Native & Indigenous Heritage Month
Each year, the Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy (MICA) Office of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union - Center for Campus Life coordinates a campus-wide calendar of events to commemorate Native & Indigenous Heritage Month.
This year’s theme for Native & Indigenous Heritage Month is Back to Our Roots. The theme highlights the deep significance of community building in Native and Indigenous spaces and the lasting strength of our community ties. For many, this theme represents a return to traditional values, cultural practices, and shared histories that form the foundation of Native and Indigenous life. Community has always been central to us, fostering a sense of belonging, mutual support, collective responsibility, and protection. Whether someone has spent their whole life in their cultural community, is in the process of reconnecting, or anywhere in between, our Native and Indigenous communities can provide space to thrive and preserve our languages, practices, and traditions. This theme encourages reflection on how our community connections strengthen our resilience, healing, and joy, especially in the face of historical and ongoing challenges. “Back to Our Roots,” emphasizes that through community, we sustain and honor our cultural values and look toward our futures together with one another.
2024 Events:
-Dia De Los Muertos: Community Altar
Location: Indigenous Futures Lab (Susquehanna 4105)
Date/Time: Friday, November 1, 2024, 5 pm
Description: Join us for a special evening as we come together to honor the memories of our ancestors—recent or ancient, chosen or blood relatives—through creativity, food, and community. At this event, we’ll be making personalized frames for the photos of our loved ones to place on a collective community altar. If you’re not comfortable sharing photos, feel free to bring objects, art, or anything that represents those you wish to honor. Afterward, we’ll share special treats and spend time sharing stories about our ancestors and reflecting on the legacies that shaped our lives and histories. Whether you bring something for the altar, share a story, or simply wish to join the community, you are welcome.
Sponsors: Indigenous Futures Lab, Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Native American and Indigenous Deathcare Autonomy Est. Time Immemorial, Stamp-MICA,
Link: go.umd.edu/iflcommunityaltar24
Contact: Shelbi Nahwilet Meissner (snmeiss@umd.edu)
-Envisioning Our Roots: Collage & Vision Board!
Location: MICA Lounge, Stamp 1120
Date/Time: November 7th, 12pm-2pm
Description: Bring your lunch and drop into MICA on Thursday, November 7 anytime between 12 and 2pm to get your collage on! How do you envision your future within the context of your roots? What and who are the contributors that have made you? What does it mean to celebrate your ancestors with your dreams? Explore ideas like these and more through the art of collage and creating a vision board! We'll have plenty of supplies, but we also encourage you to bring photos or images that feel like they take you back to your roots. This event is open to all.
Sponsors: MICA
Contact: Hana Zewdie, hzewdie@umd.edu
-Piscataway Conoy Indigenous Peoples Festival: Honoring Our Elders, Ancestors, and Veterans
Location: Charles County Fairgrounds | 8440 Fairground Road, La Plata, MD 20646
Date/Time: Nov 9th & 10th, 2024 | Gates open at 10am, Grand Entry 12pm
Description: Hosted by the Official Piscataway of Maryland and the Piscataway Conoy Tribal Council, Francis Gray (PCT Tribal Chairman). Indigenous Arts and Crafts and Indigenous Food vendors will be present. Grand Entry begins at 12pm. Admission $8 (16+), $5 (<15); parking is free, participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. The Host Drum is Stoney Creek, the Master of Ceremonies is Keith Colston and the Arena Director is Robert Blake.
Sponsors: Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, Charles County, and Southern Maryland - National Heritage Area
Contact: Piscataway Conoy Tribal Council at: piscatawayconoycouncil@gmail.com.
-National Museum of the American Indian Veterans Day Trip
Location: 4th St SW, Washington D.C. 20560
Date/Time: November 11th | Come and go as you please
Description: Join MICA and LCSL to visit the National Museum of the American Indian to honor Native veterans. There are a variety of activities honoring Native Veterans please see this link for the full schedule of events. RSVP is required to receive a loaded Metrocard for transportation!
Sponsors: MICA and Maryland Leadership
Link to RSVP: https://forms.gle/xVQzFPi1uLwXncvF6
Contact: Jennifer Enriquez, jmge@umd.edu
-Rock Your Mocs: Social Media Campaign Photo Shoot
Location: MICA Cozy Corner
Date/Time: November 12th | 1-3pm
Description: Rock Your Mocs is a national social media campaign during November 10th - 16th. During this event, we will be having a moccasins photo shoot to prepare for the social media campaign.
Sponsors: MICA
Contact: Jennifer Enriquez, jmge@umd.edu
-Brushes and Blooms: Succulent Plant n Paint
Location: Studio A. Stamp Student Union
Date/Time: November 14th 5-7pm
Description: Join MICA office as we plant and paint in Studio A for Native and Indigenous Heritage Month. Spots are limited and an RSVP is required - sign up by November 8th!
Sponsors: MICA
Link to RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeho9h0H4p0hols2MoKG6Rup_axeXExS0vcamTnV5OOwKHRqQ/viewform
Contact: Jennifer Enriquez, jmge@umd.edu
-Baltimore American Indian Center Powwow Meetup
Location: Maryland State Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall, 2200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093
Date/Time: Nov 16th, 2024 - Meet at the entrance at 10:50am. (Powwow program is from 11am-7pm).
Description: Join MICA and NAISU as we attend the Baltimore American Indian Center's 47th Annual Pow Wow. Learn more about the Powwow here. MICA has purchased a limited number of tickets for the Powwow. If you'd like to get a free ticket, sign up here.
Sponsors: Stamp-MICA
Contact: Jennifer Enriquez, jmge@umd.edu
-Powwow Zumba Fitness Class
Location: Eppley Recreation Center
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 19, 8:30 - 9:15 p.m.
Description: Join MICA and Rec Well for a Zumba/Powwow Dance hybrid class.
Sponsors: MICA and Rec Well
Link to RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNpQdsaudK1Ii5ACJ3Y_ZKuGvEn6dpZ4Gq2Lu53_1ujxMPNw/viewform
Contact: Jennifer Enriquez
-Traditions & Trades: Native Vendor Market
Location: Prince George’s Room (Stamp Student Union)
Date/Time: November 18, 2024 | 12pm-2pm)
Description: NAISU will host the first Native Showcase including a vendor market, food tasting, and games during Native and Indigenous Heritage Month in November 2024. The purpose of this showcase is to bring various elements of cultural heritage in one spot. During the showcase, participants will be able to purchase goods from a variety of arts and crafts vendors, food tasting, and play re-imagined Native games.
Sponsors: Pepsi Fund, NAISU, MICA
Contact: NAISU (aisuatumd@gmail.com)
-UMD Powwow Sponsorship Information Session
Location: virtual
Date/Time: Rescheduled to a later date
Description: Interested in sponsoring the UMD Pow Wow, please attend this session to learn how to sponsor a portion of the Pow Wow.
Contact: Kyrsha Balderas, balderas@umd.edu
-Native & Indigenous Restorative Circle
Location: Virtual
Date/Time: November 21, 2024 | 4pm - 5 pm
Description: The Circle is a monthly restorative space to center those impacted by identity-based trauma. All UMD members are welcome into The Circle, acknowledging that we are holding space for one another as we share with vulnerability and humility. Restorative circles derive from Indigenous ancestral wisdom as a means for individual and community healing. For this month's Circle, we will center UMD Native & Indigenous voices and experiences, honoring their stories and lives. This space will be co-facilitated by b.a. medina (Director of BISS) and Dr. Angela Stoltz (Associate Clinical Professor and Whitetop Nation tribal member).
Link to RSVP: Zoom Registration
Sponsors: Bias Incident Support Services
Contact: b.a. medina, bamedina@umd.edu
-NIHM Closing Game Night
Location: Friedgen Hall Rm 2236
Date/Time: Nov 25th, 2024 5-7pm
Description: Laughter is medicine so please join us for a game night to close out Native & Indigenous Heritage Month. Snacks and games will be provided. Participants are welcome to bring your own games, if desired.
Sponsors: Stamp-MICA,
Contact: Kyrsha Balderas (balderas@umd.edu)
-Native & Indigenous Heritage Month with the University Career Center
Location: Instagram @UMDCareerCenter
Date/Time: November 2024
Description: Follow along on the University Career Center's Instagram page (@umdcareercenter) all November long to see career resources regarding Internships, Networking Strategies, Scholarships, and Belonging Resources specifically curated for Native & Indigenous Students.
Sponsors: UMD Career Center
Contact: Lauryl Hebenstreit, lmarie@umd.edu
-Native & Indigenous Voices in Engineering
Link to view: https://eng.umd.edu/news/story/the-clark-school-celebrates-native-and-indigenous-voices-in-engineering
Date/Time: November 2024
Description: At the A. James Clark School of Engineering we recognize and celebrate our diverse backgrounds, cultures, and contributions, as we work to create a truly inclusive university. Join us as we proudly celebrate Native and Indigenous Heritage Month and these Terp engineers.
Sponsors: A. James Clark School of Engineering