The Indigenous Student Collective has been working hard since its inception in 2023 to introduce Wichita State students of all backgrounds to Indigenous cultures.
To celebrate Native American Heritage Month this November, the group held a showcase featuring homemade Indian tacos, a performance of multiple songs by local group Young Switch-Northern Drum and Casey Henderson, a jingle dress dancer who is also a Wichita State student.
The songs played by Young Switch all came with a deep meaning. One of which was called “Veterans Song.” The song is intended to honor veterans who have served overseas. To call them back, thank them, and honor them.
“When you’ve got ten guys around this drum, you can make a really nice kind of vibration,” said Young Switch member Christopher Heird. “You can hear the sound waves of the voices, and they just sync with each other. One sound and one voice.”
Many of the songs were also accompanied by Henderson’s dancing. Henderson is a member of the Indigenous Student Collective and a student in applied engineering at Wichita State. The style of dance is named after the jingle dress, part of the Ojibwe nation’s cultural tradition. The dress gets its name from the rows of metal cones lining it, called “ziibaaska’iganan.” These make a distinctive jingling sound that accompanies the beats of the drum.
According to Hednerson, the story behind the dress is that there was a grandfather who, while taking care of his sick granddaughter, had a dream that he made her a jingle dress. She would dance in the dress, and the more she danced, the better she felt.
Henderson talked about her resonance with the story.
“Whenever I dance in this dress … I think about all the people that I want to pray for, I think about the people that I want to take care of in my life, and I hope that this gives me the medicine to do that for my people, she said.”
Decson Chairs, president of the Indigenous Student Collective, noticed a lack of events celebrating Native heritage on campus. When he took on the role of president his second year, he said he decided to be the change he wished to see, and work to bring more events like the showcase onto campus.
“The Indigenous Student Collective is open to all students,” said Chairs. “And we want to spread our culture to any and everybody who is willing and able.”
