TURNING POINTS: Imagining and Designing Place and Belonging for Native Students

Nativa college students’ lives, time and time again, are in constant tension with federal policies and sociopolitical forces that influence a sense of belonging in society and colleges. Struggles over Native students’ sense of belonging and simultaneous (in) visibility are also occurring on college campuses. Campus racial climate accounts for the interrelated dynamics of four dimensions that serve as a proxy of the institutional climate: historical, structural, psychological, and behavioral. Society’s depiction of Natives through media is largely outdated; grossly misrepresentative; negative; and can be credited to the stereotypical imagery and narratives depicted through film, television, and popular culture. Scholars, journalists, advocates, poets, filmmakers, and now Native college students themselves are reframing the narrative of Indigenous peoples. Students are usually writing for assignments that adhere to specific guidelines, which can limit the topics that Native students desire to share. Turning Points extends beyond these boundaries to tell stories that are raw, bold, and genuine.