Photo: Standing left Rose Soza War Soldier, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Native American Studies and Ethnic Studies Sacramento State University, Assemblyman James Ramos, Rena Horse, Esak’timá Center Coordinator and Native Student Success Counselor, Brian Baker, Ph.D. Professor, Ethnic Studies Director, Native American Studies at Center blessing.
Sacramento State Where Knowledge Comes
The Esak’timá Center
by Rena D. Horse, Esak’timá Center Coordinator and Native Student Success Counselor
What is the Esak’timá Center? The Esak’timá Center is a Nisenan name, meaning, “A Place Where Knowledge Comes”. It is a home-away-from home for Native Students since it’s recent opening. The Esak’timá Center (eh-sack-tee-ma) at Sacramento State, residing on Miwok, Maidu, and Nisenan land, welcomes all Native students who are entering freshmen, returning students, and graduate students. The Center is situated in an area with nine Tribal Nations, and the Center is committed to celebrating the traditions of these nine Nations as it works with their citizens as well as the Native students from other tribal areas in and outside of California. The nine Tribal Nations are the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-wuk Indians, Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, Ione Band of Miwok Indians, Jackson Band of Miwuk Indians, Kletsel Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, United Auburn Indian Community, Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Wilton Rancheria, and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
At the Center, we reconceptualize Native American Student Success partly by showing respect and understanding for Native students’ traditional ways of thought and being. Services such as advising and educational planning will be conducted in a culturally responsive way and will enable the student to identify the microaggressions, insults and slights, that they face daily.
The Esak’timá Center is a hub, focused on removing barriers to academic success with such hub-making activities as academic services, food making and sharing, talking circles, beading workshops, gardening, and cultural event planning. It introduces services to first-time students from the moment they enter the University and continue to provide Native students with help in educational goal-setting and graduation. The Esak’timá Center recognizes that the students enter a colonized and hostile environment and educational system. This, the Esak’timá Center must provide the kind of emotional support critical to the student’s success and retention in school. It is not enough simply to know that there are resources and services available to the Native student. The student’s past experiences in the education system of feeling inadequate (not equal to their peers) and marginalized—”Why try? I am not good enough anyway” – must be recognized and addressed in a Native-sensitive way. The issues of colonial mindset and historical, intergenerational trauma are real and underpin the student’s feelings that they are not worthy, not good enough, not “white” enough, to succeed in college.
The Esak’timá Center provides supportive services for students to assist you in your academic journey with Academic Advising, Academic Workshops, Peer Advising, Scholarship referrals, Cultural Presentations and Workshops, Student Leadership opportunities and Campus and Community Resources. We strive to make the Esak’timá Center a home away from home where your values as a Native student are recognized, your student accomplishments are celebrated and your contributions to your community are honored, as are you. The Center is an open and inclusive gathering space for all students. ###
Caption: Standing left Rose Soza War Soldier, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Native American Studies and Ethnic Studies Sacramento State University, Assemblyman James Ramos, Rena Horse, Esak’timá Center Coordinator and Native Student Success Counselor, Brian Baker, Ph.D. Professor, Ethnic Studies Director, Native American Studies at Center blessing.
