Native American Studies Center (USC Lancaster)

Mullin nominated for Homeland Security secretary - ICT The Cherokee citizen will be the first Native American person to lead the Homeland Security Department if confirmed by the Senate

"If confirmed by the Senate, Mullin, a Cherokee Nation citizen, will be the second Native American man to be in the president’s cabinet, the first Native person to be Homeland Security secretary, and the second Native person to run an agency."

ictnews.org/news/mullin-...

The podcast is produced by UCF graduate history students Sebastian Garcia and John Lancaster and hosted by the UCF Center for Humanities and Digital Research.

Now available at the above link, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Last month, The Memory of Negro Fort Podcast debuted “Episode 1: A Multiracial World,” featuring Center Historian Dr. Evan Nooe for a discussion of the roles that frontier violence and Native American history played in the construction and destruction of Negro Fort.

chdr.cah.ucf.edu/podcasts/the...

Feb. Lunch and Learn: “The Dark Side of Women’s History" YouTube video by Native American Studies Center

Now available on YouTube!

Watch our February Lunch and Learn, presented by USC Lancaster Instructor of Criminal Justice and Ph.D. candidate Deborah Rowell:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Usb...

Feb. Lunch and Learn: “The Dark Side of Women’s History" YouTube video by Native American Studies Center

Now available on YouTube!

Watch our February Lunch and Learn, presented by USC Lancaster Instructor of Criminal Justice and Ph.D. candidate Deborah Rowell:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Usb...

It’s almost time for our March pop-up market! This month’s event features canned goods and beadwork by Marie George (Catawba Nation) and jewelry by Dakota Little Hawk Simerly (PAIA Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation SC).

‘I'm proudly Afro-Indigenous’ - ICT ‘Sweetgrass and Soul Food’ author reflects on reclaiming and celebrating the narratives of her multi-layered life

“She is committed to reclaiming narratives, building equity, and uplifting communities through culturally grounded approaches.”

ictnews.org/news/im-prou...

Photos: Powwow hosted in Lexington County to honor missing and murdered indigenous women The Weaving Unity Powwow was held in Lexington County, SC, Saturday to honor the women, girls and Two-Spirit people impacted by violence in the U.S.

“Red dresses hung from various spots at the event, a symbol of remembrance, justice and awareness for the crisis of violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people.”
www.postandcourier.com/columbia/new...

This Friday!
Join us in person, or virtually (register via this link: bit.ly/3XYCWF9)

How Native Americans came to Philly in 1776 to navigate the American Revolution Chief White Eyes toggled between British and American leadership to secure land for the Lenape.

“When America’s founders were walking the cobblestones of Philadelphia in 1776 while forging a new nation, Native Americans were walking beside them.”

whyy.org/articles/nat...

Winter Olympics bring new push to recognize hockey great Taffy Abel - ICT The former Olympian broke the color barrier in hockey nearly 100 years ago

“While Abel is believed to be the first Native American to participate in the Winter Olympics — and the only Indigenous American to carry the flag in Olympic history — he kept his Ojibwe heritage secret at the time."
ictnews.org/sports/winte...

How Snoop Dogg got Indigenous beadwork at the Winter Olympics - ICT A Mohawk man from Akwesasne is working as an Olympics volunteer in Italy

“Before he left home for Italy, George worked on beadwork projects so he could take his own offerings to the Winter Olympics.”

ictnews.org/news/how-sno...

‘Dream Big Things’: An Indigenous view of the Olympics - ICT Naomi Lang was the first Native American woman to represent the US in the Winter Olympics

“She also became the first Native American woman to represent the United States in the Winter Olympics as a member of the U.S. team in 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah.”
ictnews.org/news/dream-b...

US Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians Editor's Note: This article was previously published in Native News Online on prior Presidents' Days. It was updated to include works concerning American Indians made by the current president of the U...

“The following quotes about American Indians are from various presidents since President George Washington and up to President Joe Biden. The quotes here do not include all presidents.”

nativenewsonline.net/currents/us-...

You won’t want to miss this fascinating lecture! Join us in person, or virtually (register via this link: bit.ly/3XYCWF9)

🎥Documenting real conversations and real experiences is part of our mission!

What a pleasure to have Robbins Family Pottery stop by yesterday for an interview with Native American Studies Director Dr. Stephen Criswell and Director of Campus Collections and Galleries Brittany Taylor-Driggers.

Shop for incredible pieces of jewelry by Amanda Wilson (Catawba Nation) and Catawba pottery from Blue Heron Clay and at our February mini market!

We’re pleased to welcome back Catawba artist DeLesslin George-Warren to the Center this month for a special canoe-making demonstration!

See DeLesslin at work from 10am-4pm on Saturday, Feb. 21!

Florida Man Sentenced for Falsely Selling Imported Jewelry as Pueblo Indian–Made Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jose Farinango Muenala, 47, of Casselberry, Florida, pleaded guilty on January 28, 2026, to misrepres...

“During these events, he falsely claimed to be a Pueblo Indian or a Native American from New Mexico and represented that the jewelry he sold was handmade by himself or other Pueblo Indians.”

nativenewsonline.net/sovereignty/...

We’re pleased to welcome back USC Lancaster Instructor of Criminal Justice Deborah Rowell to this month's W. Brent Burgin Lecture Series!

Presented in person and virtually. To attend via Zoom, register via this link: bit.ly/3XYCWF9

📅 Saturday, Feb. 21 | 10am-4pm
🎨 Artwork by Blue Heron Clay and Amanda Wilson
📍 Native American Studies Center | 119 S. Main Street, Lancaster, SC
🎟️ Free and open to the public!

The latest episode of the Florida Historical Society’s Florida Frontiers podcast features USCL Asst. Professor of History & Center Historian Dr. Evan Nooe.

Click the link below to listen (Nooe’s interview begins around the 14:30 mark):

myfloridahistory.org/frontiers/ra...

Erasure of History and Science Spreads At National Parks Across the Country The administration is forcing National Park Service staff to censor science and history at parks. This is a violation of the core tenets of the National Park Service’s mission.

“The administration is forcing National Park Service staff to censor everything from climate science at Glacier to the mistreatment of Native Americans at the Grand Canyon, a place of worship and origin for many Tribes.”
www.npca.org/articles/112...

The whistleblower, the Forest Service, and an endless battle in North Carolina’s mountains • Asheville Watchdog On April 22, 2021, 19 acres burned on a sloping face south of Double Knob, a modest peak nestled just south of the Buncombe-Henderson County line. A day later, mountainside still aflame, Scott Ashcraf...

“He hopes its release will halt what he alleges are violations of laws including the National Historic Preservation Act, the National Environmental Protection Act and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.”

avlwatchdog.org/forest-servi...

Wassamasaw Tribe Brings Indigenous Culture to Goose Creek in 2026 | The Berkeley Observer The Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians is proud to announce its 2026 Culture Classes and Community Programming calendar, a yearlong series of free, public offerings centered in Goose Creek.

“The yearlong program will offer monthly, hands-on culture classes open to residents and visitors alike, focusing on Indigenous arts, foodways, music, dance, and environmental knowledge rooted in the Lowcountry.”

www.berkeleyobserver.com/2026/01/28/w...

U.S. Mint releases coin commemorating famous Oneida heroine The coin honors an Oneida woman who helped George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

“The coin represents the Oneida people’s critical role in the founding of the U.S., the Nation said in a news release.”
www.syracuse.com/news/2026/01...

North Carolina Buc-ee’s draws more ire, this time from Indigenous group Construction is already underway, however.

“Indigenous communities, including the Occaneechi, Sissipahaw and Shakori tribes, used the path for trade and travel in the 17th and 18th centuries.”
www.chron.com/culture/arti...

Jan. Lunch and Learn: “Indigenous Carolinians" YouTube video by Native American Studies Center

Now on YouTube! Watch our January Lunch and Learn presented by David Rahahę·tih Webb (Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjEs...

Mary Peltola seeks to be first Alaska Native woman in Senate - ICT Former U.S. representative, Yup’ik, will challenge sitting Republican Dan Sullivan for the hotly contested seat that Democrats are hoping could help them retake control of the Senate

“Along with Peltola, if Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan wins her U.S. Senate race in Minnesota, both would make history as the first Native women in the U.S. Senate.”

ictnews.org/politics/mar...

“After accomplishing that longstanding goal, the Tribe will now enter a period of transition over the next months of years — a period which has already begun.”
www.robesonian.com/news/336896/...