By Anastasia Merkulova
University of Maryland students and community members honored Native and Indigenous culture by painting plant pots in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union’s Studio A last Thursday.
The University of Maryland’s Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy (MICA) Office is hosting various events throughout November to commemorate Native and Indigenous Heritage Month, the theme of which is “Back to Our Roots.” Thursday’s event, “Brushes and Blooms: Succulent Plant n Paint,” provided students the opportunity to plant pots that they got to keep with a succulent plant.
Xandie Iti Luskabi, a doctoral student in criminology and criminal justice and the graduate coordinator for Native and Indigenous Student Involvement, said that both art and plants hold an important role in Indigenous cultures.
“Art is how we tell a lot of our stories,” said Iti Luskabi, who is Choctaw and Ponca. “The plants that we chose for the visuals for the theme this year are specific plants that a lot of Native and Indigenous tribes use as traditional medicine.”
Kyrsha Balderas, full-time Coordinator for Native and Indigenous Student Involvement and Community Advocacy, who is Meskwaki, said that Thursday’s event was an opportunity for students to express their creativity.
“We want students and people who interact with the things that we offer to have joy, be fun,” Balderas said. “It doesn’t need to be so serious all the time, especially given what’s going on in the world today.”
Divya Sivalingam, a doctoral student in biological sciences with a concentration in molecular and cellular biology, came to the event with her roommate because they try to attend every university art event. Diverse art events make students feel welcomed by giving a space where different cultural identities can be respected, Sivalingam said.
Sivalingam thought it was interesting that the event was held for Native and Indigenous Heritage Month and found a way to incorporate her Indian culture into the painting process. She and her roommate painted Rangolis—an art form typically drawn in front of a house to welcome Hindu gods—on their plant pots.
Dave Ghag, a master’s student in marketing analytics, came to Thursday’s event to de-stress and have fun. He said that it is important for the university to embrace and host all cultures.
“When we all come together, it’s like a beautiful garden with different flowers,” Ghag said.
Balderas said that Native and Indigenous Student Involvement is trying to take small steps with the resources that they have to amplify Native voices.
Native and Indigenous Student Involvement and Advocacy supports the diverse Native and Indigenous communities and promotes education about them within the UMD community, according to Stamp’s website.
According to Balderas, the university can help Native & Indigenous Student Involvement’s mission by amplifying existing resources and providing them with more.
Balderas said that she doesn’t know how many Native and Indigenous students there are on campus because the university doesn’t ask about tribal affiliations. She added that the data that she receives concerning the Native population on campus is different every time.
Alyssa Gilmore, a junior psychology major, is the community organizing intern for the Native and Indigenous Student Involvement. She believes that a spotlight on Native-centered courses at the university with more students taking them would be helpful to amplify Native voices.
Gilmore, who is Black, was initially concerned about imposing on Native or Indigenous culture when she started her job but feels connected to the movement.
“I think it’s important for all people of all backgrounds, especially as people of color, that we support each other and uplift each other, especially in areas that we can connect and there’s overlap,” Gilmore said.
Featured Image: University of Maryland students design plant pots at the “Brushes and Blooms” event at Adele H. Stamp Student Union’s Studio A on Thursday, Nov. 14. Photo by Anastasia Merkulova.