Celebrating Native Heritage & Culture

Recognizing and honoring Indigenous people, histories, and experiences unveils the truth of the past, honors the vibrant community of the present, and supports Native students’ success.

“We are still here.”

Acknowledgment of Land and People

Towson University seeks to cultivate relationships with Native American and Indigenous communities and nations through academic pursuits, partnerships, historical recognitions, community service and enrollment efforts. These communities and nations include the Susquehannock (suh-skwuh-ha-naak), Nanticoke (nan-tuh-kowk) and the Piscataway (puh-ska-tuh-way) people whose ancient homeland is currently occupied by the university.

The Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity (OIIE) conducted a series of oral histories with elders from tribes indigenous to the area to develop TU’s land acknowledgment.

 

Empowering the future

Gabriel Ortiz

Gabriel Ortiz ’23

“My dad would teach me the spirit of everything, and I’ve always wanted to keep that alive. We’re very proud of our Indigenous heritage, and it’s pushed me on my path a lot. I always thought it’s important to make sure people have that at TU.”

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Emily Minner sitting

Emily Minner ’20

“It’s extremely important for there to be a sense of Native community on TU’s campus. It’s a struggle for students to be their best selves because they feel invisible. Being in a community with other Native students reassures you that you’re not alone.”

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Jess Dickerson

Jessica Dickerson ’11

“As an adult I’ve surrounded myself with more people who are like me and have really been invested in learning about our history and the importance of what’s happened and how we can continue to advocate for Native folks all over.”

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How to share a thoughtful, personalized land acknowledgment

The Office of Inclusion & Institutional Equity (OIIE) provides guidance about TU’s land acknowledgment and how it can be used.

Read the Q & A

Towson University’s Message on Indigenous Peoples’ Day

“What we owe the Indigenous people in our state and nation is far more substantive and long-lasting than a mere day of acknowledgment or celebration.”

Read the Full Text

Buck Hitswithastick, College of Fine Arts & Communication Distinguished Guest Artist

Honoring history and culture

“We're still here, we’re still alive, and we haven’t changed.”

Read the news story
Buck Hitswithastick

Partnerships supporting Native traditions

The Baltimore American Indian Center (BAIC) hosted powwows in the University Union from 2014 to 2017, and now host powwows at the Maryland State Fairgrounds.

Support the BAIC

A path to learn more

Building community at TU

Led by Native/Indigenous Student Research Assistant Gabriel Ortiz ’23, the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity is undertaking ongoing research to identify and bring together Native students at TU.

Join the Movement

Connecting the past to the present

Akim Reinhardt

Akim Reinhardt

“Native people are generally not part of the national discourse. And when they are, it's usually about the past. So any time that we can counter those erasures by making people remember that Native people are still here is important.”

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Katherine Sterner

Katherine Sterner

“We know historically, based on documentation from early European explorers, that Indigenous people took their winter camps into the headwaters [of the Susquehanna River].”

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Native Student Resources

Supporting access and success

These identity-based scholarship and career resources for Native American students support college persistence and completion.

TU Career Center Resources National Education Association EdJustice American Indian College Fund
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TU celebrates and recognizes the cultural identities and lived experiences of its community members.

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