Greetings from Amy Locklear Hertel

Greetings friends,

This is my first website communication as Director of the American Indian Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

I would like to thank members of the search committee, the internal and external advisory committees, the students, and everyone who participated in the search process for caring about the Center and being involved in the search process.

It is great to be back in the state of North Carolina.  And more specifically, it is great to be serving in a professional capacity at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  I am honored to be your Director of the AIC.

Since graduating from UNC fifteen years ago this May, I have been trying to make my way back to Carolina.  I have had various opportunities to return over the years, but no opportunity has been as meaningful or fulfilling as this.

Those who know me know that I have always been committed to serving North Carolina Native peoples and I am honored to be able to return to my alma mater where my journey of service began.  I have come full circle and my heart is happy.

I wanted to take a moment to share with you my general plans for the Center.  The American Indian Center is a Center of engagement, inclusion, service, and scholarship.  And, I will work diligently to create space for partnership and development.   Under my tenure, the Center will seek new and innovative ways to engage and interact with students, alumni, the campus community, tribal communities, and others across this state and beyond.

This summer I will be meeting with individuals to talk about the history and the future of the Center in order to create a strategic plan for our Center.  I invite all of you to be a part of this discussion. Please contact Brandi to set up a meeting if you have time to share.

Today marks a new day in the history of the Center and I look forward to working with each of you to create this history together.

Sincerely,

Amy Locklear Hertel

Photo by Jennifer Hollar Photography – Amy Locklear Hertel and her son Ahren attending the 2012 Carolina Indian Circle Powwow at UNC Chapel Hill.

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 Announcements

• Call for Presentations: Carolina Seminar on American Indian & Indigenous Studies – The Carolina Seminar on American Indian and Indigenous Studies invites scholars in the region to submit presentation proposals for the 2012-2013 academic year. Faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and advanced graduate students are encouraged to apply.  Deadline for Proposals is May, 4, 2012.
• Amy Locklear Hertel to  -  Join the AIC staff for a reception in honor of the incoming director, Amy Locklear Hertel ’97 at 3:00pm at the Ackland Art Museum, 101 South Columbia Street, Chapel Hill.  RSVP’s requested by April 25 to brandi@unc.edu.
  
• Native Friendly College Ranks Top for Value - Princeton Review has ranked UNC the number one best value among public universities and Indian Country Today Media Network has given us a special citation as “Native Friendly.”
  
• American Indian Center names interim director - Marcus Collins, an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, will become interim director of the American Indian Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Thursday, September 1.
• PRC Conference showcases American Indian Healthy Eating Project - The Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP) will showcase three projects at the Prevention Research Centers (PRC) Annual Conference this week.  The theme of this year’s collaborative conference is The Changing Face of Public Health Research and Practice.
• American Indian Curriculum Guides now available! Teachers, be sure to visit our Resources page for Educators – just in time for American Indian Heritage Month.
• Handbook on American Indian Cultural Tourism in North Carolina

• PURCHASE A PRINT – Prints of the painting below are available for purchase.

The “Gift of the Old Well” Painting

by Christopher H. Kennedy

This painting was created for the American Indian Center at UNC Chapel Hill and unveiled on March 20, 2009 at the American Indian Reunion Banquet.

The creator gave land to the people.  The people created a university.  The university builds an “Old Well” in 1795.  The “Old Well” gave life and sustenance to the people and animals.  The creator is pleased, the bear is the symbol of strength for the people, the cougar is the symbol of balance and grace, and the eagle is the symbol of leadership.  The pale of knowledge spills into the pool of the dream catcher and through time, hard work, and perseverance the “Old Well” is transformed into the current structure and the circle of life continues.

For additional information, please contact Brandi Brooks at 919-843-4189

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