Campus groups provide year-round support for Native American students

Friday, November 1, 2024 - 13:35

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DENTON (UNT), TEXAS - November is Native American Heritage Month and student groups at the University of North Texas are honoring it while emphasizing their year-round work.

Native American Heritage Month was established by President George H. W. Bush in 1990. Before that, J.C. Elliott-High Eagle, an Osage-Cherokee native, wrote the first Congressional legislation for Native American Awareness Week in 1976. The month provides a platform to Native Americans in the United States to share their culture and traditions with others. It's also a time for everyone to recognize, honor and reflect on the history and contributions of Tribal Nations.

Celebrations on campus began with the UNT's Native American Student Association (NASA) hosted their fifth annual Indigenous Peoples Day event in October. The day included traditional food, student research presentations and powwow dancing from the Choctaw Nation's Anoli Dancers.

"Indigenous Peoples Day is one of our biggest accomplishments," said Leigh Bacon, a master's student, member of the Choctaw nation and vice president of UNT NASA. "We're really proud of how it's grown over the years and how we can share our culture and Native issues with UNT."

NASA seeks to foster an inter-tribal community on campus that raises awareness of Native issues and connects members with tribal communities in the Texas and Oklahoma regions. Throughout the year, NASA collaborates other campus organizations to host events, such as teaming up with the Center for Belonging and Engagement for its public Día de los Muertos event Nov. 2 and working with the Music Library for a discussion on contemporary Indigenous music in late October.

[Link] Traditional foods cornbread with wojapi, a berry sauce

Most events begin with a land acknowledgment that honors the contributions of Native students. A land acknowledgment is a statement recognizing the Indigenous peoples who originally inhabited the land and their ongoing connection to it. In UNT's early days, 28 Mvskoke (Creek) students were recruited to help the then Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute meet its active student requirement to remain open.

"We strive to be at the forefront of any campus events that feature Indigenous representation," Bacon said. "We also go to various events, like powwows, in Dallas and Oklahoma to help our members engage with the community at large."

Another organization that helps Native students is the UNT chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). The nonprofit organization aims to support students from underrepresented backgrounds who aspire to enter STEM fields.

Jose Robledo, a doctoral candidate who identifies as Chicano, is president of UNT's SACNAS chapter. He and other UNT SACNAS members are kicking off Native American Heritage Month by attending the nonprofit's National Diversity in STEM Conference, the nation's largest multicultural STEM event aimed at empowering participants on their academic and professional journeys.

[Link] Bacon sharing her research on Indigenous representation in literature

"It does a good job of blending your STEM identity with your cultural one," Robledo said. "There are cultural events throughout the conference, a big powwow at the end, mentorship workshops, networking opportunities and a career fair with organizations like the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation."

On campus, SACNAS helps members apply for internships, scholarships and research opportunities. Many are first-generation students or the first in their families in studying STEM fields. The organization provides mentorship program and guidance for post-graduation paths.

"For example, some students think that a biology degree means they must go to medical or graduate school," Robledo said. "However, many companies hire undergraduates for positions like lab technicians or in science communications. We want to help them navigate their STEM identity and find what suits them best."

Similarly, UNT NASA also hopes to provide its students support for what comes after graduation.

"A current goal of ours is to promote career-ready students," Bacon said. "We make sure to inform students about what they can do post-education with their degrees. We're interested in what happens not just within their time at UNT but what happens after."