Since 2015, TCU鈥檚 Native American and Indigenous Peoples (NAIP) Initiative has built relationships with tribal nations and organizations across the metroplex, state and country through workshops, lectures and other campus activities. One of the initiative鈥檚 goals is to develop curriculum informed by and in dialogue with Native communities so students learn from 鈥� rather than about 鈥� Native Americans.
Wendi Sierra, associate professor of game studies in the John V. Roach Honors College, was appointed the new Native American Nations and Communities Liaison, a leadership role for the NAIP Initiative formerly held by the retired Scott Langston, a faculty member who was instrumental in founding the initiative.
鈥淚'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Wendi Sierra to this role,鈥� said Aisha Torrey-Sawyer, director of diversity and inclusion programs. 鈥淗er expertise and dedication will be instrumental in strengthening our connections and fostering a deeper understanding of Indigenous cultures within our university community. We look forward to the positive impact she will undoubtedly make.鈥�
A member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Sierra has connected with TCU鈥檚 NAIP community since starting as a faculty member in 2020, despite the challenges of distance learning and on-campus activity restrictions during the pandemic.
鈥淥ne place I felt really welcome and like I found a home and meaningful impact was working with Dr. Scott Langston, Dr. Pablo Montes and Dr. Abel Gomez 鈥� our faculty who are working around Native initiatives and causes,鈥� Sierra explained.
Early on, Sierra was asked to join the planning committee for the Indigenous People鈥檚 Day Symposium, an annual TCU event, where she was able to connect with both the TCU community as well as the local Native and Indigenous communities. Sierra cites these partnerships as a springboard for getting involved on her own, from helping the Wichita Nation put out a language game to selling beadwork at a local powwow.
Sierra stated that the NAIP Initiative has laid groundwork in a way that builds trust, respect and reciprocity with local organizations, tribal nations in Texas and nations upon whose homeland TCU sits.
鈥淚n the Native community, there鈥檚 lots of apprehension about colleges and universities because for many years they鈥檝e been seen as extractive 鈥� going into communities to mine out their knowledge, culture and heritage and leaving them with nothing in return,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭he initiative has already done an amazing job of positioning TCU as an institution that wants to have a reciprocal, respectful relationship with Native communities.鈥�
In the short term, Sierra鈥檚 priority is to ensure that the relationships that have been built continue to thrive.
鈥淚t鈥檚 critical that they understand that TCU as an institution remains committed to working with them in a good way,鈥� she said.
One of Sierra鈥檚 goals in her new position is to host a powwow on campus 鈥� an experiential component to complement the more academic approach of the symposium, which includes talks, roundtables and lectures.
鈥淎 powwow lets TCU experience the culture 鈥� taste the food, hear the music, see the dancers. It creates a space for the Native community to be celebrated for their culture on campus, which I think is very important,鈥� said Sierra.
Sierra also hopes to see more Native students, faculty and staff at TCU. Steps are already being taken with the for students of federally recognized nations, with the first two scholarship recipients starting classes in fall 2024.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting a lot of traction and momentum, and I think that as we grow the Native and Indigenous community at TCU, we鈥檒l also be able to share literacy about our people and our culture with the rest of the TCU community ,鈥� Sierra said.
Sierra emphasized the importance of community in her work on the NAIP Initiative as she steps into her new role.
鈥淎 position like this 鈥� I鈥檓 the one with the title 鈥� but it works and it happens because there鈥檚 a group of people both at and outside TCU who are passionate about these issues and events,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want this to be a community initiative.鈥�