November is Native American Heritage Month, and many things in Oklahoma come from Native American roots, even the state name itself.
The word “Oklahoma” comes from two Choctaw words: “Okla,” which means “people,” and “Humma,” which translates as “red.”
The U.S. Department of the Interior says Native American Heritage Month “is a time to celebrate the rich histories, diverse cultures and important contributions of our nation’s first people.”
Oklahoma has one of the largest Native American populations in the United States, with almost 40 tribes native to Oklahoma.
The Native American spirit is also represented at Northwestern, particularly through the Native American Student Association club on campus.
The goal of NASA is to establish a community for Native American students and educate others more about their heritage and culture, club members said.
The club conducts regular meetings throughout the school year, where students discuss different parts of their culture. They also plan activities such as beading, a popular form of Native American artwork that involves stinging beads through a thin wire.
The group is planning to host a powwow at the end of the school year. The powwow consists of singing, dancing and other festivities. The club hosted its first powwow last semester.
KD McCleary, a senior biology major from Blackwell, is involved with NASA and serves as the Student Government Association representative for NASA. McCleary is affiliated with the Cherokee Tribe, she said.
McCleary said she joined NASA because she saw the club as a great opportunity to spend time with and learn more about people affiliated with other tribes.
One of the things McCleary said she enjoys about NASA is that the group serves as a way to keep a dying culture alive.
McCleary said she still has many ways that she keeps the Native American culture alive in different aspects of her life.
“Personally, I use beading as a stress relief,” McCleary said. “And my family uses our language to designate names for our elders. … My nephews call my mother ‘elisi,’ for ‘grandma.’”
McCleary said her Native American roots have played a large role in who she is today.
“Your heritage is what makes you, you” McCleary said. “It creates the dialect in your life that you don’t realize is different until you meet someone new who doesn’t share the same culture. It is cool to be able to share different childhood experiences with my peers.”
NASA meetings take place on Thursdays at 6 p.m. in the Student Center.