Winds of Change - College 2017 - 11

internships. AISES has also helped me connect
with other Native members on campus.
BHSU is very supportive of Native
American students on campus. I haven't
seen any of the Native students struggle here
because people at the Center for American
Indian Studies are always willing to lend a
helping hand. I recommend Black Hills State
to all future freshmen or transferring
students, and especially Native students.
My advice to other students who hope to
attend college is that academics have to come
first, so don't let anyone or anything come
between you and your education. The easiest
way to ensure your success in college is to
attend classes every day because if you skip,
professors notice your lack of commitment,
which only hurts your credibility as a student
and, ultimately, your GPA.
I'm pretty self-motivated about my
schoolwork, which shows in my effort to get
good grades. From the courses I've taken so
far, I'd say my psychology class has had one
of the biggest influences on me. It opened
up a new perspective on the psychological

aspects of people. Another class that
helped me a lot was English composition. Writing skills are especially
important because they are used in
almost all jobs - not to mention
scholarship applications.
My ultimate career goal is to make an
impact on Native communities through
hands-on dental work and education
about the importance of dental hygiene,
and research to help find better
solutions. I had my first experience
doing research as an intern this past
summer with Sanford Health's Summer
Undergraduate Research Experience.
The internship focused on social and
behavioral research with American
Indian community-based projects. I
learned the importance of patience in
collecting data to eventually obtain
answers, and I'm now considering this
field as a career. It was a valuable
experience that helped me focus even
more on future possibilities.
- As told to Kimberly Durment Locke

Jason Jackson Reed
HOOPA AND KARUK

Humboldt State University
FISHERIES BIOLOGY

COURTESY OF JASON JACKSON REED

I

grew up on the Hoopa Indian Reservation in Northern California for the first
part of my childhood, then I moved to
Karuk territory, specifically the Katamiin
region, when I was in sixth grade. The
town is very remote. Although the city's
sign says it has a population of 250, I swear
I've never seen 250 people there before!
Both of these places shaped who I've
become and how I identify myself. I loved
growing up in both areas, as I feel a
spiritual connection to both the Hoopa
Reservation and Katamiin. To put it in
perspective, Katamiin is also known to the
Karuk people as the auuyich, or "center of
the world." And when I think of the Hoopa
area, I think of family because of the
generations of families I have there: great
aunts, uncles, and grandparents.
As a child, I used to go fishing with my
grandpa, Reggie, and my dad, Ron.
Becoming a fisheries biologist feels like my
calling since my childhood. My parents are
a large reason why I decided to further my

aises.org

education and keep with my aspirations.
They are an example of hardworking
individuals who can do what seems like the
impossible: they have supported six
children on a single income - a truly
spectacular feat. I'm a senior now at
Humboldt State University (HSU), and
they still support me to this day, and keep
me strong when things get hard.
When school gets frustrating, a call
home is the perfect remedy to my troubles.
My grandparents play a big role here. They
show a strength, determination, and
stubbornness that is reflected in me. Ethel,
my 87-year-old grandmother, has passed
down her recipes to me, so I don't waste my
money and I don't starve while I'm busy
with my studies. She is probably the most
excited to see me walk during graduation.
Having her witness my graduation will be a
dream come true.
There were also other mentors who
found me during internships, whom I
know will be happy to see me graduate. »

Native students choose
Humboldt State as their
pathway for college.

They are successful because
at HSU, Native culture
is honored and valued.
Our programs, Indian
Tribal & Educational
Personnel Program
(ITEPP) and Indian Natural
Resource, Science &
Engineering Program
(INRSEP), have an array of
academic advising, peer
and professional mentoring,
and tutoring support.
*	 Over	30	Native	American		 	
	 faculty	and	staff
*	 A	Native	American	
	 President's	Advisory	Council							
*	 Access	to	the	13	tribes	
	 near	the	campus
* Close	proximity	to
	 redwood	forests,	wild	rivers,		
	 and	the	Pacific	Ocean

Start your journey.
707.826.3672 * ITEPP
707.826.4998 * INRSEP

humboldt.edu/nativeprograms

2017-2018 SPECIAL COLLEGE ISSUE * WINDS OF CHANGE 11
http://www.humboldt.edu/nativeprograms http://www.aises.org
Winds of Change - College 2017

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