The first elder-in-residence for Cosumnes River College began working this semester with the Native American Higher Education Resource program on campus.

In Native culture the elders provide wisdom and leadership to their tribe with their words and actions because they’re a source of traditional and spiritual wisdom, according to We R Native, an online health resource for Native youth.

Shaina Philpot, director of the Native American Student Support and Success Program, said it’s nice for students to be able to talk to someone from the Native community who cares about them and their wellbeing, other than her or her staff.

“He has so much knowledge and wisdom to share and it’s kind of an opportunity for CRC to highlight and uplift Native and Indigenous ways of knowing,” Philpot said.

She said an elder-in-residence is someone who supports the Native and Indigenous students on campus but is also there for other students, staff and faculty.

Al Striplen, a Native American counselor and spiritual guide to balancing and self healing, said he is still learning what it means to be an elder-in-residence.

“I’m assuming the campus or at least certain leadership on the campus have heard me speak before here, or in other places, and find what I had to say might be useful to students, staff and faculty,” Striplen said.

Striplen said people are able to come to him for support and they should see him as a trusted resource. He said he wants to provide a voice that isn’t associated with Cosumnes River College.

“Like I said, not affiliated necessarily with any particular goals, aims, agendas, in terms of myself or the institution,” Striplen said.

Philpot said that Striplen will come to campus whenever someone would like to meet with him. She said that he’s able to meet one-on-one, in groups and while hosting workshops for students, staff and faculty.

Esmeralda Solorio Andrade, a 20-year-old business administration major and NAHER volunteer, said Striplen is very inclusive to everyone, not just Native American individuals.

“He’s very encouraging to follow your own path,” Solorio Andrade said.

Striplen said when he does presentations on campus he begins with playing the flute.

“I started out with the flute, first of all, just to kind of get us on the same vibe, the same wavelength,” Striplen said.

Striplen said that he uses flute playing as a way of connecting to those around him.

“I use it that way as one form of healing and bringing together,” Striplen said. “The reason I do that is so many campuses, universities, programs have their own agenda.”

Striplen worked for Sacramento State as a faculty sponsor for Native American student organizations for 32 years. While there, he taught Native studies, worked with Education Opportunity Programs and taught freshman seminars.

Striplen works for the State Indian Museum in Sacramento and said he wants to make a point that he isn’t just there for state parks but for the individual.

“I’m there for the people whose culture I’m representing,” Striplen said. “I’m not there for any particular tribe. So, in a sense I’m an intertribal human being.”

NAHER Counselor Crystal Martinez-Alire, who is a part of the local Miwok tribe, said she worked with Striplen previously.

“When I was going through my master’s degree at Sac State, I interned under him and he was a great mentor to help guide counseling Native students,” Martinez-Alire said.

Anaiah Rodriguez, a 20-year-old pre-health major and NAHER student, said that hearing about Striplen’s journey of learning about his own culture is the way that he’s helping her find the balance of her being Mexican and Native American.

“It makes me feel like it’s not too late and I have the time and the opportunity to still learn more about my culture,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said Striplen is very wise and non-judgemental.

“I think personally, he makes me feel, I guess better about my culture,” Rodriguez said. “I have always struggled finding the balance growing up, I didn’t feel very Native American.”

Striplen said speaking with people everyday is the way he is learning and slowly evolving into who he is.

“Everyday is a start,” Striplen said.