November is National Native American Heritage Month, a time to reflect on the immeasurable contributions made by the first stewards of our nation. Listed below are some campus events, reading materials and stories that honor and celebrate the rich history and legacy of Indigenous peoples.

Campus Events

Friday, Nov. 11, 1:30 p.m.— American Indian and Indigenous Women’s Talks. The Department of Native American Indigenous Studies is hosting a forum exploring Native women’s agency, patriarchy and colonial histories. The event will be held in Robert L. Patton Building (RLP 1.302E). Go here for more information.

Thursday, Nov. 17, 6 p.m.— “Feast on This.” Come celebrate Native American culture with food, drinks and a live performance from the Great Promise for American Indians’ Powwow Dancers. Hosted by the Native American & Indigenous Collective, the event will take place at the William C. Powers Buiding (WCP Blackbox Theater).

Friday, Nov. 18, 2 p.m.—Centennial of the Colorado River Compact. You’re invited to this roundtable discussion exploring the history of the Colorado River and the 1922 Compact. Hosted by the Institute for Historical Studies, the event will take place in Garrison Hall (GAR 4.100) and on Zoom livestream. Go here for more information.

Impactful Research

Honoring Our Past, Present and Future

Earlier this month, the School of Nursing hosted its third International Indigenous Nursing Research Summit, featuring 28 top researchers who are making a big impact on the health and well-being of Indigenous populations worldwide. Visit their summit website to read about the speakers, honorees and poster presentations.

iSchool Professor Examines information, Sovereignty of Indigenous Nations in the U.S.

Visit the Texas Global website to read about Distinguished Service Professor Loriene Roy’s 35-year career in information science and education, and how she is working to advance library and literacy services in an effort to preserve Indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage.

Honors & Accolades

UT Alum Bird Runningwater Honored for Public Impact 

Filmaker and producer Bird Runningwater (MPAff ’96) was recently awarded the Distinguished Public Service Award by the LBJ School of Public Affairs. The award recognizes Runningwater’s good work in amplifying the voices of Indigenous artists through film and storytelling. Visit the LBJ School’s website to learn more about Runningwater’s life and work.

Indigenous Nursing Professor Inducted into Nurse Research Hall of Fame

School of Nursing Professors John Lowe and Sharon Horner were recently inducted into the 2022 Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. Lowe, who’s tribal affiliation is Cherokee/Creek/Lenape, is well known for developing the first manualized Talking Circle intervention for Native American Youths. Read more about his achievement, and how his research is reducing stress and alcohol and substance use risk behaviors.

Learning Resources

UT Libraries

Find a listing of reading materials on the UT Libraries website that celebrate Native American lives, accomplishments and voices. You can also find a wealth of research materials on this Texas Scholar Works website.

Not Even Past

Visit the Department of History’s Not Even Past website to find a collection of books and digital archives on the history and culture of Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous Peoples of the Americas

Body-Mapping with Indigenous Amazonian Girls

Visit the LILLAS Benson Portal Magazine website to learn about a student researcher’s explorations into Indigenous women and girls in Bolivia.

Benson at 100 Podcast

Take and audio journey through the Archive of the Indigenous Languages of Latin America by listening to this podcast series produced by the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Studies and Collections.

Indigenous Worldviews

View an online exhibition of Indigenous Aztec art and materials dating back to the 1500s on the LLILAS Benson website.

Honoring the Life of Nora England

Read about Nora England’s life and work in this Portal Magazine story that pays tribute to the late College of Liberal Arts professor who played a groundbreaking role in training speakers of Indigenous languages in the field of linguistics.