In a heavily controversial time for the Native American community, clubs such as Construction in Indian Country Student Organization are more important than ever on campus.
CIICSO is a club dedicated to ensuring equal representation for Native Americans within the College of Construction Management.
They take an active role in important issues, such as the debate surrounding the North Dakota Access Pipeline, a proposed oil pipeline which would run through Native American burial grounds and has potential environmental repercussions.
Talon Toledo is the club's co-president and a construction management sophomore at ASU. He said the group takes a level-headed stance on the controversial issue.
"I understand where the companies are coming from, being in construction management, but there is also that ethical standpoint of putting the environment at risk for that extra few dollars," Toledo said. "We are against it, mainly against it. Most of the tribes are against it because of the serious environmental risks and the whole political side of it … we try to stay rational since we are in construction too."
CIISCO is planning to host information tables for the pipeline around campus starting in November. They have teamed up with other Native American groups on campus such as the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) to create these information booths.
Toledo said the other clubs will diversify the perspective on the issue and create a more robust argument against the pipeline.
Jennifer Jones is AISES’s secretary and a mechanical engineering senior.
Jones said these events are important to bring attention to such issues.
“We hope that our events will bring awareness to what is happening in our society, especially in engineering, construction and similar fields,” she said. “It speaks to the idea that people think we are extinct and that we don't thrive anymore and we are history. But that is not true, we have tribes represented around the country and university.”
Although CIISCO's main purpose is to help Native American students integrate into ASU's culture and ensure equal representation, club members are passionate about helping Native American tribes everywhere, Toledo said.
In addition to spreading awareness about the potential harm of the pipeline, members said they try to help all Native American tribes in any way they can, despite cultural differences between tribes. He said education within tribes is a central issue.
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Kindell Davis is a member of CIICSO and a construction management sophomore. He said the club has helped him serve the Native American communities.
"(CIICSO) means kind of a lot for me because I'm Native American, and it's a Native American club so it's really about focusing on what we can do to improve things back home, such as projects and helping the kids," Davis said. "It helps a lot of kids, I think, and we get to go out and talk to kids and about education and how important it is."
Davis said last year he helped CIICSO build a float for the Navajo Nation Parade in Window Rock, Arizona. He said the club aims to give young Native Americans inspiration to pursue education through events like the parade.
Members also said one of CIICSO's main objectives on campus is to give Native American students within the College of Construction Management a place to feel welcome and network with other Native American students.
Robyn Haskey, a construction management sophomore is the club's co-president, beside Toledo. She said club alumni frequently help by giving donations.
"It's always nice to meet other students who are interested in what I'm interested in and having future co-workers," Haskey said. "A lot of our alumni work within the Valley with various construction companies. We always like helping each other out."
Reach the reporter at Garrison.Murphy@asu.edu or follow @Garrison_Murphy on Twitter.
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