Native and Indigenous Heritage Month
Join Regis University in celebrating Native and Indigenous Heritage Month! Through this series of special events, we continue cultivating a rich and culturally affirming campus. We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements and contributions of our Native and Indigenous community members!
Nov. 1 - Nov. 30, 2025
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Dream Catchers Workshop with Nidawin and EvelyngDate: Wednesday, Nov. 5 Join us for an interactive Dream Catchers workshop where you’ll learn the history, meaning, and artistry behind this cherished tradition. This event is part of our Affinity Day celebrations, bringing together culture, creativity and community. Nidawin Preston is the Administrative Coordinator for RU First Program, CoBe, Honors and English Dept. She also serves as a Faculty Mentor for RU First Scholars and is an active member of the University Diversity Council. A self-taught seamstress and lover of Native art, music and pottery, Nidawin will guide participants in creating their own Dream Catchers. |
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Visions of the Indigenous World: The Photography of Edward S. CurtisDate: Nov. 5-30 Join us for a special exhibition highlighting the iconic photography of Edward S. Curtis, whose early 20th century portraits sought to capture the lives, cultures and resilience of Native peoples across the United States. This curated display—featuring select prints from the Regis Archives’ Curtis Collection—invites visitors to reflect critically on Curtis’s complex legacy: both as an artist preserving visual histories and as a figure whose work reflects the colonial gaze of his era. Through this exhibition, we honor Indigenous presence, survival and self-representation while engaging with the tensions between art, history and cultural memory. |
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Dinner SeriesDate: Thursdays, Nov. 6, 13 and 20 In celebration of Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month, Harvest Table will feature a variety of Native and Indigenous foods of the Americas every Thursday evening during the month of November beginning Nov. 6. Join us for a meal that honors the rich culinary traditions, ingredients and stories of Indigenous peoples. Enjoy community pricing, themed music and a warm, welcoming atmosphere as we gather to celebrate culture through food. |
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Indigenous Futurism with Lila CrankDate: Wednesday, Nov. 12 Explore Indigenous Futurism, a movement that reimagines Native presence and possibilities through art, literature, activism and storytelling. Lila Crank is a Program Manager for the Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies at CU Boulder. She is also a youth educator and an Ethnic Studies scholar specializing in Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) and transformative justice in Native communities. |
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Native Rights and Challenges Round TableDate: Thursday, Nov. 13 In alignment with Regis University’s Jesuit mission to pursue truth, justice and the dignity of all people, we invite our community to join a timely and thought-provoking dialogue on Native sovereignty, rights and advocacy. This program honors the resilience and leadership of Indigenous peoples while confronting the systemic challenges that continue to shape their experiences. This event features attorneys from the Native American Rights Fund (NARF)—the nation’s oldest and most respected legal organization defending the rights of Native peoples. Together, our speakers will discuss the impacts on Native Nations, including threats to tribal sovereignty, voting rights and federal trust responsibilities. Catered by Tocabe-An American Indian Restaurant. Opening Prayer by Chief Lee Plenty Wolf- a man of many dedications. He is Spiritual Leader and Chief of the Oglala Lakota from the Pine Ridge, South Dakota Reservation. He served as Spiritual leader at the Oceti Sakowin camp at Standing Rock Reservation, to help protect land, people, and resources. Lee is also Chief at the Plenty Wolf Sundance in Manderson, South Dakota and Spiritual advisor of the non-profit White Horse Creek Council. On top of being a U.S. Army Veteran, Chief Plenty Wolf is also drum keeper for the Plenty Wolf Singers and Special Events Manager of the Boulder Valley Indigenous Peoples Day Parade and Pow Wow. Featured Speakers
Moderator:
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Native Voices in Public HealthDate: Wednesday, Nov. 19 Join Jaylee Rencountre and Genriel Ribitsch from the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health as they share their journeys and work advancing AI/AN health. This session, Native Voices in Public Health, explores community partnerships, culturally grounded research and resources that support holistic wellness in Native communities. Jaylee Rencountre is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and serves as a Professional Research Assistant and the Community Outreach Specialist at the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health at the Colorado School of Public Health. In her roles, she supports efforts to connect with Colorado’s Native communities to identify and prioritize health care needs and opportunities for collaboration. She helps foster partnerships among key stakeholders, including tribal, municipal and private organizations, to promote equitable access to culturally responsive health services and programs. Jaylee holds a Master of Public Health in Indigenous Health from the University of North Dakota. Her professional experience spans from laboratory research, direct patient care and public health outreach. She is passionate about advancing the health and well-being of Indigenous communities through culturally grounded engagement, community-driven research and initiatives that support holistic wellness and health equity. Genriel Ribitsch (Oglala Lakota) is a professional research assistant with a strong interdisciplinary background and health, culture and business. She holds a master's in public health, dual bachelor's degrees in integrative physiology and ethnic studies and an associate’s degree in business. Her academic and professional journey reflects a commitment to advancing community wellness through culturally informed and evidence-based approaches. Her work is centered in addressing health disparities, promoting preventative care and supporting holistic models that honor both traditional and modern healing practices. With a deep understanding of the connections between physical health, social determinants and cultural identity, she aims to create equitable health systems that empower underserved populations. Drawing on her diverse educational background, she bridges the gap between science, culture and compassion to improve health outcomes and inspire meaningful change within communities. |
Native Artwork and Media
Explore and connect with the profound beauty, cultural depth and powerful narratives found within artwork and media created by Native and Indigenous artists.