North Idaho College and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe will celebrate the opening of NIC’s new American Indian Student Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, marking the completion of the historic Nine-Point Agreement signed nearly 30 years ago.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house will take place on the second floor of the Edminster Student Union Building at NIC’s Coeur d’Alene campus. The celebration is free and open to the public and will include a blessing, remarks from NIC and Coeur d’Alene Tribe leadership, light refreshments and a performance by the Rose Creek Singers.
The new center fulfills the final outstanding commitment of the Nine-Point Agreement, originally signed in 1997 and revised in 2018. The agreement established a framework for the college and Tribe to work together on projects of mutual benefit while making NIC a more welcoming and supportive environment for Native American students.
“This is a milestone nearly 30 years in the making,” NIC President Nick Swayne said. “The Nine-Point Agreement was a promise between the college and the Tribe and the opening of this center represents the fulfillment of that promise. More importantly, it gives us a foundation to continue building on this partnership for generations to come.”
The agreement outlines nine areas of partnership, including cultural awareness, Native American resources, student success, academics and the representation of Coeur d’Alene history throughout campus.
Over the years, NIC and the Tribe have worked together to advance those commitments through expanded Native American resources in the Molstead Library, American Indian Studies courses, student support services and efforts to recognize Coeur d’Alene history and culture throughout campus.
One of the agreement’s most significant commitments called for the creation of a cultural center. The opening of the American Indian Student Center fulfills that longstanding goal and provides a dedicated space to support Native American students and strengthen their connection to the college.
While the opening marks the completion of the Nine-Point Agreement, the partnership between NIC and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe will continue.
“This isn’t the end of our work together,” Swayne said. “It’s a celebration of how far we’ve come and a commitment to what we can accomplish together in the years ahead.”
For more information about the Nine-Point Agreement, visit nic.edu/9pointagreement.
Return to Newsroom