Before the Settlers: The Evolution of Indigenous Life in Northwest Arkansas

Long before Anglo-American settlers arrived in Northwest Arkansas, Indigenous peoples had already called this region home for thousands of years. Join Jazlyn Sanderson-Mountz, Director of the Museum of Native American History, for a journey through nearly 12,000 years of Indigenous history in Northwest Arkansas. From the earliest inhabitants of the region and the age of bluff shelters to the height of Osage influence, discover how Indigenous communities adapted and evolved over thousands of years. Explore the transition from hunting and gathering to established communities and agriculture, including the cultivation of corn, beans, and squash. Learn how people transformed local stone into tools and projectile points, crafted Arkansas clay into pottery, and developed traditions that continue to shape the region's cultural landscape today. About the Speaker: Jazlyn Sanderson-Mountz is a Northwest Arkansas native and Director of the Museum of Native American History (MONAH). A graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Art, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art History with a focus on pre-Columbian Mesoamerican art. She joined MONAH following her graduation in 2020 and became director in January 2023 at age 24. During her time as director, Sanderson-Mountz has welcomed more than 100 cultural objects into the museum's collection, expanded community outreach throughout Northwest Arkansas and beyond, and strengthened relationships with Tribal Nations and Indigenous artisans. This lecture is free and open to the public. RSVP