Heritage Months and Celebrations

Native American Heritage Month

Each year, the KU Medical Center community recognizes Native American Heritage Month with in-person and virtual events to celebrate and honor Native American Heritage history and culture. Learn more about the events and how you can get involved.

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 DEI Events Calendar
RSVP’s for the Closing Celebration are appreciated but not required.

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.

Past Event Information

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

As an educational institution, we have an ethical obligation to create truthful and factual representations and should respect and recognize Native peoples and their relationships to the land on which our institution resides.