The month of Native American Heritage Month began on Friday, Nov. 1 with an annual Stew Fest where frybread and several traditional stews were shared with the NAU community thanks to help from a planning committee, cooks and volunteers. At that event, two new names were unveiled. The division of the Office of Native American Initiatives was renamed to the Office of Native American and Indigenous Advancement. Secondly, the Native American Cultural Center building was renamed to the Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures.
These two names came at the request of Indigenous students, staff and faculty to be more inclusive. The new names were intentionally and carefully developed during a nine-month process, which included four forums open to students, staff, faculty, alumni and the Flagstaff community, followed by a month-long open survey and multiple meetings with the Native American Advisory Board, donors and the Office of the President.
“We are grateful to the two names that came before and honor their legacy,” said Ann Marie Chischilly, vice president of the Office of Native American and Indigenous Advancement at NAU. “As we move forward, we know the new names that were blessed will continue to welcome both our Native American and our Indigenous communities and bring harmony, opportunities, kinship and hope.”
Chischilly said the Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures will always be a “home away from home” for the growing community of students, employees and surrounding residents to study, nourish themselves, socialize, access critical services, work in the computer lab and attend cultural events. For two years in a row now, NAU has welcomed record-breaking numbers of Native American and Indigenous students representing 110 Tribal nations, Alaskan villages and Hawaiian and Polynesian communities.
ONAIA and CNAIF will host and co-host more than 20 events this month in recognition of Native American Heritage Month. A campus planning committee has been working since July to bring cultural culinary options to the Hot Spot and DüB Dining District, organize athletic events, arrange Indigenous author book giveaways, host film screenings, put on a Two-Spirit drag show and more. These events provide opportunities to learn about Native American and Indigenous history and build awareness of and celebrate Native American and Indigenous heritage. Everyone is welcome.
See the full calendar of Native American Heritage Month events below or visit the NAU Indigenous Events page.
