Knowledge Community Spotlight – Indigenous Peoples

“In the Heart of It All.” As we begin wrapping up the fall semester, I am still thinking about what a groundbreaking Midwest regional conference we experienced this past November. The 2016 Midwest Regional conference marked a new tradition of regions IV-East and IV-West coming together as one large regional conference and celebrate being in the heart of it all. As a new professional, and new to the regional conferences, I was excited to be a participant in this joint effort, but was extremely thrilled when asked to be a part of the planning process for the conference.

Throughout the past couple of years, the Indigenous Peoples Knowledge Community (IPKC) has been working on a new protocol practice to be implemented in all NASPA initiatives. This protocol was developed by IPKC following a string of incidents during the 2015 NASPA National Conference in New Orleans where Native communities were misrepresented and mistreated. The intention of the policy is to advocate for the respectful usage of media arts, music, performing arts, visual arts, and writing that contain Indigenous people (Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, First Nations, and other Indigenous groups and communities) and our culture. The protocol advances NASPA’s most recent strategic plan, including offering ethical and moral considerations while aligning with the guiding principles of integrity, innovation, inclusion and inquiry.

As the conference committee was planning for IV-WE, the board reached out to myself and Alejandro Magaña, the IV-E representative to help incorporate this new protocol practice. This collaborative effort allowed for our knowledge community to have a voice in the conference, but overall allowed for Indigenous voices to be incorporated throughout the conference. Alejandro and I reached out to local tribal community members in St. Louis to invite local elders to participate in the conference. We were extremely humbled to be joined by Osage elder, Mr. Jim Duncan and Ms. Molly Tovar, Director of the Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. Mr. Duncan opened the conference with a story and a blessing to kick off the conference in a good way. He also spoke about tribal communities in the St. Louis area and reminded us of the importance of acknowledging Indigenous histories and contributions. As we wrapped up the week, Mr. Duncan also closed the conference with well wishes and prayers for everyone heading back home to their campuses. It was truly a humbling experience to have Mr. Duncan at the conference, and the atmosphere he created for us could be felt throughout the entire week. 

This conference was a great start these acknowledgements, and we are excited to continue working towards implementing the protocol practice and finding more ways for Indigenous practices into all NASPA related events. This process was great to be a part of, and truly made my experience at NASPA IV-WE an even more impactful experience.  I am looking forward to future events that choose to highlight Indigenous voices and practices, which allows for professionals in higher education to learn, acknowledge and affirm Indigenous students and communities. Thank you NASPA IV-WE for helping create an innovative and special conference!

Tiffani Kelly is the Assistant Director for the Native American Cultural Center at Colorado State University.  She serves as the NASPA IV-W Indigenous Peoples Knowledge Community for NAPSA IV-West.  Tiffani can be reached at [email protected].