Throughout November, the Native American Student Association (NASA) will observe Native American Heritage Month by hosting a Talking Circle. These will take place every Monday at 6 p.m. in the College of Health and Human Services, Room 128. The purpose, according to NASA president Page Freeman, is to “spread awareness of Indigenous hot topics around UNC Charlotte and create a safe space for Indigenous students to speak freely on their points of view.”
Last month, during the unveiling of the Land and People Acknowledgement Plaque on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Freeman said, “NASA is committed to ensuring that all Indigenous students on campus have a place where they feel seen, heard and respected.” With this goal in mind, she and NASA faculty advisor Michelle Stanley, along with members of the NASA Executive Board, began planning Native American Heritage Month events.
Talking Circles, an informal version of Sharing Circles, are a traditionally Native form of discussion where participants are equal and encouraged to share their experiences, opinions and feelings about a given topic or question.
Freeman said, “NASA hopes all people who come to the Talking Circles are able to gain a sense of understanding, whether of themselves or of others. These Circles are meant to be an open and welcoming place for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, to come and engage in a conversation surrounding Indigenous issues.”
The theme of the first Talking Circle that took place on Nov. 1, was Being Indignous at UNC Charlotte. It provided “an open forum to the University,” and an open and honest discussion about what it means to be Indigenous at UNC Charlotte. Those present covered topics such as representation on campus, culture shock and ways to increase the number of Native students, faculty and staff members.
Themes for remaining Talking Circles are:
- Nov. 8 - Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women & Girls (MMIWG)
- Nov. 15 - Native American Mascots & Cultural Appropriation
- Nov. 22 - Mental Health within Indigenous Communities
- Nov. 29 - Prejudice within Native Communities
Other Native American Heritage Month events on campus include Cultural Revitalization in the Catawba Nation in 2021 hosted by the Office of Identity, Equity, and Engagement, and the De/Anti-Colonizing Research for Diversity and Inclusion One-Day Symposium.
Thank you to Page Freeman for her time and to NASA for organizing and hosting the Talking Circle series. For more information about the Native American Student Association and the Talking Circle series, please visit Niner Engage and Instagram.