FSI Building Awareness on the RIT Campus

The Future Stewards Initiative (FSI) is an on-campus support structure for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and First Nations students at RIT. Participants of this organization are encouraged and sponsored by their tribal nation to pursue degrees in fields such as business, engineering technology, medical sciences, environmental science, and sustainability, among other others.

RIT has a Native American Advisory Council that meets annually to build a strong relationship with President Destler. During the council meetings, they work together to make policies that will have RIT better serve the students of FSI.

Today at Imagine RIT, FSI has a station “BI: Ingenious, Innovation & Indigenous”, set up in the Mobius Quad, in the Think Tank section. They are building awareness with the people of Rochester and the students of RIT by giving out free samples of fruit, fried bread, and Seneca corn soup. Aaron Miller, a student here at RIT, said that “the corn soup had a unique flavor, but it was good. I would get more!” Native games, like Cherokee Marbles, a drumming stick game, and arrow throw are taught at the station. Many kids have enjoyed trying the different games already.

Dr. Laurie A. Clayton, program coordinator of FSI is available today at the Mobius Quad station to answer any questions. Information sheets and picture books for kids to look at that explain the culture of Native Americans are provided here as well.

This is a fun and yummy interactive station to stop by today. Not only will you get to learn about the Native American culture and take part in some of their cultural activies, FSI is building awareness of their organization and cause in the RIT community.