Native American Heritage Month

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH 2025

November 1-30, 2025

Each year, we honor the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors have lived in North America since time immemorial, hosting a wide range of events and opportunities that celebrate Native American culture with the University of Michigan campus community.

Native American Heritage Month at U-M is led by the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs' Native American Heritage Month Committee, in close partnership with the Native American Student Association.

Native American Studies: Lunch & Info-Fueling

November 4, 2025  |  11:00 am-1:00 pm
3512 Haven Hall
Sponsored by the Native American Studies program in the Department of American Culture

Please join the Native American Studies program in the Department of American Culture for lunch to learn more about Native American Studies research, upcoming courses and plans for Native American Heritage Month! We will be serving Jamaican Jerk Pit as we hear from current researchers in the field as well as program and student organizing advisors. 
 

Celebrate Indigenous Video Games

November 5, 2025  |  2:00-6:00 pm
Shapiro Gallery, 3rd Floor Undergraduate Library
Sponsored by the University Library 

Play and learn from two Indigenous-made video games, Never Alone and When Rivers Were Trails, to recognize Native American Heritage Month!

An Evening with James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw 

November 7, 2025  |  6:30-8:00 pm
Michigan League, Vandenberg Room
Sponsored by the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs 

James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, is a renowned international speaker, digital creator, and author of 'The Seven Generations and the Seven Grandfather Teachings.' His keen insights were developed through speaking with and recording elders and native language speakers across North America as part of the Ojibwe Language Dictionary Project. James is a passionate advocate for sharing how to live a life of ‘mino-bimaadiziwin,’ the good life.

Light refreshments provided and a limited number of James' book, 'The Seven Generations and the Seven Grandfather Teachings,' to give out to student attendees. 

Ross School of Business Native American Heritage Month Conference

November 12, 2025  |  10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Ross School of Business, Blau Colloquium
Sponsored by Stephen M. Ross School of Business

[Register] Please join the 3rd Annual Ross School of Business Native American Heritage Month Conference, focusing on reaffirming the essential role of Native voices in shaping a more impactful business landscape. The event will feature Jessi Goldner, VP of Strategic Engagement,  as the keynote speaker, who is responsible for raising awareness of Waseyabek’s commitment to creating a profitable family of companies while simultaneously increasing Tribal awareness, engagement, and quality employment opportunities. 

Feel Good Frybread

November 14, 2025  |  7:00-10:00 pm
University of Michigan Museum of Art
Sponsored by UMMA, the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, Native American Student Association, Rackham Graduate School, Spectrum Center, Arts Initiative, the Native American Studies Program, the Center for World Performance Studies, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and the Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series

Feel Good Frybread 2025 will be the culminating event for Andrea Carlson: Future Cache. The event will feature an artists panel on Indigenous Futurism with Andrea Carlson, Frank Waln, and Debra Yepa-Pappan and a musical performance by Frank Waln, frybread by Eva and Robin Menefee of Anishnabe Meejim, book giveaways, hands-on art making with Heron Hill Designs, and more!

Gaa-bigooshkaaning Round Dance

November 15, 2025  |  5:00-11:00 pm
Palmer Commons Great Lakes Room
Sponsored by the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs and Native American Student Association

Join us for the 1st Gaa-Bigooshkaaning Round Dance hosted by the Native American Heritage Month Committee and the Native American Student Association (NASA)! This is a time to come together with community, share a feast prepared with Indigenous foods, check out craft vendors, and dance! All are welcome!! 

Burton Tower Carillon Recital for Native American Heritage Month

November 17, 2025  |  12:00 pm
Burton Memorial Tower, 10th floor
Sponsored by School of Music, Theatre & Dance

Prof. Tiffany Ng performs carillon compositions and arrangements by Indigenous North American composers Connor Chee, Beverley McKiver, Dawn Avery, Queen Liliʻuokalani, and more in celebration of Native American Heritage Month. The Charles Baird Carillon is an instrument of 53 bronze bells located inside the Burton Memorial Tower. The largest bell, which strikes the hour, weighs 12 tons, while the smallest bell, 4½ octaves above, weighs just 15 pounds. To reach the 10th floor belfry, take the elevator and then 2 flights of stairs.

Lurie Tower Carillon Recital for Native American Heritage Month

November 17, 2025  |  1:20 pm
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Tower
Sponsored by School of Music, Theatre & Dance

Assistant Professor of Music Julie Zhu performs a special carillon program in celebration of Native American Heritage Month on the 60-bell Lurie Carillon. Listen outside in Gerstacker Grove or take the elevator to the 2nd floor to see the bells, and/or to the 3rd floor to see the keyboard. 

Native American Stories Reclaimed From the Archive

November 21, 2025  |  10:00 am
Zoom
Sponsored by the William L. Clements Library

Join us for a conversation with Clements visiting research fellows Ben Pokross and Emily Dixon-Magness as they highlight Indigenous perspectives and share their work with Native American history resources at the Clements. Pokross examines how nineteenth-century historians, especially in the Great Lakes region, sought to record the history of Indigenous peoples. Dixon focuses on Cherokee women’s political leadership and the broader Cherokee political strategies between 1754 and 1761.

Public Viewing of Sisters Rising

November 21, 2025  |  3:30-5:00 pm
Aikens Commons, Art & Architecture Building (North Campus)
Sponsored by the Stamps School of Art & Design and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Research Lab

Join us on north campus for this public viewing of Sisters Rising, a documentary about six Native American women fighting sexual and colonial violence.