– A conversation with Canopy Staff Members, Joe Farmer and Tyler Stenson –
“There’s nothing wrong with connecting with another culture. Moving beyond acquaintanceships into cross-cultural relationships doesn’t mean we claim the culture; rather, it fosters empathy and understanding. Above all, understanding creates celebration, and if anything, reduces fear.”
November marks National Native American Heritage Month, as it has been observed federally since 1990. It also marks three months of Joe Farmer living in Northwest Arkansas. Before Joe joined Canopy NWA as a Logistics Aide, coordinating the setup of each arriving family’s furniture and Welcome Kits, he lived 60 miles east, in his hometown of Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Tahlequah, located just west of Fayetteville, shares the same Ozark foothills and river tributaries. However, demographically, it is uniquely distinct and has been for over 200+ years. In 1839, Tahlequah was named the capital of the Cherokee Nation and has served as a central point of identity and community for Cherokee Nationals like Joe and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. Important to note, Tahlequah was also the central point for other indigenous peoples, forcibly displaced by the US Government, on the Trail of Tears from 1830-1850.
Although the Cherokee Nation is the largest of the 507 federally recognized Indian tribes, with 466,000 active members as of 2024, a short trip across the state line to Fayetteville reveals a different reality. Fayetteville has about 503 fellow Native Americans—just 0.53% of its population—which can feel like a world apart.
“Moving so far away from tribal land, I didn’t realize how much smaller the demographic would be. It’s intimidating, to be honest…”
As a part of Canopy’s Housing department, Joe follows a structured schedule for furniture collections, procurement, and delivery for families and individuals arriving in Northwest Arkansas as refugees. If you visit Canopy’s office, you’ll likely see him loading or unloading a U-Haul, or heading out the door to ensure everything is ready for new arrivals.
“After leaving my home, I’m doing my best to stay connected to my culture,” Joe said, actively relearning the Cherokee language and sharing the Cherokee sense of humor with his infectious laughter and clever jokes.
When I asked him how he felt about sharing his Cherokee culture at the start of National Native American Heritage Month, Joe paused for a moment before responding. “There’s nothing wrong with connecting with another culture. Moving beyond acquaintanceships into cross-cultural relationships doesn’t mean we claim the culture; rather, it fosters empathy and understanding. Above all, understanding creates celebration, and if anything, reduces fear.”
–
With nearly 1000 refugees resettled in North West Arkansas through Canopy, our vision is to not only meet the basic needs of our new neighbors, but to equip them with the tools to thrive in the Northwest Arkansas community. With Joe’s help, we’re honored to connect with our clients arriving from all over the world and put support systems in place to ensure that refugees, immigrants, and people with additional vulnerabilities can navigate the challenging process of resettlement with as little stress as possible
For more resources and background on National Native American Heritage Month, visit nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov
Responses