Indigenous Peoples’ Day

October 10, 2022

Dear Wolf Pack Family,

Today marks Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which we commemorate on our campus and throughout our community by celebrating the achievements, talents, traditions and cultures of all Indigenous People.

We are extremely proud to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day at our University, where students, faculty, staff and alumni who are members of our Indigenous communities contribute on a daily basis to the success of our institution. We are a stronger, more impactful University because of the work, accomplishments and experiences of the Indigenous People on our campus.

Although there is still much work to do, the University has made some notable advancements in ensuring that the experiences of our Indigenous People are part of our institution’s future.

Earlier this year, Daphne Emm Hooper, the former city manager of Fernley and member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe, was appointed our new Director of Indigenous Relations. Daphne’s duties have included increasing our University’s focus on Indigenous relations, on-campus policy development, and coordination. She has worked to increase the University’s collaboration with the tribal communities throughout Nevada. Our Indigenous Student Services is charged to assist Indigenous students in obtaining a University education by providing recruitment and retention services and activities that promote academic success and graduation. The NSHE Native American Fee Waiver [external PDF] is helping to provide a pathway for members of the state’s tribal communities to gain a college education.

Also this year, Rochanne Downs, a member of the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, joined the University as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Liaison and Project Manager. As part of our University’s commitment to returning ancestors and their belongings to their homes, Rochanne’s role was created to lead the effort of returning ancestral remains to the Tribes and ensuring compliance with federal regulations.

We are also proud to have Markie Wilder serving as our Indigenous Student Services Coordinator at the University of Nevada, Reno. A member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Markie assists Indigenous students to obtain a University education by providing recruitment and retention services and activities that promote academic success and graduation from the University.

There are many more Native faculty and staff across campus that should be recognized and honored for their dedication and commitment to the University and our Tribal communities. By providing resources and opportunities for our tribal communities, we are establishing a collaborative framework for the future with our Indigenous communities. On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we celebrate the invaluable contributions and achievements of so many of our Indigenous people throughout history. We look to the future with hope and optimism for finding an even more collaborative vision with our Indigenous communities that will be of benefit to all.

Go Pack!

Sincere regards,

Brian Sandoval
President