Every spring, the American Indian Center brings to campus a well-respected nationally prominent American Indian elder to foster cultural, academic, social, and spiritual support for Carolina students as well as to enrich the campus community. Selected elders have come from all parts of the country and are chosen for their deep cultural knowledge and their leadership in Native causes.
During their time on campus, the Elder In Residence (EIR) will spend much of his/her time meeting with students, speaking in classrooms, and meeting with other campus faculty and staff.
The EIR Program is designed to:
- Celebrate Indigenous knowledge,
- Validate Indigenous practices and ways of knowing,
- Reinforce American Indian identity and affirm American Indian students,
- Raise the awareness of Native culture with University staff and faculty, and
- Foster relationships between American Indian communities and the University.
This year, nominations were solicited from American Indian students and American Indian Studies faculty and staff. Criteria for selection include national prominence and expertise in a field.
Please join us as we celebrate our tenth year of the EIR program. We realize there are many individuals worthy of this honor. It is difficult to identify a single person every year given that nationally there are many leaders we would like to honor.
2019 Elder in Residence, Mr. Greg Jacobs
April 15-19, 2019
We are so honored to have Mr. Greg Jacobs, Tribal Administrator from the Coharie Tribe serve as our 2019 Elder in Residence from April 15th – 19th. In conjunction with his visit, we will be hosting our AIC Open House. Please join us from 4:00pm-6:30pm on April 16th at our new location (205 Wilson Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516). Additionally, come and participate in a panel discussion with Mr. Greg Jacobs on Thursday, April 18th. The reception will be held at 4:00pm and the Q&A starting around 4:45-6:00pm. For questions: (919) 843-4189, jransom@unc.edu
Former Elders in Residence:
April 3-6, 2018
Dr. Robert A. Williams, Jr. (Lumbee)
April 17-21, 2017
Chief Joyce Dugan (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
April 10-15, 2016
Dr. Henrietta Mann (Cheyenne-Arapaho)
March 2-5, 2015
Jeri Redcorn (Caddo)
Charles Redcorn (Osage)
February 12-15, 2014
Simon J. Ortiz (Acoma Pueblo)
March 2013
Senora Lynch (Haliwa Saponi)
March 12-17, 2012
Della C. Warrior (Otoe-Missouria)
March 14-19, 2011
Ada Deer (Menominee)
February 21-25, 2010
Dr. Robert J. Conley (Cherokee)
March 17 – 20, 2009
LaDonna Harris (Comanche)
March 24-28, 2008
Dr. Linda Oxendine (Lumbee)
Fall of 2006
LeAnne Howell (Choctaw)
*Howell served as an Elder, prior to the establishment of the Center.