Indigenous Reflections: What Native American Heritage Month Means To Us
NAU’s Native Community on Culture, Heritage, and Empowerment
Sheena Hale (Diné) | Assistant Director of Multicultural Students Services
she/her/asdzáá
Yá‘át’ééh, Shí éí Sheena Hale yinishyé.
I am the Assistant Director of Multicultural Students Services at the Office of Inclusion (IMQ) as well as the Co-Chair for NAU’s Commission for Indigenous Peoples.
What people(s) and/or tribes(s) do you identify with?
I am Diné — coming from the Navajo Nation.
Shí éí Tó‘aheedlíinii (Water Flows Together) nishłį́. Áshįįhi (Salt People) bashishchiin. Dibéłzhíní (Black Sheep) dashicheii. Tódich’ii’nii (Bitter Water) dashinalí. Ákót’éego Diné asdzáán nishłį́.
This is my Diné or Navajo introduction, and with these words, I share my clans and language to acknowledge my ancestors and celebrate their resilience.
What does being Native mean to you?
Being Diné means living in Hózhó -
Embracing harmony with our Holy People, the land, our families, and ourselves — while preserving our language, culture, and teachings. It means understanding that I am a sacred being, the realization of my ancestors’ prayers, and carrying the immense responsibility to ensure that our people not only survive but flourish.
My purpose is rooted in honoring this legacy, guiding future generations, and maintaining the resilience and strength of our identity.
What is your favorite cultural dish?
Do I have to pick just one? Impossible!
I love a good roasted mutton sandwich on frybread with roasted Hatch green chile, or steamed corn mutton stew with a crispy piece of frybread. I also love kneel down bread and oven bread from our Pueblo relatives.
Can you share a favorite tradition from your culture(s)?
As a matriarch in training, I am guided by the wisdom and strength of the incredible women in my life who have passed down our traditional teachings.
One of my most cherished traditions is the Kinááldá, a coming-of-age ceremony for young Diné girls. I’ve had the privilege of supporting my nieces through their Kinááldá, surrounded by family and immersed in the power of our cultural practices.
There is something deeply moving about witnessing and contributing to the energy, love, and prayers that surround this ceremony, all aimed at guiding the young girl toward a life of beauty and balance.
It’s a tradition that not only connects us to our heritage but strengthens our bonds across generations.
I eagerly await the day when my daughter will begin her own journey through this sacred ceremony. I need to start running and working on my stirring abilities. 😉
What impact do you hope to make within your community?
I am guided by my philosophy of being a good relative, so I hope to offer care to our young relatives while being open to the teachings of our elders.
I hope to make a lasting impact on my community by fostering inclusivity and empowering our young relatives in higher education, and I strive to create pathways that make higher education more accessible and meaningful for Indigenous and marginalized students.
Through my work in student affairs, particularly at Northern Arizona University, I’ve dedicated myself to creating spaces where every student feels seen, supported, and valued.
How can people be better allies to Native communities?
To be a true ally to Native communities, it’s crucial to understand the history and significance of the land you occupy and to recognize that Indigenous people are still here, actively fighting for equity and justice.
Our struggles are ongoing — whether it’s resisting uranium mining at the Grand Canyon, stopping pipelines that threaten the health of our water and lands, or protecting sacred sites like the San Francisco Peaks from desecration.
We need allies who don’t just stand by but become accomplices, educating themselves about these challenges and leveraging their privilege to amplify our voices and support our movements.
Active participation can strengthen the fight for justice.
Báásé Pike (Chiricuhua Apache) | Junior
Dago’teh Shii k’ii yu’, shí Báásé Pike gonsee.
Hello, my name is Baase Pike I am the 2024 Northern Arizona University Indigenous Ambassador and a Junior majoring in Business Economics.
What people(s) and/or tribes(s) do you identify with?
I am a Chiricuhua Apache woman enrolled in the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
I come from the Old People Standing in a Row clan and the Last People Coming band, a resilient and humble lineage.
What is your favorite cultural dish?
My favorite cultural dish is Tamale Cho.
This dish’s name stems from the Mexican dish tamale, and “cho” means big, which greatly explains what this dish is. Tamale cho is fried shredded deer meat with dough wrapped around it and boiled.
The Council of Indigenous Ambassadors members recently learned how to make tamale Cho for the Hopi dancer who danced during NAU Family weekend.
Can you share a favorite tradition from your culture(s)?
A favorite tradition in my culture is a girl-coming-of-age ceremony in Apache we call it a Na’ii’ees. This is a four-day ceremony where a girl transitions into womanhood physically, mentally, and spiritually.
What I love about the Na’ii’ees is how my Apache community comes together to help guide the girl on her transition into womanhood, it’s a joyous time for us.
The amazing part is after hundreds of years of genocide and forced assimilation, families are going back to our Sacred Lands to conduct our ancient ceremonies. I am grateful my ancestors fought and survived so I could have a Na’ii’ees myself and be able to practice my traditional ceremonies. Right now, my family and I are preparing for my young cousin Na’ii’ees at Oak Flat, where I will be taking NCIA members to participate and learn about an Apache coming-of-age ceremony.
What impact do you hope to make within your community?
Indigenous Peoples suffer from Historical Generational Trauma; we carry the cries of the past.
An elder in my community once told me, “You can’t give up, our people need you. Home will always be here, but right now, we are struggling and need you to be that academic weapon that will help us.”
That is why, since the day I was born, I hope to help the Indigenous communities thrive in a system that was meant to erase us.
As the 2024 NAU Indigenous Ambassador, I have been working with student leaders who aim to advocate for Indigenous student rights, spread cultural awareness, and create a home away from home for students on campus.
Back on the reservation in San Carlos, I am a part of a non-profit organization that protects Indigenous religious rights and sacred land. I am on a youth task force in the Flagstaff community to create an Indigenous Community Cultural Center. In the future, I will elevate my tribal government economy and spread that out to multiple tribal nations.
How can people be better allies to Native communities?
Indigenous communities are forgotten, but we’ve gone to a point where we’ve recognized the strength in unification, no matter your background, which grows our country as a whole.
For those who are allies and want to help Indigenous communities more you can start researching Indigenous causes in different fields and finding one that resonates with you. Then, you should look within your community and local organization that is helping the cause you’d like to help and volunteer.
These photos show the unification that I have witnessed. Recently, a non-profit organization, Apache Stronghold, filed an appeal to the Supreme Court against the United States Forest Service and Resolution Copper for the violation of Freedom of religion for the potential land swap and copper mine project on Indigenous Sacred land.
However, this case appeal began unification between all Indigenous peoples and non-indigenous for the better of the environment and society as a whole. The first photo is from the Save Chinatown Coalition; Apache Stronghold joined a rally and march at city hall in Philadelphia to stand with the community to save Chinatown from destruction proposed by the billionaire owners of the 76ers who want to build a new arena. The second photo is of the Festival Center in Washington, D.C., and this photo captures different groups of faith coming together in prayer to protect human rights.
There are so many things that are going on in this world, but unifying together is the way we can create a better world for everyone.
Marquis Johnnie (Diné) | Junior
What people(s) and/or tribes(s) do you identify with?
Dine, Navajo Nation
Yooí’ Diné’é Nishłį
Tł’ááshchí’í báshishchíín
Tó’tsohníí dáshicheii
Tó’tsohníí dáshináli
What does being Native mean to you?
Being native means having a deep connection to my culture and community, as well as embracing the traditions, language, and history passed down from my elders.
It is also about resilience, celebrating identity, and advocating for the rights and recognition of all indigenous peoples.
What is your favorite cultural dish?
My favorite cultural dish is Chííłchin (Sumac Berry), This dish is a pudding texture made from sumac berries.
Can you share a favorite tradition from your culture(s)?
My Favorite tradition is the Navajo shoe game.
This game is only played in the winter and represents life and the fact that the natural order of things cannot be changes. This is my favorite tradition because it encompasses a rich part of Dine history, along with stories, songs, and teachings.
What impact do you hope to make within your community?
I hope to make a meaningful impact within my community by focusing on cultural revitalization and education.
This involves helping to preserve and promote our languages, traditions, and stories, ensuring that younger generations feel connected to their heritage.
Ultimately, I hope to contribute to a legacy of empowerment and pride that uplifts our culture and supports future generations.
Mikal Jai Naha (Hopi, Yankton Sioux, Tewa) | Freshman
What people(s) and/or tribes(s) do you identify with?
I identify with Hopi, Yankton Sioux, and Tewa
What does being Native mean to you?
Being native is taking care of the people that are around you and being there for your tribe in anyway possible.
What is your favorite cultural dish?
There are a few dishes that i enjoy but the top one would be
Can you share a favorite tradition from your culture(s)?
One of my favorite traditions would be the basket dance.
What impact do you hope to make within your community?
The impact that i hope to make to have more Native American kids and students to keep going to school and to pursue something that they can bring back to their community.
How can people be better allies to Native communities?
One way that I can think of is helping out within the Native communities.
Leilani Jose (Tohono O’odham) | Sophomore
NAU Sophomore, NAU Social Media Intern, & Public Relations Officer for NCIA (Council of Indigenous Ambassadors)
What people(s) and/or tribes(s) do you identify with?
I identify with as Tohono O’odham. I am specifically from Wa:k Ceaksan (San Xavier) the closest district to Tucson, AZ.
What does being Native mean to you?
Embracing who you are as a native person by embodying the beauty and knowledge of your culture from what you have been taught by your elders, family, and community.
What is your favorite cultural dish?
One of my favorite cultural dishes isn’t necessarily a dish, it’s a side. It’s called cymith, very similar to a Mexican Torita.
It’s first made from a dough made up of flour, water, and lard. The dough is needed and formed into small balls that you pat out thinly to be cooked on a tool we call a tourmorde, which is a dome shaped skillet over a fire.
It’s one of the first things you learn to make, and your very first one you give away to whomever you’d like to like a family member or usually the person who taught you how to make cymith.
My first cymith, I gave it away to my entire family so my mom, dad, my little sister, and little brother.
Can you share a favorite tradition from your culture(s)?
This past summer, I recently went Bidag picking with my family.
Bidag is the cactus fruit on the Ha:san (the cactus), its tradition to pick the Bidag before the monsoon season.
We use everything creator has provided us
The stick we use to pick the Bidag is made from the saguaro cactus ribs. We use the tip of the Bidag to cut it open, because it’s very sharp and it acts as a knife to cut and that’s how we eat the “meat” of the bidag. The meat is the inside of the Bidag that you can eat.
What impact do you hope to make within your community?
I hope to one day give back to my community.
I want to bring more representation of my people and all Indigenous people to the media.
Indigenous people deserve to have a voice in the media so that there is an accurate depiction to who we are as native people.
I want to encourage indigenous students and children to know that they can do whatever they set their mind to. Whether that be becoming a doctor, lawyer, teacher, broadcaster, athlete, designer, etc. I want them to know that there is a place for them and all their dreams!
How can people be better allies to Native communities?
People could be better allies to Native communities by first being respectful to our way of life, our cultural identity and who we are as indigenous people.
And second, be open minded/ receptive to our culture.
Be willing to learn and understand that our cultural beliefs are different from western beliefs. Our culture roots back to our ancestors and carrying on those traditions, language, songs, stories, etc. is important to persevering our identity as indigenous people.
