Students can now major in Native American Studies

MARQUETTE — The center for Native American Studies is celebrating 20 years, and they recently announced some major news.

In the past students could only minor in Native American Studies. The Center will now offer students the opportunity to major in the field. The new program will be available in 2016.

“First ever in the state of Michigan, so we are very excited about the possibilities. The students are very excited, the community is very excited as well. We have had over 400 responses to our survey so far, said Associate Professor, Martin Reinhardt, Center for American Studies, NMU.

The new major requires 42 credit hours instead of 24 that was required for the minor. This announcement comes on the heels of President Obama announcing NMU alumni and grad student, Aaron Payment, being appointed to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education.

“It’s very exciting for me and it is very important that we have American Indian people from our area to serve on these things. As alumni of NMU we are proud of all of his accomplishments, as a citizen of the Ste Saint Marie Chippewa Indians I am proud of the fact that my tribal chairperson is serving in such a capacity,” added Reinhardt.

The Center for Native American Studies can be found inside Whitman Hall at NMU. Call (906) 227-1397 for more information.