Recognizing and honoring Indigenous people, histories and experiences unveils the truth of the past, honors the vibrant communities of the present, and supports Native students' success.
TU’s campus resides on the ancient homelands of the Susquehannock, Nanticoke and Piscataway people. Our diverse students, faculty and staff represent these nations and many more—each of which has a distinct heritage and culture. This page celebrates their individual stories as well as the collective events and programming that strengthen opportunities for connection and advancement. Additional resources are provided to foster a deeper understanding of our region’s rich Native cultures and the ways they remain vibrant and present today.
With 574 recognized tribes and many more still seeking recognition, our Indigenous community is as diverse as we are proud. We unite in a shared connection to history and a shared dedication to preserving our cultures for the generations to come. From food to art and everywhere in between, we celebrate the traditions and perspectives we bring.
"Disease symptoms can present differently for people of different races and genders, and when symptoms are generalized, it can make diagnoses harder for people of color. I want to be part of the change to look at patients holistically and use that to improve care."
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“I’ve never been on a reservation, and I don’t look like most cultural representations of Native Americans. I know what a struggle it can be to find a place where you feel like you belong.”
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“As an adult I’ve surrounded myself with more people who are like me and have really been invested in learning about our history and the importance of what’s happened and how we can continue to advocate for Native folks all over.”
Read moreCook Library 3rd & 4th floors
Explore a new book collection focused on the intersectionality of Native American communities with Black, Latine/x and urban communities and cultures.
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Maryland State Fairgrounds
The Baltimore American Indian Center invites all for a day of dance, history, art and tradition.
3:30 to 5 p.m. in Cook 512
Conversations and crafting open to all students with connections to Native American and Indigenous communities.
TU students are forming a Native American & Indigenous Student Union (NAISU) to build connection, belonging and support for their experiences. The group is led by librarian Emily Minner—a member of the Lumbee Tribe—and meets monthly for activities and fellowship.
Connect with the NAISULong before the Maryland State Normal School moved to its present location—eventually becoming Towson University—the same land was home to Native and Indigenous populations who used it for farming, trading and seasonal settlements. These communities and nations include the Susquehannock, Nentego (Nanticoke) and the Piscataway people, for whom the land that the university currently occupies is their ancestral homeland. TU acknowledges the ground on which we reside so that all who come here know that we recognize our institutional history and our responsibilities to the peoples of that land, and that we strive to address that history so it guides our work in the present and the future.
Campus thoroughfares that were once Native American trails and other facts about the Native and Indigenous peoples who once called this region home.
Learn moreThe Office of Inclusion & Institutional Equity (OIIE) provides guidance about TU’s land acknowledgment and how it can be used.
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The Lumbee Tribe has the largest presence of Native Peoples in the Baltimore region. While the tribe’s ancestral lands are in North Carolina, tribal members migrated to Baltimore in search of better-paying jobs during the post-World War II industrial boom. Here, they established a tight-knit community with a population estimated to be as high as 7,000 in the late 1970s. At the time it was believed to be the largest community of tribal members in an American urban area. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Minner Art LLC + Community)
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The Baltimore American Indian Center (BAIC) is located in Fells Point, which is the cultural epicenter of Baltimore’s Lumbee Tribe. BAIC hosted Pow-Wows in TU's University Union from 2014 to 2017, and continues to host them at the Maryland State Fairgrounds.
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“We want to allow for cross pollination between those interested in studying Native American history and artifacts and those who understand current practices and traditions. That’s how we draw connections between the two.”
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“Native people are generally not part of the national discourse. And when they are, it's usually about the past. So any time that we can counter those erasures by making people remember that Native people are still here is important.”
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“My dad would teach me the spirit of everything, and I’ve always wanted to keep that alive. We’re very proud of our Indigenous heritage, and it’s pushed me on my path a lot. I always thought it’s important to make sure people have that at TU.”
Read MoreThese identity-based scholarship and career resources for Native American students support college persistence and completion.
TU Career Center Resources National Education Association EdJustice American Indian College Fund
