The lack of relationship with the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation shocked junior co-president of the Native American Student Association, Sakura Kawakami, upon arrival to Elon. During her convocation, Kawakami and her father had expected a welcome from the Occaneechi Band, as this is customary for her tribes, the Ngāti Porou and Te Arawa of the Māori Indigenous people of New Zealand.
“It’s a traditional custom to be welcomed by the local tribe, to have a land acknowledgment read aloud. I knew that there was something I wasn’t really happy with, the presence here with native culture,” Kawakami said.
A primary goal for the two co-presidents of the Native American Student Association, Kawakami and senior Jorah Midgette, has been to develop more of a long-term relationship between Elon and the Occaneechi Band. However, the first step of this is to educate and unite Indigenous and non-Indigenous students across Elon, which begins with the organization’s meetings.
The tables surrounding the members and guests attending the meeting of the Native American Student Association, or, NASA, were filled with fried dumplings, watercolor paints and an assortment of plants that Midgette propagated herself. This gesture is reflective of the inviting atmosphere that Midgette and Kawakami hope to create within the organization.
“I think it’s important for me to think of everyone. How can I try to welcome Native students coming on campus?” Kawakami said. “I also want to welcome people who aren’t Indigenous as well, to just learn about different cultures.”
Students teach and learn about Latin American Natives at the Native American Heritage Month Celebration in McKinnon Hall on Nov. 11.
NASA held “Crafting in the Commons” on Nov. 4 in Global Commons, which was one of three planned events to celebrate the month of November as Native American Heritage Month. The organization provided dinner, paintbrushes, watercolors and an invitation to an open conversation about Indigenous cultures. While open to all, NASA hopes to unite all Native and Indigenous students across campus, which made up 0.1% of Elon’s undergraduate population in 2023, according to Elon’s diversity dashboard on its website.
Elon professor of Native American and Indigenous studies Corey Roberts and Elon recruitment specialist Angela Lynch, were also in attendance at the meeting. They discussed aspects of their respective tribes, the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, with its main tribal land located in Mebane, and the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe with its main tribal land located in Hollister, North Carolina.
Roberts and Lynch touched on things such as varying tribal enrollment qualifications, federal law application and preferred terminology. The students in attendance came from a mix of backgrounds, which prompted an educational and lively discussion about the parallels and dissimilarities between differing tribes’ cultures.
An important point that was emphasized throughout the conversation was how different each tribes’ cultures are, despite the common practice of lumping all Native and Indigenous communities together in terms of both appearances and traditions.
“People think all Indigenous people look exactly the same,” Lynch said. “But we’re very, very different and unique.”
Through the organization, Kawakami and Midgette said they strive to increase awareness and community within Elon, both of which are personally important to Midgette. As a member of NASA, Midgette has been able to explore more of her history and connection to her own tribe, the Lumbee Tribe of Southeastern North Carolina.
“Being able to be a part of this organization has been really meaningful to me,” Midgette said. “I grew up not really learning that much about my heritage, so being able to come to campus and connect myself with other Native and Indigenous identifying students has made me able to dive deep into my culture.”
Students present and learn about Native American history and tradition at the Native American Heritage Month Celebration in McKinnon Hall on Nov. 11.
Midgette said she hopes to provide the same kind of experience for new members too. In doing this, the entirety of Elon University can grow and learn, not just Native and Indigenous students.
“It’s really important having space prioritized for Native and Indigenous students to continue the recognition and awareness for us so that people don’t forget that we’re here,” Midgette said.
Professor Roberts supports the desire to strengthen Elon’s relationship with the Occaneechi Tribe, which he is doing through language revitalization. He is teaching the course, WLC 1710: Yesa:sahį Language Revitalization, for the first time over Winter Term. Roberts aims to make a first step in a multi-generational goal to replenish the now almost forgotten language spoken by the people whose land the university stands on. Although it will take time, Roberts considers the class an outgrowth of the process that relationship building can take.
“Relationships are a reflection of investment of the consideration and reciprocity that’s involved in a true partnership,” Roberts said.
Roberts isn’t officially associated with NASA, but he said he wants to help the organization as much as possible. However, NASA does have its own ideas on how Elon can improve its relationship with the Occaneechi Band. Kawakami views the current association to be more transactional, rather than relational.
“Elon might invite guest speakers or tribal leaders and members to come and speak or do a small event, but that’s it,” Kawakami said. “How do the Occaneechi people benefit from that relationship? How is Elon helping the young people of the Occaneechi Tribe?”
Kawakami suggests that Elon provide some kind of scholarship for young Occaneechi Band members. She admits that this would be above the organization alone, but there are other ways that they have been making impacts across the campus. Because of NASA, land acknowledgments are being read before keynote speakers, musicals and ceremonies here at Elon. While this doesn’t solve the lack of a partnership between the Occaneechi Band and Elon University, Kawakami said it’s a great first step in educating students about the land that they walk on.
NASA has two more events planned for the month of November. NASA will offer a way to connect and learn about Indigenous plants through “Soil to Soul: Indigenous Planting” on Nov. 15 from noon to 2 p.m. in Moseley 221.