Native American Heritage Month is a time for everyone to recognize the history of Indigenous communities locally and worldwide and to highlight the contributions the community has made that often go underrepresented, according to Keller senior Julianna Canas, the president of the Society for the Advancement of Chicano Hispanics and Native Americans in STEM.

“A lot of times they use what’s called the blood quantum rule, so it dictates whatever percentage you are of Native American,” Canas said. “There’s also the tragedy of a lot of tribes nowadays; after the next generation, they will not be considered Native anymore. The whole philosophy and the identity behind it is dictated by the U.S. government, but currently, there is a big push between us to kind of build the identity for ourselves.”

On Nov. 12, Waco Mayor Jim Holmes met with Ross as well as Wichita and Affiliated Tribes President Amber Silverhorn Wolfe to talk about the possibility of a history center for the tribe in Waco since their roots are tied to the city — the tribe was forcibly removed in August 1859.

The Mayborn Museum was filled with the harmonious sounds of native flutes for over an hour on Wednesday as a Waco local put on a concert in honor of Native American Heritage Month.

The narrative of the play follows a teacher and aspiring director in charge of her own Thanksgiving play working with a local street actor who she has an intimate relationship with, a cliché Los Angeles actress and a geeky history teacher with dreams to be a playwright.