Recognizing and honoring Indigenous people, histories and experiences unveils the truth of the past, honors the vibrant communities of the present, and supports Native students' success.
TU鈥檚 campus resides on the ancient homelands of the Susquehannock, Nanticoke and Piscataway people. Our diverse students, faculty and staff represent these nations and many more鈥攅ach of which has a distinct heritage and culture. This page celebrates their individual stories as well as the collective events and programming that strengthen opportunities for connection and advancement. Additional resources are provided to foster a deeper understanding of our region鈥檚 rich Native cultures and the ways they remain vibrant and present today.
With 574 recognized tribes and many more still seeking recognition, our Indigenous community is as diverse as we are proud. We unite in a shared connection to history and a shared dedication to preserving our cultures for the generations to come. From food to art and everywhere in between, we celebrate the traditions and perspectives we bring.
"Disease symptoms can present differently for people of different races and genders, and when symptoms are generalized, it can make diagnoses harder for people of color. I want to be part of the change to look at patients holistically and use that to improve care."
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鈥淚鈥檝e never been on a reservation, and I don鈥檛 look like most cultural representations of Native Americans. I know what a struggle it can be to find a place where you feel like you belong.鈥�
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鈥淎s an adult I鈥檝e surrounded myself with more people who are like me and have really been invested in learning about our history and the importance of what鈥檚 happened and how we can continue to advocate for Native folks all over.鈥�
Read moreCook Library 3rd & 4th floors
Explore a new book collection focused on the intersectionality of Native American communities with Black, Latine/x and urban communities and cultures.
3:30 to 5 p.m. in Cook 512
Conversations and crafting open to all students with connections to Native American and Indigenous communities.
TU students are forming a Native American & Indigenous Student Union (NAISU) to build connection, belonging and support for their experiences. The group is led by librarian Emily Minner鈥攁 member of the Lumbee Tribe鈥攁nd meets monthly for activities and fellowship.
Long before the Maryland State Normal School moved to its present location鈥攅ventually becoming Towson University鈥攖he same land was home to Native and Indigenous populations who used it for farming, trading and seasonal settlements. These communities and nations include the Susquehannock, Nentego (Nanticoke) and the Piscataway people, for whom the land that the university currently occupies is their ancestral homeland. so that all who come here know that we recognize our institutional history and our responsibilities to the peoples of that land, and that we strive to address that history so it guides our work in the present and the future.
Campus thoroughfares that were once Native American trails and other facts about the Native and Indigenous peoples who once called this region home.
Learn moreThe Office of Inclusion & Institutional Equity (OIIE) provides guidance about TU鈥檚 land acknowledgment and how it can be used.
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The Lumbee Tribe has the largest presence of Native Peoples in the Baltimore region. While the tribe鈥檚 ancestral lands are in North Carolina, tribal members migrated to Baltimore in search of better-paying jobs during the post-World War II industrial boom. Here, they established a tight-knit community with a population estimated to be as high as 7,000 in the late 1970s. At the time it was believed to be the largest community of tribal members in an American urban area. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Minner Art LLC + Community)
The Baltimore American Indian Center (BAIC) is located in Fells Point, which is the cultural epicenter of Baltimore鈥檚 Lumbee Tribe. BAIC hosted Pow-Wows in TU's University Union from 2014 to 2017, and continues to host them at the Maryland State Fairgrounds.
鈥淲e want to allow for cross pollination between those interested in studying Native American history and artifacts and those who understand current practices and traditions. That鈥檚 how we draw connections between the two.鈥�
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鈥淣ative people are generally not part of the national discourse. And when they are, it's usually about the past. So any time that we can counter those erasures by making people remember that Native people are still here is important.鈥�
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鈥淢y dad would teach me the spirit of everything, and I鈥檝e always wanted to keep that alive. We鈥檙e very proud of our Indigenous heritage, and it鈥檚 pushed me on my path a lot. I always thought it鈥檚 important to make sure people have that at TU.鈥�
Read MoreThese identity-based scholarship and career resources for Native American students support college persistence and completion.
TU Career Center Resources
