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Josh Simonds planting a land acknowledgment sign that states "We are on the native land of Quapaw, Caddo and Osage."

In this 2020 file photo, Josh Simonds, Assistant Director of AV抖阴 Alumni Relations plants a land acknowledgement sign on the AV抖阴 campus. 鈥淎V抖阴 is situated within a unique network of historic indigenous peoples,鈥� explained Josh Simonds, who is a member of the Cherokee Nation. 鈥淣ot only is the university located on the traditional land of the Quapaw, Caddo and Osage Nations, but is also situated in a community with land touched by the Trail of Tears and forced removal of tribes who lived along the East coast who were moved from across the nation to find themselves in the River Valley today.鈥�

Events | FeaturedNovember 03, 2021

AV抖阴 Announces Native American Heritage Month Slate

The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith will host its annual slate of events celebrating Native American Heritage Month throughout November as a collaborative effort between the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Native American Student Organization, the Arkansas Archeological Survey, and the Campus Activities Board (CAB) at AV抖阴.

The month-long slate will include speakers from the Osage, Choctaw, and Cherokee Nations, and campus demonstrations of historically Native American dances, games, and regalia, to help students and the broader River Valley community learn about, celebrate, and connect with the cultures of indigenous peoples.

鈥淭he designation of Native American Heritage Month came about through an effort to found a day of appreciation and acknowledgment for the unique contributions made by the first Americans and for the growth and establishment of the United States,鈥� explained John Blue, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. 鈥淭his effort has blossomed into a whole month of celebration.鈥�

Members of the Native American Student Organization will also share information about Native American Heritage at tables in the campus center throughout the month.

The full slate of events includes:

  • November 1, 6 p.m.  鈥� 鈥淥sage Nation: A Brief History鈥� by Sarah O鈥橠onnell

Virtual: Registration Link 鈥� https://bit.ly/3D22g0u

 

  • November 8th 2-4 p.m., 鈥淐hoctaw Trail of Tears鈥� featuring Joe Wolf

Virtual:  

 

  • November 9th, 12:15-1:15 p.m. NAHM Keynote Speech

鈥淐herokee Women and Governance: Historical and Contemporary Roles of Cherokee Women鈥� by Catherine Foreman-Gray

AV抖阴 Campus Center Reynolds Room and Facebook Live @AV抖阴DEI 

 

  • November 9th, 2-5 p.m., Choctaw Stickball & Dance Demo

AV抖阴 Campus Green 

 

  • November 10th, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., NativeAmerican Heritage Crafts & Storytelling featuring Guest speaker Ja-Li-Si Gladd

AV抖阴 Campus Center Fireplace

 

  • November 11th, 5-9 p.m., NAHM Movie Night

AV抖阴 College of Business & Industry, Latture Conference Center

 

  • November 12th, 6:30-8 p.m. Regalia Presentation featuring AV抖阴 Student and Miss Choctaw Nation, Jade Cossey

AV抖阴 Campus Center fireplace

  • Tags:
  • ODEI
  • Native American
  • DEI
  • Native American Heritage

Media Relations

The AV抖阴 Office of Marketing and Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.

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