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News from
Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon
Public information officer: Joan Aschim, (541) 463-5591, aschimj@lanecc.edu
Contact: Barbara Delansky, Student Life and Leadership Development, (541) 463-5337
for release June 12, 2006
Longhouse groundbreaking set for June 21 at LCC
EUGENE - The Lane Community College Foundation and the Native American Student Association invite tribal elders and members, students, staff and the community to a groundbreaking ceremony for the Lane Native American Longhouse on Wednesday, June 21, at 10 a.m. The site overlooks the track, northwest corner of main campus, 4000 E. 30th Avenue, Eugene. Ceremonies will include drumming and singing followed by a reception.
The longhouse will be the first on a community college campus that is not part of a tribal college.
Students at Lane represent each of Oregon's nine tribes and other tribes from across the country. Lane is known for a strong Native American education program:
- Native American student coordinator, James Florendo, teaches leadership and skill building courses. He will oversee the stewardship of the Longhouse.
- Five Native American instructors teach nearly two dozen courses in American Indian Experience.
- The American Indian Language program is developing a first-year course in the Northwest trade language, Chinuk Wa Wa. Several Oregon tribes are considering formal adoption of this language. Lane is working to qualify the curriculum to meet the language transfer requirements at universities.
- The Native American Student Association provides social, cultural and academic opportunities, including the annual powwow in December which attracts more than 1,000 people from across the Northwest.
- Umista is an interdisciplinary summer program for Native American youth and is part of the Rites of Passage summer academy programs.
Building a longhouse is the logical next step to enhance the Native American program as well as benefit all students on campus, and provide additional meeting space for local community groups.
The entry for the 6,200-square-foot longhouse is a hall of honor which will feature the art and culture of Oregon's nine tribes. In keeping with Native American tradition, the longhouse will face cardinal east with an eastern entrance for traditional ceremonies. An indoor-outdoor kitchen allows space for community potlucks. The main hall is big enough for dancing, drumming and other traditional activities. Dressing room space is provided for dancers to don traditional regalia. Outdoor classroom space is planned adjacent to the building.
The architectural firm, StastnyBrun, also designed the Portland State University Native American Center and the Warm Springs Museum. The firm also has a contract to design a heritage center and museum for the Confederated Tribe of Siletz Indians.
Funding will come from a variety of sources. Approximately $290,000 has been raised through donations from students, staff and Oregon tribes. Lane's Board of Education is contributing $250,000 from the college's capital repair and improvement fund. In May, students approved a $3, three-year fee to raise $225,000 to $300,000. College facilities staff will construct the longhouse, providing additional savings. The Longhouse Fundraising Committee is now focused on obtaining in-kind contributions of materials to meet the $1.2 million goal.
Major donors include the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians; Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Spirit Mountain Community Fund; Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians; Coquille Indian Tribe; and Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. Other major donors include the Oregon Country Fair, Oregon Cultural Trust, Santa Fe Tobacco Co. Foundation, and the Willamette National Forest. Several groups at Lane have contributed, including the American Indian Languages Program, Associated Students of Lane Community College, College Operations, Counseling Department, Information Technology Program, Board of Education, and the Native American Student Association. In-kind material donors include Leavitt's Trucking, McFarland Cascade, Moshofsky Truss, Wildish Construction Co., Farwest Steel, and others. Many individuals also have donated to the project.
For more information, see 2011sitearchive.lanecc.edu/nasa/longhouse
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