Tribal college faculty member completes fellowship

Observer Staff

11/5/2003 12:00:00 AM

Patrick Collins, lead Native American Studies faculty at the Saginaw Chip-pewa Tribal College, recently completed a six-week National Endowment for the Humanities Institute for College and University Teachers at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash.

Wilson competed for and was awarded a fellowship to participate in the "Working from Community: American Indian Art and Literature" program. Faculty for the prestigious institute included Leslie Marmon Silko, Jolene Rickard, Linda Hogan and John Mohawk.

The institute introduced Collins to varied Native American art and literary influences intended to enhance his teaching at the Tribal college.

"I have gained invaluable knowledge in Native art and literature from my interactions with the faculty from different artistic backgrounds and Tribal communities," stated Collins. "The diverse educational and cultural backgrounds of other participants in the program also enriched the experience for me."