Get to know a few of our inspiring employees who share their perspectives on Native American Heritage Month and how their own heritage has shaped their unique journeys.
Shakiyra – Maintenance Project Supervisor
Originally from Pennsylvania, Shakiyra (“Shak”) moved to the Lone Star State five-and-a-half years ago and cheerfully states that she “loves the weather, the hotter, the better.” Although she misses her large extended family of five siblings back north, the effervescent mother of four and grandmother of seven keeps busy by getting up at 4 a.m. to walk 10,000 steps and gardening with her husband (who isn’t a Texas weather fan).
On her role with 7-Eleven…
“As a Maintenance Project Supervisor, my role is to help keep stores running smoothly when a piece of equipment or part needs replacing. My team of ten fields about 50 calls a day per person, or 200-300 projects per day. From order time to delivery, we aim for a turnaround of a week or less, which is pretty fast.”
How would you describe the significance of Native American Heritage Month (NAHM) to those who aren’t familiar with the designation?
“The designation provides a wonderful opportunity to honor the diverse cultures, histories and contributions of Native American people who helped shape the lives of North and South American settlers by teaching them about the seasons, harvests and cultivating native foods such as squash, corn, tomatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, black raspberries and so on. Contributions like these, and more, deserve recognition and appreciation.”
Why is NAHM important to you personally?
“It’s a time to reflect on our heritage. My dad’s side of the family, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, goes back more than 400 years or, in my case, at least seven generations. You’ve heard about Powhatan and Pocahontas? They were tribe members! It’s a very prominent tribal name in American history and I’m quite proud to be a part.”
What would you like people to know about Native American culture?
“There are a total of 574 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. but only 326 of them have their own land, which means there’s still 248 tribes with no place to call home. It’s sad that they have no one place to show their history so that the world can learn about their culture. I’m glad, however, that 7-Eleven recognizes the significance of this month and the contributions that Native Americans have made, and still make, to our world. It's my hope that people take this opportunity to learn about our history.”
Do you mark the month with any sort of celebration, commemoration or observance?
“If we stay here in Texas, we usually attend local celebrations where participants sing and dance, play native instruments and wear ceremonial clothes. When I was a child, I’d go turkey hunting with my dad. It’s a great memory, especially as we lost him when I was just 16. If we gather at my aunt’s home in Pennsylvania, we celebrate birthdays, share stories and recipes, which works for me since I’m a foodie! (Laughs). I’m in charge of frybread and pretty good at it.”
Can you speak to the significance of frybread to Native Americans?
“Frybread is a simple food with a complicated history. To prevent Native Americans from starving during the 1860s as they were relocated from their lands, the U.S. government issued them wheat flour, water, salt and baking powder. The result was frybread, and it’s symbolic to Native Americans of both colonization and resilience. But there’s no denying that it’s delicious, whether eaten alone or with toppings. I like honey, whereas others in my family prefer jam or powdered sugar. Or all three!”
