The history of Chico includes American Indian culture, such as the Mechoopda and Maidu tribes, and will now include an American Indian organization on campus.
Ryan Christoffersen was sitting in his Native American studies class when his professor David Rolo announced he wanted to reinstate the American Indian Club on campus, and Christoffersen decided to help.
Christoffersen, the acting president of the club, has helped Rolo bring the American Indian Club back to Chico State for the first time since about 2001.
The club was on campus a few years ago, but Rolo wanted to get it started again, Christoffersen said.
Currently the club has 13 members and 12 signatures to start the club on campus, Christoffersen said.
Jeanine Rutledge, a new member, was working on the club's constitution Friday and has started the paperwork so the club will be officially recognized on campus, she said.
According to the constitution, which hasn't been officially approved by the members, the purpose of the club is to strengthen the American Indian culture and heritage at Chico State and in the community. The club will focus on education, cultural events, community service and family, as well as promote the social, cultural and political awareness of issues in the American Indian community.
One of the goals of the club is to work with other organizations to promote diversity and unity at Chico State.
"The Mechoopda tribe is who we are working with," Christoffersen said. "But we are also working with other tribes in the area like Oroville."
According to the Mechoopda Web site, the Mechoopda American Indians are descendents of the Maidu tribe that inhabited the area along Big Chico Creek during the time John Bidwell was founding Chico in 1850. Chico State currently sits at the site of the original village, and the university has a good relationship with the tribe.
The club is not exclusive to American Indians and welcomes anyone who is interested, Christoffersen said. The only requirement is that members are in good standing with the university.
"Basically we don't have any criteria to join, it's open for anybody," Christoffersen said. "Basically, if they are interested in Native American culture, we would love to have them."
Students as well as members of the community can be part of the club, Christoffersen said.
March 10 was the first club meeting, and three of the members started to plan the schedule for the rest of the semester.
"It went well considering the people who knew about it," Christoffersen said.
Friday there will be a larger meeting for the entire club and interested or potential members.
The club is currently organizing elections for officers, and then they will discuss future events, he said.
The weekly meetings are held at 11 a.m. on Fridays at the Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies near the George Petersen Rose Garden.
Elaina Rusk can be reached at
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