Bennard Dallasvuyaoma.
This Fall 2024 semester, Professor Michelle Alarcon and the College of Business were privileged to have a Native American guest speaker, Mr. Bennard Dallasvuyaoma. Dallasvuyaoma is in New Mexico and gave a live Zoom talk in Alarcon’s classes on Diversity and Business law on November 19, 2024. Dallasvuyaoma is from an indigenous Hopi and Pima Indian descent. He is an academic professional and successful entrepreneur with computer programming and business education, and master's degree in history and Indian Education. After graduation, he worked as Education Director for the Hopi Tribe, where he spearheaded and authored the documentation necessary for Congressional funding to build the Hopi High School. Dallasvuyaoma worked for 16 years for various school systems. During this time, he painted and made jewelry in the classic Hopi overlay style. At the end of his teaching career, he became Education Curator for the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and started an exotic Indian jewelry business with his wife Frances, who is the first Hopi female attorney and was the first Native American accepted to the University of New Mexico Alfred B. Sloan MBA Program.
Dallasvuyaoma (aka Dallas) delivered an impressive and very informative talk about Native American history and culture.
Students noted his presentation as very helpful in making them better understand the history and organization of Native American tribes. Some key points he highlighted include how Indian tribes manage to be independent yet work together as a group in handling their systems, like education and healthcare, which gave students a fresh new perspective on how they function.
Dallas also talked about topics some students noted as things they had never learned before. He spoke of the Pueblo Revolt, highlighting how Native Americansʻ resistance against the Spanish as a good example of their determination to stand up for their rights. Another important topic he covered was the Trail of Tears and the forced relocations and hardships the tribes faced, giving students a clearer sense of the challenges in their fight for recognition and justice. He talked about the Aztec and Hopi culture and history, as well as the several other Indian tribes and his aspiration to have all tribes united as one.
On the bright side, Dallas noted his appreciation for how the tribes benefited economically in America and the political and economic freedom and control they are experiencing now.
Overall, students noted that Dallas’ presentation gave them a deeper appreciation for the history, struggles, and resilience of Native American communities and how their past continues to shape their present.
