: Built in 1978, this hall is named after Margaret Blalock, a Haskell alumna and long-time employee. It's a dorm for first-year male students.
- Hiawatha Hall: Built in 1898, this is the oldest building on campus. It's named after the historic Onondaga leader Hiawatha. It was once a chapel and gym.
- Osceola and Keokuk Halls (O-K Hall): Built in 1884, these were originally separate dorms for men and women. Osceola was a famous Seminole warrior, and Keokuk was a respected Sac and Fox leader. Today, O-K Hall is a dorm for both men and women.
- Pocahontas Hall: Built in 1931, this hall is named after Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Powhatan. It's a dorm for first-year female students.
- Powhatan Hall: Built in 1932, this hall is named after the powerful chief of the Powhatan Confederacy. It now houses student residential assistants.
- Roe Cloud Hall: Completed in 1997, this hall is named after Henry Roe Cloud, the first American Indian superintendent of Haskell. It's a dorm for both men and women.
- Sequoyah Hall: Built in 1961, this hall is named for Sequoyah, the Cherokee who created a writing system for the Cherokee language.
- Tecumseh Hall: Built in 1915 as a gym, it's named after the Shawnee chief. It now holds the campus shop and student offices.
- Winona Hall: Originally built in 1897, this hall was rebuilt in 1962. Winona is a Lakota name for a first-born daughter. It's an honors dorm for both men and women.
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Museums and Libraries
The Haskell Cultural Center and Museum has exhibits about the school's history and Native American culture. Its archives hold many important historical documents. Tommaney Library offers books, online resources, and digital materials for students to use for their studies.
Haskell Medicine Wheel Earthwork
The Haskell Medicine Wheel Earthwork is a special outdoor art piece. It was designed by Haskell professors, students, and tribal elders. It was created in 1992 to celebrate Indigenous cultures.
The earthwork is a large circle with spokes, like a wheel. It represents the spiritual traditions of Native peoples. The circle stands for the never-ending nature of spirituality. The spokes point to the four directions. The design also includes a bear claw for strength and a thunderbird for spiritual traditions.
What Can You Study at Haskell?
Haskell offers many different study programs. After getting a two-year associate degree, many students go on to other colleges or start working. Haskell offers four-year bachelor's degrees and two-year associate degrees.
Associate Degree Programs
You can earn an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in subjects like:
- Communication Studies
- Liberal Arts
- Media Communication
- Para Professional Education
- Social Work
You can also get an Associate of Science (AS) degree in:
- Community Health
- Natural Sciences
- Recreation Fitness Management
Bachelor's Degree Programs
Haskell also offers four-year bachelor's degrees:
Indigenous and American Indian Studies
This program helps students learn about the history, cultures, and issues of Indigenous American Indian and Alaska Native communities. It prepares students for advanced studies or careers helping their communities.
Business Administration
Students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. They can focus on general management or "tribal management." Tribal management looks at how to manage tribal governments and businesses.
Elementary Teacher Education
If you want to be a teacher, this program prepares you to teach kindergarten through sixth grade. You'll learn how to help young students learn and grow.
Environmental Sciences
This program gives students a strong background in environmental and biological topics. It includes courses in Biology, Ecology, Chemistry, and Geography. It helps students understand and work on important issues like sustainability.
Student Life and Sports
Haskell has more than 20 student groups and clubs. These give students lots of ways to get involved in campus life and the wider community.
Athletics: The Fighting Indians
The Haskell athletic teams are called the Fighting Indians. Their team colors are purple, gold, and white. Haskell is part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Haskell has teams in 11 different sports. These include basketball, cross country, golf, track & field, softball, and volleyball. They also have club sports like baseball and boxing.
Haskell was once famous for its football teams from 1900 to 1930. They were known as the "Powerhouse of the West." However, the football program was paused in 2015 due to funding.
Famous People from Haskell
Many notable people have attended Haskell Indian Nations University. Here are a few:
- Evelyne Bradley - A Navajo judge.
- Henry Roe Cloud - An important advocate for tribal education.
- Sharice Davids - A member of the U.S. Congress.
- Billy Mills - An Olympic gold medalist in running.
- Jim Thorpe - A double gold medalist at the 1912 Olympic Games and a famous athlete in many sports.
Images for kids
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The school was named after Dudley C. Haskell, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas.
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Hiawatha Hall (2017)
