As November unfolds, the University of Arizona and the halls of Congress are both playing host to powerful conversations about Native identity, recognition, and leadership. While one campus in Tucson honors the achievements of its Indigenous students, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are wrestling with the future of tribal recognition in North Carolina—a debate that’s stirring pride, controversy, and hope in equal measure.
On November 5, 2025, the University of Arizona spotlighted Native American Heritage Month by lifting up students who exemplify leadership, cultural pride, and a deep commitment to their communities. One such student is Sarah McCovey, a junior majoring in American Indian Studies with a minor in psychology. Sarah serves as an ambassador for both the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the American Indian Studies program, and her story is one of perseverance, tradition, and a vision for the next generation.
Sarah’s journey is rooted in her heritage as a member of the San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation. “My cultural identity has shaped my journey at the University of Arizona in so many ways—it’s been both my foundation and my motivation,” she shared with the university’s press office. Growing up O’odham, Sarah learned the core values of community, respect, and perseverance from her family and elders, lessons that continue to guide her academic and personal path.
“Being at the University of Arizona, I carry O’odham stories, language, and traditions with me, which give me a sense of purpose beyond myself,” Sarah explained. “I’m not just earning a degree—I am paving the way for future generations from my community to see that higher education is possible while staying true to who we are as O’odham.”
Sarah’s academic path began with an Associate of Arts in Tohono O’odham Studies from Tohono O’odham Community College, which she completed in 2024. She then transferred to the University of Arizona, intent on deepening her understanding of Indigenous sovereignty, policy, and community development. “I decided to major in American Indian Studies because I am passionate about learning more about Indigenous sovereignty, policy, and community development from an academic and cultural perspective,” Sarah said. Her goal? To make a positive difference for Native Nations, including her own.
Her minor in psychology, she believes, complements her major by equipping her to better serve her community’s mental health and well-being needs. For Sarah, these academic pursuits are not just personal ambitions, but a means to uplift others. As an ambassador, she has taken on leadership roles that allow her to empower fellow Native students and share Indigenous knowledge in academic settings. “I’ve learned that leadership is about creating space for others to feel seen and supported,” she said. “Empowering other students, especially Native students, means reminding them that their voices matter and that their presence in higher education is powerful.”
Sarah’s work extends beyond the classroom. She connects students with resources, celebrates their successes, and demonstrates that Indigenous knowledge and identity are strengths that belong in every academic setting. Her message to the broader public is clear: “My hope is that people understand Indigenous people are still here. We are not just a part of history—we are the people of this land, still living on it, caring for it, with the guidance and teachings of our ancestors.”
Family teachings and traditions play a central role in Sarah’s life. “One teaching that continues to guide me comes from my family and the O’odham elders—to always walk in balance and show respect for all living beings,” she reflected. This philosophy, she says, keeps her grounded and focused on giving back, honoring those who came before by helping her people move forward.
While Sarah and her peers celebrate their heritage and strive for representation, a very different—yet related—debate is playing out on the national stage. Also on November 5, 2025, a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing in Washington, D.C., brought the proposed "Lumbee Fairness Act" into sharp focus. The act seeks to grant the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina full federal recognition and benefits, a move that has sparked division among lawmakers and tribal leaders.
Senator Thom Tillis, who has a history of working with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, voiced his strong support for the Lumbee Tribe during the hearing. “I studied it and found out once again we could at least help them on their path. What they really needed was federal recognition,” Tillis said, according to WLOS. He added, “Make no mistake, in my remaining time in the US Senate, I will move heaven and earth to be successful. I believe that the Congressional delegation, the majority of them, are right along with me.”
However, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians stands firmly opposed to the act. Principal Chief Michell Hicks articulated the tribe’s concerns: “This issue is well over a century old, and it continues to come back to the same conclusion: There’s too many gaps in the genealogy. There’s too many gaps in the history. There’s no treaty relationships. The Lumbee does not have a sister tribe in Oklahoma. There’s so many things here that need to be evaluated. That’s why it needs to go through the OFA [Office of Federal Acknowledgment] process.”
The Cherokee leadership maintains that federal recognition should follow a merit-based process through the Office of Federal Acknowledgment, warning that bypassing this process without documented history, language, traditions, treaty rights, and land bases “undermines the standards that protect Tribal Nations and federal Indian law.”
On the other side, Senator Ted Budd echoed support for the Lumbee, referencing a statement from the US Department of Interior: “It says recognition of the Lumbee tribe through S 107 does not diminish the rights or status of currently federally recognized Indian tribes.” This assurance is intended to calm concerns that new recognition could dilute existing federal support or status for other tribes.
The Senate Committee hearing will remain open for another two weeks, allowing members to submit additional questions and opinions. The stakes are high, with the outcome likely to shape not only the future of the Lumbee Tribe but also the broader landscape of tribal recognition in the United States.
Back in Arizona, students like Sarah McCovey are watching these debates closely. Their stories remind us that the fight for recognition, respect, and self-determination is both deeply personal and profoundly political. Whether in the halls of academia or the chambers of Congress, Indigenous voices are demanding to be heard—and, increasingly, they are.
As Native American Heritage Month continues, these parallel stories—of students striving to honor their heritage and lawmakers debating the contours of recognition—underscore the enduring strength and complexity of Native identity in America today.
