Near the edge of the University of Arkansas campus, past the hustle and bustle of students and faculty, there is a small patch of open land. Seemingly out of place in the busy, urban area, the middle of the field has a simple stone marker. Most of the time, this is an unassuming spot that is overlooked by those who pass by. During the second week of October, when the leaves are turning colors and the air has a distinct chill, the area springs to life. Words of poetry and remembrance are spoken into a lone microphone, and music creates the perfect atmosphere for the people coming together in ceremony. Upon closer inspection of the stone marker, which seems a little more lively now, one can see the words “Trail of Tears” marked on a plaque. This simple stone is a monument to the Cherokee people forced to move through what is now the town of Fayetteville during their removal.
Northwest Arkansas, historically, has had a prevalent Native American presence. Encyclopedia of Arkansas reports that the Quapaw, Osage, Caddo, and Tunica- Biloxi tribes were prominent villages and communities during the pre-colonial era. The very word “Arkansas” has its origins in the Quapaw language; the French settlers referred to them as akansa.Once colonization of the Northwest Arkansas area began, the tribal makeup of the area began to change. The U.S. government removed Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes to the Arkansas area. This eventually led to treaties that forced original tribes to give up their lands to make room for White settlements, subsequently removing them to reservations and other locations. The Trail of Tears and Civil War brought more chaos and tragedy to the tribes now settled in the area, and disrupted life as they knew it for Native tribes.
Today, Northwest Arkansas has a Native population that rivals some areas of Oklahoma. The last NWA Diversity Report, taken in 2022 by the Northwest Arkansas Council, showed the population of the area being 1.3% American Indian, for a total of around 7,000 Native Americans in the area. This number, however, is only representative of the amount of people who identify as Native American alone. The “two or more races” category comprises a much greater number of people that identify themselves as American Indian, along with another race. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that in Washington county, there are around 13,000 people that identify themselves as Native American in some capacity. In Benton county, that number is even larger, standing at over 16,000. In comparison, Adair county in Oklahoma has the highest percentage of Native Americans in the state, and has just under 11,000 people who identify themselves as American Indian.
While there are many in the NWA region that are Native American, the visibility for those people can seem relatively low, especially when considering there are no federally recognized tribes in the state of Arkansas. Visibility for Native people everywhere matters, which is why there have been impactful steps forward in recognizing Native culture of the area. One of these is the annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration. During this collaboration between the city of Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas, the mayor of Fayetteville issues a citywide proclamation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which is followed by a walk to the Trail of Tears marker on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. This celebration has been taking place for 20 years, and is a powerful recognition of the Indigenous background of the area.
Another great cultural opportunity for Native Americans, and all community members, is the Museum of Native American History in Bentonville. This facility houses over 10,000 artifacts and art pieces from up to five time periods ago. All of which are organized chronologically to give a detailed view of the history of many early American Indigenous culture and life. The museum also offers free admission and various special exhibits and events throughout the year for attendees.
For Native University of Arkansas students, Native American Student Services (NASS) on campus provides access to academic resources, outreach initiatives, and creates community for Native students. NASS exists to provide a sense of belonging through cultural events and activities, such as Native storytellers, stickball tournaments, beadwork workshops, and more. One of the main focuses of this program is recruitment and retention. By providing a comfortable environment for Native students, NASS aims to include more Native students at the University of Arkansas, and allow them to feel comfortable through academic and cultural support.