“Summer of soccer” excitement is sweeping Haskell’s campus as the university community prepares to share Lawrence’s multitribal culture with international guests.
Students and teachers have been hard at work preparing an Indigenous World Market, a powwow and a series of “Friday Facts” presentations.
Claralynn Ayze, enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, is the university’s 2026-27 Miss Haskell. She plans to do dance in the Fancy and Jingle categories at the powwow, where students or teachers will take the mic for educational moments, discussing dance history and regalia.
“I can’t wait to see everyone that’s going to be coming to Haskell,” Ayze said. “I really hope they really engage and see the other tribes and what their creativity can bring to the community, and what it can bring to you.”
At the market, Ayze will present her traditional skill that gave her a leg up in the Miss Haskell competition: tsiiyéél, or a Navajo hair bun. Then, she’ll run the children’s area, where they’ll read books, color, make bracelets and do hula hoop passes to practice teamwork.
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Darryl Monteau, Kiowa, Apache and Comanche, is looking forward to visitors seeing the breadth of art and food at the market. She and her family will serve up goodies such as Indian tacos, vegetarian tacos, individual frybreads and posole soup as Monteau’s Indian Tacos.
Monteau is a Haskell alum and a longtime Lawrence resident. She’s noticed that the broader Lawrence community sometimes shies away from Haskell events, erroneously thinking they’re not invited. She said the summer of soccer events will be a great opportunity to get locals and global visitors on campus all at once.
Makayla Sloan, Cherokee Nation, plans to offer choices across multiple price points for market attendees. Sloan is a full-time bead artist and each of her pieces, from jewelry to hats to bags, are one-of-a-kind.
“I like to have a variety of prices because a lot of people just think that beadwork is expensive, so I have $4 and $5 items, and then I also have hundreds of dollar items,” Sloan said.
Her grandmother started by teaching her fringe style beading, and now she uses wrap and wire wrap beading, peyote stitching, single strand beading and even stone work. She anticipates visitors will ask about the history of her art form.
“(The event) helps explain accurate history, or like, gives a positive and accurate representation of us, because I assume outside of America, there’s not much of that. It’s just kind of the one homogenous idea of what we are,” Sloan said.
Haskell museum director Travis Campbell, Cherokee, Choctaw and Delaware, said stereotypes of Native Americans haven’t just been perpetuated in America — they’ve made it all over the world.
“It’s incredibly important to get these international visitors here to our campus, because they are from other countries, so they’re raised with this other perspective of what we are and who we are and how we live,” he said.
Events schedule
• Friday Facts: This will be a series of informational presentations that will take place at 11 a.m. and at 2 p.m., unless otherwise noted, on the following Fridays at Stidham Union, 2423 Barker Ave.:
— June 12: Haskell History with Eric Anderson
— June 19: Community Stewardship with Alexis Whitehorn-Coriz
— June 26: Haskell Wetlands with Courtney King
— 11 a.m. July 10: Osage Research with Tai Edwards
— 2 p.m. July 10: Importance of Tribal Courts with Layatalati Hill
• Indigenous World Market: The market will include art and food vendors, plus a children’s area. There will be a tent with activities including Miss Haskell’s presentation, a showing of a wetlands documentary, a Friday Facts overview, a history of Haskell presentation and a traditional attire showcase. The market will run from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 at the Haskell Powwow Grounds, 2552 W. Perimeter Road.
• Powwow on the Pitch: Attendees can expect vendors, educational talks on regalia and dance history, and multiple categories of dance competition. The powwow will go from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 24 at Haskell Powwow Grounds, but visitors can get there around 5 p.m. to visit vendors.
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Wulfe Wulfemeyer (they/them), reporter and news editor, has worked with The Lawrence Times since May 2025. They can be reached at [email protected].
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