HUNAP Celebrates Twenty Native and Indigenous Graduating Students

June 3, 2021

2021 HUNAP Graduates

The Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP) congratulates the Class of 2021!

Twenty Native and Indigenous students are now Harvard 2021 graduates, with seven awarded their bachelor’s degree and thirteen bestowed graduate degrees from a masters to a doctorate, including PhDs in Law, Medicine, and Anthropology. Among this group of graduates were three TCU graduates, a mother of ten, two (?) varsity athletes, students whose higher education careers began at Harvard ten years ago, and students whose year-long degree programs were entirely virtual, due to The University's response to the global pandemic.

HUNAP Gifts
Students received a stole, pin, and wampum strand from HUNAP.
HUNAP works with and supports students who identify as American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian (Kānaka Maoli), First Nations, Indigenous Pacific Islander, and many other global Indigenous affiliations. Every year, HUNAP hosts a graduation celebration, with family and community to celebrate the accomplishments of graduating students. This year, twenty Native and Indigenous students participated in HUNAP's graduation celebration, each receiving a HUNAP stole, alumni pin, and strand of wampum, as a gift to honor the graduate and solidify a continuing relationship with the program.


This year's virtual program was held on the evening of Wednesday, May 26, 2021. A tribal welcome was presented by Faries Gray, Sagamore of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag, followed by an opening prayer in the Koasati language by graduating senior, Eli Langley, '21. Faculty remarks were given by HUNAP Faculty Director, Professor Joseph P. Gone, '92 (Aaniih-Gros Ventre) and Professor Shawon Kinew, AM'12/PhD'16 (Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, Treaty 3 Anishinaabe Nation) and congratulations continued with remarks by the Native American Alumni of Harvard University and the Harvard Alumni for Oceania. After reflective statements from each graduate, the event closed with a prayer by Carlos Ocampo, brother of graduating student, Gabriella Herrera, AB'15/MPH'20/MD'21.

You can view Professor Kinew's remarks here.

 

Congratulations, Class of 2021!