About NASA

In 1989, Native American students at the UW-Eau Claire organized the Native American Student Association (NASA). In the fall of 1998, the student members updated and revised their organization's by-laws and voted to change the official title of the student group to the American Indian Student Association (AISA). References to both AISA and NASA will occur, but both sets of initials refer to the same student organization. The student association provides a forum for all American Indian students and friends to share their ideas and to express their personal, academic and professional support for each other while assisting in the promotion of awareness and understanding for Native cultures and indigenous issues across the campus and throughout the local and regional communities. During each academic school year, the student association holds bi-monthly meetings and social gatherings. The students also function as an informal speaker's bureau by presenting to classes other than their own. The students are active in the development and implementation of several, significant cultural events on the UW-Eau Claire campus throughout each school year. AISA organizes and participates in these annual activities, which include the International Folk Fair at UWEC each fall. Hundreds of guests visit the American Indian room, which is designed and hosted by the students. Typically, the room contains numerous activities and displays about the historical and contemporary lifeways of American Indian people. Indian frybread, soups and other cultural and traditional foods are also available.

Native American Awareness Week and a traditional "Honoring Education" Powwow are held during the spring of each year. During Awareness Week, the students orchestrate a full week of different activities and programs, including panels and keynote speakers from across the continent. The week provides an outlet to discuss important topics of interest to all people. Awareness Week culminates with the "Honoring Education" Powwow. Friends, dancers and drums from a five-state area travel to join the students and the community for this annual celebration. With an overwhelming amount of support from the University, the American Indian Studies Program, the American Ethnic Coordinating Office, the University Extension Office, the UWEC Foundation, and many other sponsors, AISA is successful in planning and promoting these events. American Indian graduates from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire are recognized with plaques, located in Schofield Hall. Graduates with a major in American Indian Studies are recognized on a plaque, located near the American Indian Studies Office in Hibbard Humanities Hall.