AISA – Bringing American Indian Community to OU ’ s Campus for Over 100 Years
Community is an imperative element to most people ’ s college experience , but it is held in even higher esteem by the members of the University of Oklahoma ’ s American Indian Student Association .
Every week , members of AISA meet to discuss ways to celebrate their culture and enrich their community . People from all different tribes , such as Cherokee , Delaware , Caddo , Chickasaw , Choctaw , Chickee , Oneida , and Ojibwe , can become members . It ’ s simply a matter of logging onto OU ’ s website , Engage , filling out a short form , then awaiting approval by AISA ’ s executive board . The executive board is comprised of several different positions , all of which are voted on by the entirety of the association .
“ You do build friendships here ,” Celena George , the Social Affairs Chair of AISA , said . “ Most of the people that you find in AISA are also a part of other organizations you ’ re a part of when you ’ re in the American Indian community . You can build those relationships and hang out together .”
George , who is also the outgoing Miss Indian OU , is a Houston native who came to OU because of the lively American Indian community Oklahoma is known for . In addition to regularly scheduled meetings , AISA typically hosts a fall powwow , spring powwow , fall stomp dance , spring stomp dance and fun things in between , like stick ball . Stick ball is a centuries-old tradition originally played by southeastern tribes as an alternative to war . Though it was created to avoid the further destruction of tribes , stick ball played by war rules is still a deadly game . Luckily , the game evolved to be played between friends .
Story by Anna ROWE ~ Photos by Riley ROWE
Each tribe developed its own unique rules , and those rules change depending on the occasion . AISA plays by social rules , meaning the teams are divided guys versus girls . The stakes are not as high as in a war game , but some lighthearted rough-housing could be in store .
“ It ’ s definitely a lot of fun ,” George said . “ I think my favorite way is whenever it ’ s like girls versus guys because girls don ’ t really have any rules . They can tackle , they can push , they can shove , they can take your sticks , they can take your shoe off and throw it away . They really have no rules and the guys have all the rules .”
The goal of the game is to hit the fish , which is attached to a pole , with the ball and earn a point . AISA typically plays games to four points , in which the guys always use sticks , but the girls can choose whether they want to use sticks or their hands . Other versions of stick ball involve two fish as opposite ends of the field , but AISA uses only one fish , provided by a Choctaw professor at OU . All tribes have slightly different means of developing their sticks . The Choctaw version is meant to be played with your dominant hand holding the smaller stick .
AISA members typically play stick ball on the South Oval of campus . There , non-members can get a taste of American Indian culture by watching their peers play or even joining the game . For over 100 years , AISA has brought native community to OU ’ s campus and it continues to do so today .
28 NormanMagazine . com | MAY / JUNE 2022