Native American Heritage Month Celebrated Throughout November

Native American Heritage Month will be celebrated throughout November on the U of A campus. Partners across the university have come together to present a dynamic series of events. Events are open to all campus community members and to the general public. All events are free to attend excepting the Women’s Basketball Native American Heritage Night game.

Collaborators and sponsors include the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Native American Student Association, Native American Student Services, the Multicultural Center, University Recreation, Indigenous Employee Resource Group, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, Food on the Hill, Associated Student Government Office of Financial Affairs and Women’s Basketball.

First Friday Series

Events begin today, Nov. 1, with the Multicultural Center’s First Friday Series from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the International Connections Lounge (Flag Room) in the Arkansas Union. All are welcome to enjoy a hominy soup, information and activity tables, and a talk with Osage artist Addie Roanhorse.

The founder and creative force behind Big Rain Gallery, Roanhorse is a multidisciplinary artist residing on the Osage Nation Reservation, a place rooted in artistic expression. The daughter and mother of artists, Roanhorse identifies as a conduit of history to future generations in order to protect and preserve Indigenous culture.

Archaeology Lecture

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society is hosting Ian Thompson, Choctaw Nation tribal historic preservation officer, for a lecture from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6. Thompson’s lecture will cover Indigenous Experimental Archaeology and Cultural Revitalization.

Stickball Tournament

Stickball events are prominently featured and serve as precursors to the successful, yearly, spring tournament,which will be in its third year in spring 2025. Two versions of play will be exhibited. First, from 12:30-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, all experience levels are welcome to play or watch the tournament style of play. Bring a red or white shirt to join the game. Equipment is available for players to borrow.

This will be followed by a “social” style of stickball game hosted at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, on the Maple Field, south of Maple Hill South. This is a beginner-friendly event, and equipment will be provided. BJ Frogg, citizen of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee and cultural practitioner and teacher, will be present to provide historical and cultural context for the game and facilitate.

After stickball, everyone is welcome to enjoy dinner in the Fulbright Dining Hall. The special menu available from 4:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, is free to all and will incorporate foods native to the Americas, including some ingredients sourced directly from Native American farmers and food producers.

Women’s Basketball

Wrapping up the month will be a game which has also become a yearly tradition. The women’s basketball team will host a Native American Heritage Night at 6 p.m. Nov. 21 at Bud Walton Arena. All are invited to come support the team and enjoy hearing “The Star-Spangled Banner” performed in the Cherokee language by Cherokee Nation citizen Ella Mounce and a halftime performance of traditional songs and dances by the Choctaw Nation Youth Outreach Program, led by Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma citizen Dewayne Hornbuckle.

All are invited to celebrate Indigenous heritage this month and the continued representation of Indigenous and Native American people on our campus and in our region year-round.

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