UW to Host ‘Tipi Talks’ in Celebration of Native American Heritage Month Nov. 4-6

The University of Wyoming will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a three-day series of events titled “Tipi Talks” on Prexy’s Pasture Tuesday-Thursday, Nov. 4-6.

Centered on a large tipi on Prexy’s Pasture, the event will feature workshops, symposia, Native dance, food and lectures from distinguished speakers.

“UW is proud to honor Native American Heritage Month by uplifting the voices, traditions and achievements of our Indigenous communities,” UW President Ed Seidel says. “We remain committed to deepening our partnerships with tribal nations and ensuring Native students and scholars continue to thrive at UW.”

Highlights from the event series will be a special address by Seidel and a keynote lecture by the mother-daughter UW alumna duo, Aldora White Eagle and Alyson White Eagle, titled “Following the Ridges: An Arapaho Mother-Daughter Story of Tradition, Resilience and Higher Education Success.”

Additionally, participants can look forward to a performance featuring the Wind River Dancers and a keynote presentation by Tarissa Spoonhunter titled “UW High Plains American Indian Research Institute (HPAIRI) outreach and student connection to Wind River.”

Here’s the schedule:

Tuesday, Nov. 4

1-3 p.m. -- Tipi setup and workshop.

4-5 p.m. -- Keynote: “Following the Ridges: An Arapaho Mother-Daughter Story of Tradition, Resilience and Higher Education Success” by Aldora White Eagle and Alyson White Eagle.

5-6 p.m. -- Special address by UW President Ed Seidel, “Native American Initiatives at UW.” Reception to follow, with food provided by Night Heron Books and Coffeehouse.

Wednesday, Nov. 5

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. -- Wind River Dancers (Arapaho and Shoshone).

1-3 p.m. -- Symposium 1: Faculty and student presentations.

4-5 p.m. -- Keynote by Tarissa Spoonhunter, “UW HPAIRI Outreach and Student Connection to Wind River.”

Thursday, Nov. 6

9:30-11 a.m. -- Invited lecture by Georgia Ennis, “How to Save a Rainforest: Reclaiming TEK and Food Sovereignty in the Amazon.”

11 a.m.-noon -- Ochre painting workshop and competition.

1-3 p.m. -- Symposium 2: Faculty and student presentations.

5-6 p.m. -- Campfire reception with hot dogs, s’mores and hot chocolate.

This event series is sponsored by HPAIRI, the Native American and Indigenous Studies Program, the Department of Anthropology and the Office of the President.

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, email James Trosper, special adviser to the UW president on Native American affairs, at jtrosper@uwyo.edu or Randy Haas, an associate professor of archaeology, at whaas@uwyo.edu.