Build community during Native American Heritage Month

UTA Native American Student Association to lead celebration of heritage

Thursday, Oct 31, 2024 • Brian Lopez : contact

Image shows two UTA students embrace and Mav Up during a Native American heritage tabling event

The Native American Student Association (NASA) at The University of Texas at Arlington will host a series of events to recognize and celebrate Native American Heritage Month throughout November.

Stephen Silva-Brave, president of NASA and master’s student in the School of Social Work, says he appreciates anything the University does to let other students know there is an Indigenous student community on campus available for anyone who wants to reach out.

“My goal with NASA and Native American Heritage Month is to help build connections among our community,” said Silva-Brave.

Native American Heritage Month at UTA will start with a kickoff event on Monday, Nov. 4, in the Rio Grande Ballroom of the University Center from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. All Mavericks are welcome to attend and enjoy dinner and performances by Indigenous ACE.

Other event highlights during the month include:

  • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women presentation led by Stephen Silva-Brave on Nov. 7 from 7 – 8 p.m. at the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, 100 S Center St #327, Arlington, TX 76010.
  • A lunch and learn on “Re-Kinning in the Courtyard: An Indigenous-Community Co-Conspired Gathering Space at UTA” led by Les Ridin In, Sahar Sattazadeh and Stephen Silva-Brave on Monday, Nov. 11, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the Carlisle Suite of the University Center. The discussion will focus on how UTA and other institutions can use land acknowledgments and other strategies to create kinship relationships that can lead to true reciprocity for Indigenous people and communities.
  • Indigenous Seed Saving and Seed Sovereignty with Annette Anderson on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 7 – 8 p.m. at the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, 100 S Center St #327, Arlington, TX 76010.
  • A presentation from Nancy Rourke, a native Deaf artist and activist, on Monday, Nov. 18, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. in 204 Auditorium of the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs Building. Rourke is an enrolled member of the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians in the Kumeyaay Nation. Her work challenges the idea that Deaf people are “born senseless or incapable of reason.” Rourke’s latest project is a 56-foot-wide by 19-foot-high mural at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.

For more information and events, visit https://events.uta.edu/.