ARCATA -- Representatives of tribes from Smith River to Loleta shared similar sentiments Friday on how Humboldt State University can attract native students: Visit and interact with native communities, maintain campus programs for native students and develop an action plan.

At one point in the afternoon session, Greg Masten of the Hoopa Tribe suggested the university consider establishing a major that would prepare HSU graduates for the intricacies of tribal administration.

The 2007 Northern California Tribal Leaders Education Summit Friday afternoon provided an opportunity for tribal representatives to share their opinions and offer advice to HSU administrators, including President Rollin Richmond.

The feedback came in the form of four questions presented to the tribal leaders, with each given an opportunity to respond.

What existing relationship and/or contracts do you currently have with HSU? Is there any potential of developing any type of internship or participation with your high school and/or college students?

Nearly all of the tribal representatives welcomed the idea of HSU staff visiting the schools in their communities.

”If HSU can help us provide jobs for our kids, bring them home, that's what we want,” said Smith River Rancheria Chairwoman Karma Miller.

Marcelene Norton, the education director for the Hoopa Tribe, said one way HSU could help the tribe is to offer student internships to work in various tribal departments.

”It would be very beneficial to have instructors and students helping us with that expertise,” Norton said.

What existing educational programs do you currently have and how can the university enhance your existing programs to promote education success in your community?

Those programs ranged from native language classes to financial assistance for members seeking higher education to scholarships.

Several of the tribal representatives agreed with Yurok Tribal representative Leo Canez's suggestion that the university work to make native students feel comfortable on the campus.

Several others stressed the need for distance learning or satellite centers in the native communities.

How can we assist Native American parents in feeling secure and confident in sending their children to us for higher education, so they may be trained for careers that they can take back to tribal communities and organizations?

As to easing the minds of native parents, Tolowa Nation Chairwoman Charlene Storr suggested focusing on parent orientation. This is particularly important for those who have not been to a university. She also stressed the importance of having Native American instructors in all departments.

”Having role models is a really big thing,” she said.

Kara Miller of Smith River stressed the importance of comfort, urging the university to build personal relationships with the community, provide a friendly face that parents can contact. And the Yurok's Canez stressed being open to learning elements of the culture that may impact a students campus life -- such as the responsibilities that may draw a student home from caring for sick relatives to assisting with fish camp.

”Be open to be educated about those things,” he suggested.

What ideas do you have for the university sdministration, staff and faculty to improve the college-going rate of Native American students?

Kim Krokodilos of the Elk Valley Rancheria in Crescent City may have best summed up the group's hopes in quoting one of her father's favorite sayings: “A vision without execution is nothing but a hallucination.”

To that end, the university provided the outline of a memorandum of understanding between HSU and each of the tribes to encourage native students participation in higher education.

Jessie Faulkner can be reached at 441-0517 or jfaulkner@times-standard.com.