Remembering Les Riding-In
A Tireless Advocate for Native American Students and Communities
Les Riding-In was a man who knew how to bring people together. He had an innate ability to collaborate and enlist others in his causes. His death in late August at the age of 53 has left a gaping hole at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he worked for nearly 20 years, and in the greater North Texas region.
On Indigenous Peoples Day, dozens gathered at the university to reflect on his contributions. As UTA flew its university flag at half-staff, friends of Riding-In met at the Land Acknowledgment memorial to offer a blessing. The memorial and courtyard, which UTA built in 2022, acknowledge that the Arlington campus stands on land once owned by the Wichita tribe and its affiliated tribes.
A Leader and a Connector
Stephen Silva-Brave, a social work student at UTA, described Riding-In as “the orchestrator of all of it” and “the connector.” During his tenure at UTA, Riding-In served as adviser to the Native American Student Association and a graduate recruiter for the College of Business. He was also a trustee for Pawnee Nation College in Oklahoma.
Riding-In was a tireless advocate for Native American students and communities. He led with humor and quiet strength, and his dedication to his work was unparalleled. Sahar D. Sattarzadeh, an assistant professor of higher education at UTA, called him an “oasis of oxygen on this campus” who worked to bring people together.
Indigenous Peoples Day
Many states and cities have honored Native Americans on Columbus Day in October for decades. In 2021, then-President Joe Biden was the first president to mark Indigenous Peoples Day, issuing a proclamation that celebrated “the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples” and recognized “their inherent sovereignty.”
Last week, President Donald Trump reversed this decision, saying the day would focus only on the explorer. However, this did not stop many in Texas and across the country from celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day.
A Legacy of Advocacy
Kristi Willis, who previously served as president of the Native American Student Association, said the Native American community has lost an invaluable advocate. “Our community needed him. We need that dedication,” she said. “We need allies and for people who understand our people’s contributions, our struggles, and our history.”
Riding-In helped grow the university’s annual powwow to become one of the largest in the state. He also worked to develop a Native American Studies Center, a project that stalled but has not been abandoned. Paul Conrad, an associate professor of history at UTA, said he has not given up hope and envisions a future with a Les Riding-In Native Studies Center on campus.
Conclusion
Les Riding-In’s legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the contributions he made to the Native American community. His tireless advocacy and dedication to his work have left a lasting impact on the University of Texas at Arlington and the greater North Texas region. As the community continues to mourn his loss, they also celebrate his life and the difference he made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who was Les Riding-In?
A: Les Riding-In was a man who worked at the University of Texas at Arlington for nearly 20 years. He was a tireless advocate for Native American students and communities and served as adviser to the Native American Student Association and a graduate recruiter for the College of Business.
Q: What is Indigenous Peoples Day?
A: Indigenous Peoples Day is a day to celebrate the contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples. It is celebrated on the same day as Columbus Day in October.
Q: What was Les Riding-In’s role in the establishment of the Land Acknowledgment memorial and courtyard?
A: Les Riding-In was instrumental in the establishment of the Land Acknowledgment memorial and courtyard, which acknowledges that the Arlington campus stands on land once owned by the Wichita tribe and its affiliated tribes.
Q: What is the Les Riding-In Native Studies Center?
A: The Les Riding-In Native Studies Center is a proposed center that would be established on the University of Texas at Arlington campus. It would be dedicated to the study of Native American history, culture, and contributions.
