About
TCU's Native American and Indigenous Peoples Initiative welcomes and connects with Native American nations and communities
Since 2015, TCU’s Native American and Indigenous Peoples Initiative has worked with Native Americans across the metroplex, state and country. This work includes sponsoring Native American-focused workshops, lectures and other campus activities, and developing curriculum informed by and in dialogue with Native American communities so that students learn from — rather than about — Native Americans.
Timeline
2015
Chebon Kernell, citizen of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and Mekko (traditional ceremonial leader) of the Helvpe ceremonial grounds (Muscogee/Creek), speaks to religion classes and broader university audiences on a variety of Native American and Indigenous issues. TCU’s Native American and Indigenous Peoples Initiative evolves from these presentations.
2016
TCU hosts the first annual Native American and Indigenous Peoples Day Symposium.
2016-18
Working with the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, TCU creates a Native American monument between Reed and Jarvis Halls. Text on the monument is incorporated into the university’s Land Acknowledgment.
2017
Students start the Native and Indigenous Student Association.
2019
TCU establishes the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s scholarship.
2020
Provost Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg appoints faculty member Scott Langston as the Native American Nations and Communities Liaison. Langston forms the Native American Advisory Circle.
2021
In April, TCU adopts a land acknowledgment and reads it during 2021 Convocation, marking the first time that such an acknowledgment is made at a major university event.
2022
The university purchases two works of art by the contemporary Comanche/Kiowa artist J. NiCole Hatfield. “Based on Mrs. Jack Treetop-Standing Rock 1908” and “Based on Quanah Parker” Kwahadi Band of Comanche are installed on the first floor of The Harrison administration building.
NAIPI develops and distributes the guide “Teaching with TCU’s Land Acknowledgment and Native American Monument” and holds the first Koehler Center Workshop on the topic.
2023
TCU’s Housing and Residence Life places plaques featuring TCU’s Land Acknowledgment in almost all residence halls.
NAIPI begins offering land acknowledgment training to departments and campus units that want to better understand and implement the ethics, values and experiences of TCU’s Land Acknowledgment.
TCU’s Native and Indigenous Student Association completes and dedicates the Native American Nations Flags Project as a permanent display in the university’s Mary Couts Burnett Library.
TCU President Daniel W. Pullin hosts a reception for the largest on-campus gathering of Native American and Indigenous leaders as part of the university’s seventh annual Native American and Indigenous Peoples Day Symposium.
2024
TCU launches the Four Directions Scholars Program and receives applications for the 2024-25 academic year.