American Indian Student Services hosts first annual feast day

Students gathered at the University of New Mexico’s Cornell Mall to watch Pueblo dancers and musicians and shop from Indigenous artist vendors during American Indian Student Services’ first annual feast day on Thursday, Nov. 13.

The feast day was hosted by American Indian Student Services and featured dancers from the pueblos of Ohkay Owingeh and Zuni, and artists from the Navajo Nation and Pueblos of Acoma, Kewa and Cochiti, among others.

AISS Director Andrew Yazzie said the event was a moment to celebrate Indigenous culture on campus and offer a feast day for students who might not be able to travel home for different events.

“The weather is really nice and so I think we're really lucky. I think it's really amazing to see our vibrant community come out and celebrate our indigenous culture in New Mexico,” Yazzie said.

UNM junior Araalyn Arviso attended the Feast Day, watched the dances and bought some earrings for herself, her sister and her mom. Arviso, who is Navajo, said the event was a good way for her to embrace Native American Heritage Month.

“I liked the dancers. I kind of only saw the ending, but it was nice just hearing it,” Arviso said.

UNM junior Lauri Tsosie, who is Navajo and Zuni, said she was excited to see students representing their Indigenous gowns and jewelry for AISS “Indigi-Week.”

Some students wore moccasins and traditional Indigenous attire as Nov. 13 was “Rock your Mocs + Tradish Attire,” for Indigi-Week, according to the AISS Instagram.

“I think for this event, it was really great to have, especially being in college as a student,” Tsosie said. "It kind of reconnects us as Natives, to feel like home, kind of get that feeling, that warmth in a way.” 

At the event, students ordered lunch from the Manko food truck — a “Native American fusion” food truck from Española.

Navajo artist and UNM alum Camille Hemstreet made and sold beadwork as a vendor for the feast day with her brand, SDA Designz.

“It's called contemporary beadwork,” Hemstreet said. “We specialize in what we call ‘pow-wow bling.’”

At the feast, Hemstreet was also making K-pop themed beadwork for her sub-brand “b3ad RACHA,” which featured photos of K-pop band members and themed characters mixed in the beadwork.

“We really wanted to take this moment to celebrate our indigenous culture, our diversity on our campus, and part of that is really celebrating our Pueblo culture as well,” Yazzie said.

Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88

Leila Chapa contributed reporting to this article 

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