This past spring, TCU hired Wendi Sierra, PhD, as the new Native Nations and Communities Liaison. Her role is to bridge the TCU Community with the Native communities that exist in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Sierra is a citizen of the Oneida Nation and a member of the Turtle Clan. She spoke about her role, what it entails, how TCU supports Native American initiatives and her goals while in the position.
What drew you to TCU in the beginning?
“I saw a job opening for TCU that was explicitly for a video game studies professor. There are not a whole lot of those in academia. It is still a fairly new field. The main thing that excited me about the TCU position is they were explicitly looking for somebody who did game studies and engaged with some level of diversity in their work. I had just begun working with my nation and delving more into language reclamation through video games and native representation in games. One of the biggest factors was seeing the energy behind Native American issues here. TCU seemed to bring together everything I was passionate about into a career. I am from the DFW area so I was excited to be back home as well.”
What is your new role?
“The community liaison position I see as basically a mediator. I am a resource for the local, native community who wants to learn more and engage more with TCU and wants a TCU presence at their events, or who wants to give feedback to TCU about the things that we are doing. I’m also a mediator for the TCU community. If there are events TCU would like to host, questions they have or speakers they want I can help connect them with the local community to do that. I view this position really, as one that’s attempting to view build bridges between campus and local community.”
What are some initiatives you are working on now?
“My goal would be to develop a minor in Native American Studies. It sounds easy, just add more classes and you are done. It would mean so much more than that. This could help TCU students develop interest in Native issues whether they are Native or not. It would also mean more faculty would have to be aware of Native issues. It would also mean more attention and support from administration. A minor would bring together a collection of people that want to support Native peoples.
“I am also in the process of starting the first powwow on campus. A powwow is a traditional gathering of Native peoples and cultures. It is intertribal so it is not connected to any particular nation, but you see people from a lot of nations coming in to support. You have drumming, singing and dancing. There are vendors selling food and handmade art. It provides a very different way to experience native culture.”
President Biden issued an apology for Native American boarding schools. What are your thoughts on his statement?
“I saw that this is only the sixth time in our history that the U.S. has apologized for an action it took. So on one hand, that is a statement, right? That is an important step. I think a common criticism is often these statement including land acknowledgements is they are only performative. People say the words to make them feel good, but there is not usually action with it. There has been some action with Deb Haaland investigating boarding schools, but it cannot stop there.
“What is the impact besides the words he says? There are many steps that I think would be appropriate. It could be rethinking how we teach American history, or how we talk about these actions. It could be creating a broader awareness about these issues to the American public. I see these words and appreciate what they say, but I want to know what are you going to do now. It is the right step, but in the end it is just a step.”
