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The Dartmouth
July 25, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Native American house dedicated by the College

In his first public address as Acting College President, James Wright reaffirmed the College's commitment to its Native American students at the formal dedication of the new Native American House on Friday.

The Native American House, a $450,000 renovation of the old Occom Inn, will house up to 16 undergraduates who are either Native American or interested in Native American Studies. Wright said the house, which opened this fall, will "serve as a focal point for Native American students on campus."

Wright said for about 200 years, the College did not adequately satisfy its founding purpose of educating "youths of Indian tribes, English youths and others," as defined by the 1769 Charter of the College.

For instance, Wright said that between 1770 and 1970 only 19 Native Americans graduated from the College. But he said currently 150 Native Americans from 55 tribal nations are enrolled in the College, and more Native Americans graduate from Dartmouth than from all of the other Ivy League schools combined.

"No other school has a Native American population larger or more diverse than Dartmouth," he said.

Wright said the new Native American House will help these students "in calculable and incalculable ways ... and ensure a fuller and richer education of all of us."

The new structure, on North Main Street next to Alpha Theta coed fraternity, replaces the prior house, which was located at 18 North Park Street near the intersection with Lyme Road.

Dean of the College Lee Pelton, who was the master of ceremonies at the dedication, said, "the Native American House seeks to integrate the academic and residential experiences of the students who live here and those who are associated with it."

"It will foster cross-culture learning between Native Americans" and others, he said.

Michael Dorris, former chairman of Dartmouth's Native American Studies Program, called the dedication "a significant and very improbable moment."

Dorris, who was instrumental in the founding and growth of the Native American Studies Program, said the new Native American House is an important part of the "incremental but steady" development of the College's attention to Native Americans.

Other speakers at the afternoon dedication included Native Americans at Dartmouth President Ty Tengan '97 and Acting Director of the College's Native American Program John Sirois.

Tengan predicted that the College's Native American population will continue to grow.

Archie Mosay, a 94 year-old Anishinabe elder, blessed the ceremony with a prayer in his native tongue, and the Occom Pond Singers followed with the performance of a traditional honor song. The Occom Pond Singers is a group of 13 Native American students.

The ceremony concluded with a tour of the Native American House.