Native American Heritage Month

Native Chicago Jam

• Date: Monday, November 2
• Time: 7:00 p.m.
• Location: Courtyard, Illini Union (1401 W. Green Street, Urbana)

Description: In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the Illini Union Board, Native American House (NAH), and American Indian Association of Illinois, welcome everyone to enjoy a variety of musical genres performed by an ensemble of Native performers.

In addition to tabling at this event, the NAH will have food for attendees. Food is first come, first served.

Performers: William Buchholtz (Algonquin/Métis), Mark Jourdan (Ho-Chunk/Oneida), Lanialoha Lee (Native Hawaiian), Kelly Summers (Zuni), and Dorene Wiese, Ph.D. (White Earth Ojibwe)

Indigenizing the Ivory Tower: Being Native in White Academia

• Date: Tuesday, November 3
• Time: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Asian American Cultural Center (1210 W. Nevada St., Urbana, IL 61801)

Description: Academia remains shaped by colonialism in how it views knowledge and who it invites to share it. In this presentation, Evan Shannon (Dena'ina Athabascan, Sugpiaq) examines what it means to study and work within a field built without Indigenous scholars in mind, considering how we can begin to indigenize academic spaces long organized around separatism and exclusion.

Presenter: Evan Shannon (Dena'ina Athabascan/Sugpiaq), Graduate Student, School of Information Sciences

About the Presenter: Cama'i! My name is Evan. I am Dena'ina Athabascan and Sugpiaq, with roots in Ninilchik, Alaska, though I was born and raised in Tennessee. In 2025, I graduated from the University of Tennessee with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Classics and Religious Studies. This fall, I will begin pursuing a Master of Science in Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

My research focuses on indigenizing libraries, particularly through reparative cataloging and examining how classification systems shape access for Native communities. I hope to bring that work into technical services at Tribal libraries and colleges. I stay connected to my community through programs with Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), an Alaska Native corporation, including the C3 Experience, the CIRI Participation Committee, and scholarships through the CIRI Foundation. In my free time, I love a good board game and hanging out with my cat.

Celebrating Indigenous Foodways

• Date: Thursday, November 5
• Time: 4:30 to 8:00 p.m.
• Location: Pennsylvania Avenue (PAR) Dining Hall (906 College Ct., Urbana)

Description: Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with University Housing’s Dining Services and experience a meal at PAR featuring flavors and foods inspired by Indigenous culinary traditions.

Giving Thanks: Exploring Ontologies of Relationality

• Date: Tuesday, November 10
• Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Location: Asian American Cultural Center (1210 W. Nevada St., Urbana, IL 61801)

Description: The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy) articulate a philosophy of gratitude and reciprocity through the Thanksgiving Address (Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen), often translated as “The Words That Come Before All Else.” In this Indigenous framework, Thanksgiving is not a single event but an ongoing, cyclical practice. By creating a dialogical space, this Dinner on Us program seeks to explore how gratitude, relational accountability, and respect for the diversity of life shape ways of knowing and being.

This is a Dinner on Us program.

Presenters: Native American House staff and Center for Civic Education & Justice staff

Celebrating Indigenous Foodways

• Date: Thursday, November 12
• Time: 4:30 to 8:00 p.m.
• Location: Lincoln Avenue Dining Hall (LAR) (1005 S Lincoln Ave, Urbana) & Ikenberry Dining Hall (Ike) (301 Gregory Dr, Champaign)

Description: Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with University Housing’s Dining Services and experience a meal at LAR and Ike featuring flavors and foods inspired by Indigenous culinary traditions.

Realizing Indigenous Futurity in Higher Education: Stories from Indigenous Tribal Relations Administrators

• Date: Friday, November 13
• Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Location: ACRC (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Access, Civil Rights, and Community) Hub, Conference Room 3070 (614 E. Daniel Street, Third Floor, Champaign)

Description: This presentation explores how Tribal Relations Administrators serve as bridges between Tribal Nations and non-Native colleges and universities. Rooted in Indigenous methodologies, Tribal Critical Race Theory, and Indigenous Community Planning, the research highlights how these professionals navigate spaces of caretaking and power, build reciprocal relationships, and resist settler colonial practices. Findings offer guidance for developing sustainable policies that center Indigenous knowledge, strengthen accountability, and support Indigenous futurity in higher education.

Lunch will be served at noon following Dr. Kelly’s presentation and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Presenter: Tiffani Kelly, Ph.D. (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Oklahoma

About the Presenter: Tiffani Kelly, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Oklahoma. Tiffani is a first-generation college student and attended Colorado State University where she earned a B.S. in Natural Sciences and a M.S. in Student Affairs in Higher Education. Tiffani served as the Assistant Director in the Native American Cultural Center at CSU for 8 years after receiving her M.S. She is involved with the professional organization the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), the American Education Research Association (AERA), Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA), and the Oklahoma Native American Students in Higher Education (ONASHE). Her research interests are focused around working with and supporting Indigenous communities in higher education, Indigenous Community Planning, and understanding the policies and practices that influence and center land-based practices and Indigenous epistemologies.

CS-INCLUDES: Developing Indigenous Familial Relationships and Community in Computer Science

• Date: Friday, November 13
• Time: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• Location: Native American House (1206 W. Nevada St., Urbana)

Description: Dr. Tiffani Kelly will share the culturally grounded practices that guide a scholarship program for Indigenous Computer Science students at the University of Oklahoma. The CS-INCLUDES program aims to retain, support, and graduate students with bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science, helping to increase the national representation of Native and Indigenous computer scientists. Dr. Kelly will discuss the program’s structured support, resources, and insights to inform future programming at OU and other institutions supporting Native and Indigenous students in Computer Science and STEM.

Presenter: Tiffani Kelly, Ph.D. (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Oklahoma

About the Presenter: Tiffani Kelly, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Oklahoma. Tiffani is a first-generation college student and attended Colorado State University where she earned a B.S. in Natural Sciences and a M.S. in Student Affairs in Higher Education. Tiffani served as the Assistant Director in the Native American Cultural Center at CSU for 8 years after receiving her M.S. She is involved with the professional organization the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), the American Education Research Association (AERA), Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA), and the Oklahoma Native American Students in Higher Education (ONASHE). Her research interests are focused around working with and supporting Indigenous communities in higher education, Indigenous Community Planning, and understanding the policies and practices that influence and center land-based practices and Indigenous epistemologies.

Beads and Belonging: Necklace-Making with Morgan Bear

• Date: Saturday, November 14
• Time: Noon to 6:00 p.m.
• Location: Native American House (1206 W. Nevada St., Urbana)

Description: The Native American House (NAH) will transform into a lively makerspace for a weekend afternoon of community-centered creativity! Join NAH Assistant Director Morgan Bear (Meskwaki) for a beginner-friendly, hands-on workshop where participants will create their own custom necklaces.

All program materials and meals will be provided. Because space and supplies are limited, advance registration is required. Participants must register for one of the following sessions:

• Necklace-Making Session 1: Noon to 2:45 p.m. (lunch provided)
• Necklace-Making Session 2: 3:00 to 5:45 p.m. (dinner provided)

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, November 11, or until all spots are filled, whichever comes first.

Register Now

Facilitator: Morgan Bear (Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi Tribe in Iowa, also known as Meskwaki), Assistant Director, Native American House

About the Facilitator: Morgan Bear is from Tama, Iowa, and grew up within the Meskwaki Settlement, the only federally recognized tribe in the state of Iowa. Her lived experiences contribute greatly to who she is today; in her words, “my culture comes with me everywhere I go.”

As a first-generation, low-income student, Morgan is familiar with the sacrifices, barriers, and challenges of pursuing higher education goals. Her academic path began in her tribe’s K–12 education system, followed by community college and then the University of Northern Iowa, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She went on to complete a Master of Education in Post-Secondary Student Affairs at Iowa State University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies at the University of Iowa.

Professionally, Morgan is passionate about closing degree gaps for Indigenous and Native American students in higher education. Since earning her master’s, she has worked with TRIO Student Support Services, a program especially meaningful to her as a TRIO alumna. Grateful for the support TRIO provided her as a student, she now looks forward to bringing her experience, passion, and commitment to her new role at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Rock Your Mocs!

• Date: Sunday, November 15
• Time: All Day
• Location: Worldwide

Description: Established in 2011, Rock Your Mocs is an annual and global social media event. The Native American House encourages you to break out your moccasins for a worldwide celebration of Indigenous cultures!

Blue Corn Cookie Demonstration + Dinner at Table 1867

• Date: Monday, November 16
• Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Location: Table 1867 at Illinois Street Dining Center (ISR) (1010 W Illinois St, Urbana)

Description: Blue corn holds deep cultural and ceremonial significance for the Diné, including in the Kinaaldá, a coming-of-age ceremony honoring a Diné girl’s transition into womanhood, and traditional Diné weddings. During this cooking demonstration, Chefs Justice Janowski and Patrick Lyke will show participants how this meaningful ingredient can be used to make blue corn cookies.

Following the demonstration, participants are invited to join the Native American House staff for dinner at Table 1867! Meal passes will be provided, following the demonstration. Space is limited, and advance registration is required.

Registration Deadline: Friday, November 13, or until all spots are filled, whichever comes first.

Register Now

Indigenous Knowledge, Culture, and Community: A Virtual Presentation on Tlingit Perspectives

• Date: Tuesday, November 17
• Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Location: Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Room 612 (1206 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana, IL 61801)

Description: The Center for Indigenous Science and the Native American House at Illinois, invite you to join Dr. Worl via Zoom as she shares insights from decades of research and collaboration with Indigenous communities throughout Alaska and the circumpolar Arctic. Drawing upon her work on Tlingit culture and history, subsistence lifeways, and the impacts of industrial development on Native communities, Dr. Worl will explore the enduring strength of Indigenous knowledge and its vital role in sustaining Native cultures, communities, and relationships with the land.

This is a Dinner on Us program.

Presenter: Rosita Kaa háni Worl, Ph.D. (Tlingit), President, Sealaska Heritage Institute

About the Presenter: Dr. Rosita Worl is Tlingit from the Thunderbird Clan and the House Lowered from the Sun in Klukwan, Alaska. She is a Child of the Sockeye Clan and an enrolled member of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and Sealaska Corporation, both federally recognized entities. She also serves on the Sealaska Corporation Board of Directors. Sealaska was created by Congress to implement the aboriginal land claims of the Alaska Natives.

Dr. Worl earned her doctorate in anthropology from Harvard University and serves as president of Sealaska Heritage Institute, which is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the culture of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian.

She has authored numerous landmark studies and reports published by foundations, universities, federal agencies, and Alaska Native organizations on bowhead whale and seal hunting, impacts of industrial development on Native communities, and Tlingit culture and history.

A Circle of Support: Building Indigenous STEM Futures with AISES

• Date: Monday, November 30
• Time: Noon to 1:00 p.m.
• Location: Native American House (1206 W. Nevada St., Urbana)

Description: Join Dr. Johnny Poolaw for an introduction to AISES and its work supporting Indigenous students and professionals in STEM. Grounded in the kinSTEAM theme, this presentation explores how mentorship, community, cultural identity, and professional networks cultivate belonging and opportunity. Participants will learn about AISES programs, membership, scholarships, conferences, and pathways for becoming involved in an Indigenous STEM community rooted in relationships, knowledge, and collective success.

Lunch will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Presenter: Johnny Poolaw, Ph.D. (Delaware, Chiricahua Apache, Comanche, Kiowa), Director of Student Success, Advancing Indigenous Science and Engineering Society (AISES)

About the Presenter: Dr. Johnny Poolaw is a citizen of the Delaware Nation and is also a descendent of the Chiricahua Apache, Comanche, and Kiowa Nations. He serves as the Director of Student Success for AISES. In this role, Dr. Poolaw oversees the Student Success Division within the Programs Department in the development and implementation of student success programming, including developing and providing a holistic suite of college student services focused on supporting academic success, career exploration, and successful transition into the workforce, developing scholarship and internship policies and procedures, engaging in collaborations with partner organizations and coalitions, and collecting data to track outcomes and evaluate AISES student support programs to explore the impact of AISES college programs.

Dr. Poolaw has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Cameron University, and Master and Doctorate Degrees in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Oklahoma. For the past 20 years, Johnny has served his Indigenous community and primarily Indigenous students in higher education in various roles. Prior to working with AISES, he was the Acting Tribal Liaison Officer for the University of Oklahoma and before that role, he served as an instructor, Dean of Student Services, and as the Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs at the Comanche Nation Tribal College in Lawton, Oklahoma. Of all the roles he has held, he has always thought of the heartwork he does with Native students as the most rewarding.

Dr. Poolaw’s research explores Indigenous student success and Indigenous Men in Higher Education.

Explore AISES: Consultation Sessions with Dr. Johnny Poolaw, Director of Student Success, Advancing Indigenous Science and Engineering Society (AISES)

• Date: Monday, November 30
• Time: 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• Location: Native American House (1206 W. Nevada St., Urbana)

Description: Graduate and Undergraduate scholars are invited to meet with Dr. Johnny Poolaw to learn how AISES can support your academic, professional, and personal journey in STEM. These consultation sessions offer Illinois students a welcoming space to ask questions and explore AISES membership, scholarships, conferences, mentorship, internships, career resources, and community connections. Whether you are new to AISES or ready to become more involved, Dr. Poolaw will help you identify fitting opportunities.