2024 Recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day Proclamation

Native American and Indigenous Working Group focuses on the following objectives:

• Calling together CFI, CVPA, Student Affairs, and any other unit on campus that has constructed a land acknowledgment statement to discuss why/how they did this work, how they use their statement, and what they hope it will achieve.
• Consulting with Native American communities on the creation of a JMU Land Acknowledgement Statement. 
• Consulting with the Virginia Indigenous tribes/nations, as well as Indigenous scholars who have studied Native American diaspora, to better understand what these issues mean for contemporary Indigenous communities.
• Collaborating with Native American communities to explore curriculum, hiring, and programing at JMU. 
• Examining interest in the creation of a Native American studies minor, which is a traditional starting point for curriculum development.
• Examining interest in creation of a Native American studies minor, once we commit to a broader initiative.
  
• Investigate with the Provost the possible creation of the position of Tribal Liaison to develop formal relationships with Native American communities and work with faculty/administration on curriculum and programming efforts at JMU.

Working Group members:

• Carole Nash, College of Integrated Science and Engineering, Chair
• Carlos Aleman, College of Arts and Letters
• Bodeene Cairdeas, Libraries
• David Daniel, College of Health and Behavioral Studies, Emeritus
• Ángel Garcia, College of Science and Mathematics
• H. Gelfand, University Studies
• Lindsey Harvell-Bowman, College of Arts and Letters
• Laura Henigman, College of Arts and Letters
• Gilpatrick Hornsby, Center for Faculty Innovation, Hart School
• Scott Milliman, College of Business
• DaNae Peterson, Student Affairs
• Erin Phillippi, Research, Economic Development, and Innovation
• Virginia Soenksen, Madison Art Collection
• Brian Sullivan, Libraries
• Catherine Zeman, College of Health and Behavioral Studies