...“Growing up, I heard a lot of hurtful, stereotypical things,” says LeClair, “Like all Indians are drunks. We all get paid. We don’t have to pay any taxes.
In high school LeClair kept her silence, trying not to draw attention to herself. But by her junior year in college, LeClair decided to speak out about the challenges facing Native students on predominantly White campuses in a forthcoming report that she intends to publish titled “Speaking Out: Experiences of Native Students on Predominantly White Campuses.”
The report focuses on the experiences of LeClair, five other American Indian students and two Native faculty members at the University of Wyoming. LeClair, who is in the final stages of the report, is completing her research as a requirement for the McNair Scholars program at the university. McNair prepares minority undergraduate students for graduate education success by requiring students to conduct empirical research and attend professional conferences pertinent to their areas of study.
“With Native students, especially on a predominantly White campuses, you don’t feel like you can challenge authority,” says LeClair, noting that her report provides a safe place for expression. “A lot of times, as a Native person, you are taught not to speak up and not to bring attention to yourself. It can be really uncomfortable for some Native students to talk about American Indian issues in class.”
LeClair’s interviews with American Indian students show that they have a very strong desire to preserve their Native culture and to return to their hometowns to share the knowledge after graduation. “Yes, we want to give back to our communities, and we are proud of our heritage,” she says. “Many of us leave home with the intentions of coming back to empower other members of the community.
