During Native American Heritage Month, the Office of Student Engagement and Belonging at the David Eccles School of Business organized Honoring Indigenous Heritage: In Celebration of Native American Heritage Month, a Lunch & Learn Panel to recognize and celebrate the culture, contributions, and presence of Indigenous communities.

Below are brief introductions to the incredible panelists who shared their stories:

Cynthia Benally (She/Her): Dr. Cynthia Benally, Diné, is an assistant professor of Native American Education in the Department of Education, Culture, and Society in the College of Education. She is also the director of “Working with Native Communities,” graduate certificate. Her research focuses on policy, curricula, and American Indian studies.

Amelia Biddle (She/Her): Amelia is an M.Ed. student in the Education, Culture, and Society department in the College of Education and is pursuing Dr. Cynthia Benally’s “Working with Native Communities,” graduate certificate. Her studies focus on including multicultural perspectives and supporting Native sovereignty in education.

Samantha Eldridge (She/Her): Samantha is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and leads the Center for Native Excellence & Tribal Engagement. With over 10 years of experience in local, state, and tribal government and academia, she is dedicated to promoting Native excellence by fostering social, academic and cultural engagement.

TJ Ellerbeck (He/Him): TJ is the Co-Director of Stewardship Utah, formerly known as the Rural Utah Project, a nonprofit organization that focuses on political organizing and engagement across Utah. In 2017, they registered over 20,000 people across Utah and Arizona, mostly in the Navajo Nation.

The panelists shared their personal journeys and perspectives on Native American Heritage Month. They shared insights as to how to be an ally for Indigenous communities.

Key Takeaways from Honoring Indigenous Heritage: In Celebration of Native American Heritage Month:

• Understanding through self-reflection.
  • The panelists emphasized the importance of learning about Indigenous histories, cultures, and modern challenges to best support their communities. Self-reflection on biases and privileges can create genuine allyship through understanding Indigenous experiences.
• Amplify Indigenous voices.
  • Not only should we listen to Indigenous voices but also provide platforms and resources to amplify influence. By listening to their needs and priorities, we can direct our allyship to the right causes.
• Engage beyond Native American Heritage Month.
  • By continuing to engage in ongoing conversations and efforts to understand Indigenous community perspectives, we can continue to support beyond Native American Heritage Month. This means supporting Indigenous-led initiatives, respecting their sovereignty, and creating spaces to celebrate their cultures and traditions year-round.

“I want a different future for our Native communities and nations.”

–  Cynthia Benally, panelist at Honoring Indigenous Heritage: In Celebration of Native American Heritage Month.

As we honor Native American Heritage Month, we can learn and commit to being a genuine ally through listening, learning, and supporting Native communities without imposing solutions. By committing to be better allies, we can strengthen our efforts to create belonging for every student at the David Eccles School of Business.