Shaleigh Howells, Museum Director of the Pamunkey Indian Museum and Cultural Center

"The story of the Algonquin people really reflects a question that Native people get asked very often: How long have you been here? And Native people typically respond with "we have always been here, and we're still here."

In an exclusive webinar for NOVA students, faculty, and staff, the Office of DEI's December Spotlight Event featured Shaleigh Howells (Museum Director of the Pamunkey Indian Museum and Cultural Center) discussing the history of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe in Virginia, as well as her work managing the Tribe and museum's cultural resources. She also spoke openly and frankly about the history of the controversial Indian Boarding Schools, as well as issues facing Native Americans today and ways to support indigenous communities.

Ms. Howells, a non-Native representative of and advocate for the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Harvard University. Her areas of expertise include collections management, museum registration, deaccession, repatriation, cultural resource management and community engagement. Her former appointment was with the Valentine in Richmond, VA, where she developed and managed the museum's large-scale deaccession project.

To view a recording of this event (NOTE: this recording is only available for enrolled students and NOVA faculty and staff), visit https://online.nvcc.edu/videoservices/. Click Academic Resources, then SSO Login, log in, and scroll down to DEI-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

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DEI Spotlight Events are held monthly. For information about other programs by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit https://www.nvcc.edu/diversity, or contact Dr. Nathan Carter at nacarter@nvcc.edu.