North Idaho College and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe open a student center Tuesday, finishing a promise made in 1997

North Idaho College and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe will open the college's new American Indian Student Center on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

The college says the center is the last unfinished commitment in an agreement the two signed in 1997.

IF YOU GO

- Ribbon cutting and open house: 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17
- Second floor of the Edminster Student Union Building, on the college's Coeur d'Alene campus
- Free and open to the public
- A blessing, remarks from college and Tribe leaders, light refreshments and a performance by the Rose Creek Singers

THE AGREEMENT

It is called the Nine-Point Agreement. The college and the Tribe signed it in 1997 and revised it in 2018.

The college says it set out nine areas for the two to work on together. They include cultural awareness, Native American resources, student success, academics and showing Coeur d'Alene history across the campus.

One of its commitments was a cultural center. The new student center is that commitment, the college said.

Along the way, the college said, the two added Native American resources in the Molstead Library, American Indian Studies courses and student support services.

WHAT THE COLLEGE SAYS

"This is a milestone nearly 30 years in the making," college President Nick Swayne said in the college's announcement. "The Nine-Point Agreement was a promise between the college and the Tribe and the opening of this center represents the fulfillment of that promise."

Swayne said the partnership will go on after Tuesday.

WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW

The college's announcement does not say what the center cost or how it was paid for. We have not spoken with the Tribe; this story rests on the college's announcement.