Native American Heritage Month Celebrated on the University of Arkansas Campus

November is national Native American Heritage Month. The University of Arkansas community is invited to celebrate alongside our Indigenous students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members in honoring the culture, contributions, and triumphs of Indigenous people past and present.

The Multicultural Center partnered with the Native American Student Association, Indigenous Employee Resource Group, University Recreation, and community partners representing the United Keetoowah Band, Kiowa Nation, Cherokee Nation, Muscogee Nation, Osage Nation, and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma to plan a variety of events to honor the month.

The Multicultural Center will kick off the monthlong celebration Friday afternoon, Nov. 3, at the Razorback Gardens. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. and music will be provided by fiddler, Nokosee Fields starting at noon, followed by a social game of stickball on the UREC Sports Complex fields beginning at 2 p.m. across Razorback Road. All experience levels are welcome to come play stickball and observe.  

On Nov. 16, the university welcomes back local Kiowa artists Brooke Benham, Jay Benham, and their production team for the performance of “Big Yellow Car,” a performance art piece and conversation with the artists in the Union Theater. That night will also be the opening of the “We Are Still Here” art exhibit in the Kittrell Gallery. Native American and Indigenous artists are encouraged to submit works of art. For more information, please contact bkiele@uark.edu (Bethany Kiele, assistant Curator Multicultural Center – Arts & Culture). 

Cultural experts representing the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma will be visiting campus Nov. 20 for a showcase event featuring cultural dance and materials. The guests will share their performance on campus in the Union Ballroom during the lunch period, and then again at halftime of the women’s basketball game, tipping off at 7 p.m. Stretching into December the World Languages department and Multicultural Center welcome basketmaker Lena Stick, who has been designated a National Treasure by the Cherokee Nation for her craft.

The Native American Student Association will be sharing a full calendar of events, flyers, and weekly reminders for events on Instagram @uarknasa.These can also be found at the Multicultural Center website, multicultural.uark.edu. If you would like your Native American Heritage Month event included please email nasa@uark.edu or share through Instagram. 

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.