Indigenous Students Find Belonging, Community at Syracuse
When Chancellor J. Michael Haynie spoke at the Nya Weñha Skä•noñh luncheon in August, he shared a historic milestone: This year’s Indigenous student community is the largest in University history.
At the event, Haynie welcomed 48 self-identified undergraduate Indigenous students from 19 tribal nations. Combined with 15 new self-identified graduate Indigenous students, they comprise 481 Indigenous students across the student body.
Nya Weñha Skä•noñh (pronounced “NYAH WEN-hah SKAH-noh”) is an Onondaga phrase meaning “thank you for being well”—a fitting gesture for a gathering steeped in tradition and community.
Haynie was quick to point out what matters most to him. “Students are my North Star,” he told the crowded Skybarn on South Campus. “Keeping you at the center of all that the University does is what guides my thinking and decision-making.”
This idea was evident at the luncheon, which has become more than an annual tradition of the . It’s also part of a larger strategic orientation at Syracuse, enabling Indigenous students to build relationships and discover key support systems.
Tammy Bluewolf-Kennedy ’04, G’10, an assistant director who oversees Indigenous recruitment and supports partnership programs, believes numbers speak for themselves.
“Studies show that when an institution invests in programs and resources that affirm our identity, students feel welcomed and want to stay,” says the Oneida Nation Wolf Clan citizen, who recruited the new . “Indigenous students know they belong here.”
Blending Academic and Nonacademic
The University has intentionally strengthened its relationship with the nearby Onondaga Nation, the central Firekeepers of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
Bluewolf-Kennedy points to the establishment of myriad on campus, like the , the and, of course, the Native Student Program.
“Our campus is in the heart of Haudenosaunee territory, on Onondaga Nation homelands, so we support students of any tribe or Nation,” she says, noting that this year’s cohort includes 16 Haudenosaunee Promise Scholars, three Haudenosaunee Honors Scholars and 10 Indigenous Pathway Grant recipients.
Bluewolf-Kennedy attributes Syracuse’s growing Indigenous student enrollment to Darrin White ’17, the Native Student Program’s indefatigable coordinator. He’s intimately acquainted with the 20-year-old program, having participated in it as an undergraduate.
Part of the University’s , the Native Student Program is located at 113 Euclid Ave. The century-old building houses a mix of resources and services, ranging from peer mentorship, tutoring and academic advising to mental health support, professional development and cultural engagement.
“I get to know students on a level that’s real and genuine,” says White, an Onondaga Nation Eel Clan citizen. “By establishing a sense of community and belonging, students want to come to Syracuse University.”
And stay here.
The Perfect Fit
The University’s first Haudenosaunee Honors Scholar, White points to recent data, which finds that Indigenous students feel a tremendous sense of belonging at Syracuse.
Mac Schmidt ’28 and Shayla Benedict ’29, peer mentors for the Native Student Program, embody this ethos.
“It’s becoming commonplace around Turtle Island [North America] for Native Americans to pursue higher education,” observes Benedict, a dual major in and . “The generation before me inspired me to attend Syracuse, and it’s become the perfect fit.”
Benedict is honored to serve as a “resource” for new Indigenous and transfer students at Syracuse. “I answer questions about the Native Student Program as well as events and activities and dorm life,” she says.
Likewise, Schmidt helps mentees navigate the University’s academic and nonacademic terrain. “Sometimes we meet for dinner or hang out at 113 Euclid,” says the Onondaga Nation Beaver Clan citizen.
One of her favorite activities is Beading Night, where participants learn different beading techniques while connecting with community. “It’s a wonderful way to get in tune with our culture,” says Schmidt, a minoring in .
It’s this creation of what Haynie describes as a “home-away-from-home” that inspires record numbers of Indigenous students and alumni (of whom there are nearly 1,460) affiliated with Syracuse.
“There are Indigenous people at all levels of the University,” White says. “It’s important for students to see themselves reflected in the institution they attend.”
