When junior Marissa Mathieson, a Diné student at WashU, arrived on campus, she was frustrated to find how little support there is for Native American students such as herself.

The Office for International Students and Scholars and the American Indian Student Association (AISA) led a conversation titled “Decolonizing Thanksgiving,” informing attendees about the history of the holiday and inviting open discussion and reflection about the indigenous peoples and land, Nov. 14.

This year, the 27th Annual Washington University in St. Louis Pow Wow celebrated the theme of children and youth, embracing the tagline “Honoring our ancestor’s sacrifice: Empowering children today to be the leaders of tomorrow.” Honoring the art and culture of American Indian and Alaska Native communities, the program invited the Washington University community—both those familiar and unfamiliar with native traditions—to experience the cultural knowledge that has been passed down through generations.