Native American Heritage Month at KU Medical Center

Jayhawk Coffee Break

October 29 | 8:30- 9:30 a.m. | School of Nursing walkway

 As we kick off Native American Heritage Month, we invite you to join us during the Jayhawk Coffee Break. Learn about upcoming events and the importance of understanding cultural appropriation vs. cultural appreciation. Connect with members of the community while you decorate a button or pick up a turquoise ribbon to show your support of our “Rock Your Mocs” campaign. Enjoy a selection of coffee and tea as we gather to celebrate. We look forward to seeing you there.

Rock Your Mocs

November 10 – 16 | Social Media Campaign | #RockYourMocs #KUMCDEI

Join us for this worldwide event to honor Indigenous cultures by wearing moccasins, Rock Your Moc buttons or turquoise ribbons to show your support and share on social media. By participating in "Rock Your Mocs" and sharing the story behind this important cultural item, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can express solidarity in a respectful way. Take a photo or video of how you are celebrating or showing solidarity and post to social media with the hashtags #RockYourMocs and #KUMCDEI. Learn more about the campaign and how to participate below.

Integrating Traditional and Western Medicine Presentation

November 19

Join us for the opportunity to hear from Native physicians and patients as they talk about the importance of integrating, acknowledging and creating space for the important role of traditional medicine in healing and how health care professionals and systems can successfully do this or have done this. All KU Medical Center and KU employees, students, and learners are welcome to attend the event.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” Special Screening

November 10, 6:30 p.m. | Kansas City, Salina and Wichita concurrent events

KU Medical Center’s Native American Heritage Month planning committee and the Together, Indigenous People Inspiring Success Affinity Group (TIPIS) present a special movie screening of Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon." A limited number of tickets will be available for Kansas City, Salina and Wichita campuses. “Killers of the Flower Moon" is a true story set in the 1920s that focuses on a series of events and injustices inflicted on the Osage Nation. 

Community Conversation

November 14, 12 p.m. | Virtual

Following the film screening, we will hold a virtual Community Conversation led by Professor Jimmy Beason and Charles Walker. Jimmy Beason, professor at Haskell Indian Nations University and member of the Osage Nation, will unpack the historical events leading to the “Osage Reign of Terror” between 1918 and 1931. Charles Walker, Councilman at Large, Judicial Committee Chairman SRST (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) and South Dakota Gaming liaison, will address the following topics: environmental justice, sovereignty and crimes against Indigenous people.

The Heart Is A Fist Art Exhibit

Murphy Lobby | November 7-30, 2022
Open to KU Medical Center and the community at large, Murphy Hall is badge accessible from Rainbow Blvd

The Heart Is A Fist presents recent works by artists from Haskell Indian Nations University. The title comes from Joy Harjo’s poem, Break My Heart, in which she writes, “The heart is a fist / It pockets prayer or holds rage.” Accordingly, artwork in this exhibition “pocket prayer” and “hold rage,” some featuring the red hand of solidarity for missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW). The works also present careful examinations of other issues that matter to Indigenous Americans, such as ancestral connections, boarding schools, native stereotypes, and humor.

Featured Artists: Molly Adams, Alia Ballou, James Benson, Miranda Bradford, Dominique Brown, Jana Burnett, Mia Chamberlin, Michael Conard, Kaya Friday, Ransom Garza, Arianna Green, Alyssiana Gonzalez, Alexandra Holder, Uriah Little Hoop, Sylvester Luther, Tanay McKinney, Reice Morgan, Jay P. Pewenofkit, Olivia Jett Rodriguez, David Tah, Yvonne C. Trujillo, Chante Wallette, Alexis Whitehorn-Coriz

Closing Celebration

Wednesday, November 30 | 4:00-6:00 p.m. | Murphy Lobby
Register on the Events Calendar
RSVP’s for the Closing Celebration are appreciated but not required.

Community Conversation: November 9, 2022

Native American Heritage Month Community Conversation with artists from Haskell Indian Nations University & Professor David Titterington, sponsored by the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Saad: beads of Diné knowledge, wisdom and stories

November 17, 2021

Presentation by Luci Tapahonso, Inaugural Poet Laureate of the Diné Nation.

Spotlights: KU Medical Center Community Member Biographies 

Learn about the background and careers of several Native American faculty, staff, students and alumni, as well as their journey to KU Medical Center. Community members’ stories are available online throughout the month. 

Jayhawk Coffee Break

November 17: The coffee break featured three colleagues from the Native American Biographical Posters. This event took place on Microsoft Teams in The Cart meeting room. 

Community Conversations: COVID-19's Impact on the Native American Population

Nov. 23: Members of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation will discuss how COVID-19 is impacting the Native American community.

Native American Heritage Month Featured Speaker: Sharice Davids, U.S. Representative, Kansas District 3

Nov. 24