“Native Americans were people before you colonized this land.”

Jamiya Haynes’ powerful voice held nothing back. Haynes is an Afro-Indigenous student who is of mixed heritage, namely Mississippi Choctaw, Blackfoot and African-American. There is a false perception among many Americans that the Native American tribes are a lost culture. She openly challenged this false perception because they are very much still here and want to protect what they still have. 

There are estimated to be more than 5,000 people of Indigenous descent in the DuPage county area according to Impact DuPage. Yet this large population is largely neglected due to America’s colonial legacy. The Native American Studies Committee (NASC) is working to fix that by advocating for and celebrating their native cultures. Indigenous people are still here, still valuable and are fighting for their right to exist.

The NASC is an organization at College of DuPage (COD) that is working to protect Indigenous cultures. Their goal is to preserve and celebrate the culture of Native American tribes, and to educate people on the value of these things.

John Paris, current chair of the NASC, said that the goal of their organization is to “host and facilitate events throughout the fall and spring semester that promote and educate on Native American culture, history, peoples or anything Native American”  as well as give Indigenous people an impactful platform to speak about their life experiences. 

They work to achieve this goal by hosting various events to educate people on their culture. November was Native American Heritage Month and to celebrate this, the committee hosted several events on campus and participated in some off campus.

On Nov. 19 the NASC had a table at COD’s Global Education Fair where they showcased traditional Indigenous bead jewelry. This is a special craft that has been passed down in families for generations. Visitors had the opportunity to witness this beautiful craft and learn more about the rich history behind it. Haynes said that the event was a way of “bringing more awareness and more engagement with Native students and allies.” 

The NASC hosted a culinary showcase by the professional Indigenous chef Jessica Walks First of the Menominee tribe at COD’s Culinary and Hospitality Center (CHC) on Nov. 13. Walks First cooked a traditional Menominee meal of bison chili in house, while also telling her story and some of the traditions of her tribe. She was also eager to share some details of her tribe’s culture which has gone overlooked by outsiders.

The Menominee tribe has worked hard to maintain their traditional food sources even within our capitalist society. For example, their tribe protects a herd of bison on tribal land which they care for and harvest with the same methods their ancestors used since ancient times.

“Our buffalo are set up to live in their natural state, they’re not supplemental fed hay or any of that thing, they graze the way they’re supposed to.” 

The bison are allowed to graze, roam free, live a natural life and are humanely butchered for fresh organic meat untainted by GMOs. Walks First detailed how the tribe worked together to divide the parts of the bison to use every part of the animal. Nothing was wasted; a respect for nature and life is a hallmark of Native American culture. It’s not just the food, but the life that it feeds that matters.

The act of herding the bison is a team effort. The Menominee work together to care for them, to butcher the massive carcass and even eat the meat together. Walks First shared a story of how it is an ancient tradition to cook the heart of the bison and to eat it together, as they believe eating the heart is partaking in the bison’s life and power.

“That experience has shaped my life, understanding that I have a relationship with that animal,” said Walks First. 

Another major event NASC members have participated in is an annual Pow Wow held every year in October by the Midwest SOARRING Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Indigenous traditions. A Pow Wow is a sort of festival among Indigenous tribes that is both a dance, a marketplace, a party and an opportunity to spend time with their families.

The most recent Pow Wow was held on Oct. 11 and 12 at the DuPage Country Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL. Tereasa Banks, a descendent of the Muskogee Creek and Cherokee tribes, was eager to share some details. She is a local educator who is involved in the NASC and has spoken for the NASC at previous events.

“It’s a place for us to get together, it’s a place to showcase Indigenous vendors, Indigenous artists and Indigenous dancers. We have elders there, it’s a way to connect people as a community,” said Banks. 

The Pow Wow is also a safe space to practice their customs without needing to conform, such as wearing traditional clothing instead of “modern” clothing that is highly westernized. Indigenous tribes each have their own history of fashion which developed independently of European civilization. In the modern age, the traditional fashion is not only surviving, but still advancing. Banks herself likes to wear the ribbon skirts which are native to many local tribes like the Cherokee. A ribbon skirt is a handmade skirt that is often given as a gift to young women and girls, made with ribbons of colorful patterns sewn into it.

The practice of giving is more than just clothes. Among Banks’ tribe there is a habit of gifting sage and other valuable herbs to family and friends. Within her culture, there is an important connection between the people and nature that needs to be respected. Plants are more than just a food source; they represent an aspect of their history as well.

Another project NASC members have taken on is preserving historic agriculture, which has a special place in their community. 

“There’s people on our committee who are doing something called seed renaturation. It’s returning what we would call ‘heirloom seeds’ and ‘heirloom varieties’ — that are so old and have been preserved — and helping them reconnect them back to the communities where they came from,” said Banks. 

The return and reconnect with their cultural past is very important for Banks.

“Reciprocity is a big thing in our culture,” she explained. “Again, no matter what nation you’re from. It’s about creating a balanced relationship and how we can give to others, because we are given things.” 

Banks explained that the seeds are more than just seeds – they have a special meaning for her. 

“The seed’s survival represents the seeds of our people.” This kind of heritage is what the NASC is striving to protect. 

Anyone who wants to get involved in the NASC is welcome to contact Paris for information.