Every November, National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated across the United States, highlighting the traditions, languages, and histories of Native communities.
Aside from the communities themselves celebrating this national heritage month, which traces its origin to a Congress request in 1986, this is also an opportunity for everyone to learn more about them and their cultures.
Below is a roundup of some of SWE’s top podcast episodes, blog posts, magazine articles, and online courses to explore during Native American Heritage Month.
Diverse: A SWE Podcast
- Ep 290: Celebrating Indigenous Voices in STEM With Dr. Teenie Matlock: Dr. Teenie Matlock, professor emerita of cognitive science at the University of California, Merced and active member of the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, shares how her heritage shaped her upbringing, educational journey, and career in the sciences.
- Ep 161: How Sarah EchoHawk and AISES Paves a Way for Indigenous Peoples in STEM: Sarah EchoHawk, CEO of Advancing Indigenous People in STEM (AISES), talks about some of the challenges facing First Nation and Indigenous Peoples when it comes to furthering their education, especially in STEM.
All Together Blog
- Indigenous Peoples AG Spotlight: Native Americans of North America: Take the time to learn about Native communities in the United States.
- Indigenous Peoples AG Spotlight: Global Indigenous Peoples: Get to know Indigenous populations in each of the major regions of the world.
- Indigenous Peoples Profile: Dr. Maru Colbert, SWE Member & Chemical and Environmental Engineer: Read this fascinating profile of a SWE member, who belongs to the Seminole and Choctaw indigenous communities.
- Celebrating Native American Heritage Month with Laura Smith-Velazquez: Read about SWE Member Laura Smith-Velazquez, who was the 2020 AISES Technical Excellence Award winner, her STEM career, and her connection to the Native American community.
- Remembering Mary G. Ross – First American Indian Woman Engineer: Ross was an active member and Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and her impact on women in engineering resulted in the Mary G. Ross Scholarship.
SWE Magazine
- U.S. Department of Interior Commission Gains New Member: Meet Grace Bulltail, Ph.D., P.E., a member of the Crow tribe and a descendant of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara tribes of Fort Berthold, N.D., who was appointed to the Not Invisible Act Commission.
- AISES Issues Annual STEM Awards: Find out more about the AISES 2022 awardees: Deneen Hernandez, Ph.D. (Seneca Nation); Angela Teeple, who originates from Gnoozhekaaning, or Bay Mills Indian Community; Sonia Ibarra Marquez, Ph.D., who is Apache, Caxcan, Mexican, and Latina; and Rachel Yellowhair (Navajo Nation).
- STEM Educator is AISES Ely S. Parker Award Recipient: Explore the work of biological scientist and educator Wren Walker Robbins, Ph.D., a two-spirit person of Mohawk descent, who was the Ely S. Parker Award recipient for 2022.
- AISES 2021 Professional of the Year Awards: Meet the three women who earned awards at the American Indian Science and Engineering Society’s 2021 program — Crystal Tulley-Cordova, Ph.D. (Navajo Nation), Leona Anderson (Creek Nation), and Deborah Tewa (Hopi).
Advance Learning Center
- Creating Confidence When You Are the First or Only in the Room: Rise beyond the limitations that others place on us as well as the limitations we place on ourselves.
- Intersectionality and Women of Color in the Engineering Workplace: Dive deep into the importance of mentoring and professional organizations as support systems for women of color in engineering.
- Getting the Job Done Sin Quemarte (Without Burnout): Overcome cultural biases strategically in order to be successful and get the job done without experiencing burnout.
Indigenous Peoples Affinity Group
The goal of SWE’s Indigenous Peoples Affinity Group is to:
- Share knowledge, concerns, and experiences among each other and our allies
- Mutually support each other
- Advise and educate the SWE on issues affecting Indigenous Peoples
- Serve as a resource to SWE members regarding Indigenous Peoples interest
- Serve as a forum for discussion on specific topics aligning with Indigenous Peoples
- Enhance and promote networking mechanisms for connecting members
- Increase understanding and commitment to the value of diversity and inclusion as an integral part of SWE culture
Join their Facebook Group to connect with fellow SWE members. You can also subscribe to their newsletter by logging into your member portal and opting in under Communication Preferences.
Indigenous Peoples STEM Organizations/SWE Joint Member Organizations
SWE is partnered with Advancing Indigenous People in STEM (AISES) to provide SWE members greater access to these communities by offering discounts on membership. Founded in 1977, AISES promotes the highest standards of education and professional excellence to widen the STEM workforce and grow sector support.
In addition to awarding nearly $12 million and counting in academic scholarships, AISES offers internships, professional development and career resources, national and regional conferences, leadership development summits, and other STEM-focused programming.
SWE members will receive membership discount codes throughout the year via email, or you can reach out to membership@swe.org.
