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For University of Arkansas at Little Rock student-athlete Kendal Wells, reconnecting with her Native American heritage has been a journey of discovering not only where she comes from, but also where she belongs.
That effort was recently recognized when Wells was selected as one of 10 recipients from her tribe to receive the Muscogee Nation Scholarship Foundation’s Aristocrat Cokv Hecv Honors Program Scholarship.
“Only 10 people got selected for my tribe, so that’s so gratifying to me,” Wells said. “It’s reassuring to know that I am part of my tribe and that I have a place.”
For Wells, that sense of belonging has taken time to find. Growing up in northwestern Oklahoma, geographically separated from many of the Muscogee Nation’s cultural activities and traditions, she had fewer opportunities to participate and explore her identity. That distance strengthened her desire to learn more about her heritage and build a closer connection to her tribal community.
Her interest in understanding her heritage carried into the scholarship application process. Wells researched Phillip Deere, a Muscogee spiritual leader who helped Native Americans reconnect with their culture and identity. His work resonated with Wells as she began learning her tribal language and looking for ways to strengthen her own connection to Muscogee culture.
Wells continued exploring her roots through Native Explorers, a program that brings together participants from tribes across Oklahoma to learn about Indigenous traditions and experiences. During a weeklong camping experience, she learned Indigenous approaches to finding fossils, heard elders share stories, learned about other tribes’ migration histories, and shared a Muscogee tradition of her own.
“Hearing everybody else’s stories and being able to come together as one was beautiful,” Wells said.
The program also gave Wells an opportunity to explore the relationship between Indigenous culture, health and science through a STEM internship with Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. She observed in an anatomy lab, learned traditional basket weaving, and explored ways to adapt Indigenous foods and cooking practices to support healthier diets. She also worked alongside two second-year medical students on research examining violence among Native American women, helping bring awareness to an issue affecting her community. (More than 80% of American Indian and Alaska Native women experience violence in their lifetime, according to a report from the National Institute of Justice, and their murder rate is nearly three times that of non-Hispanic White women.)
The research experience reinforced Wells’ interest in medicine. A double major in biology and chemistry, Wells is preparing for medical school with the goal of using her education to serve her community.
For Wells, becoming a physician is about more than treating patients. She hopes to return to Oklahoma and practice at a tribal hospital, where she can build relationships with Native patients and help create a health care environment where they feel comfortable seeking care.
“A lot of Native Americans don’t trust the health care system,” Wells said. “I want to go back and let them know they can trust me. I’m there to help and support them.”
Another Community at UA Little Rock
Her commitment to supporting others extends beyond her future career. During her time at UA Little Rock, Wells has found another community that supports her. After transferring to the university to play soccer, she found a sense of belonging through the women’s soccer team, where her teammates became a source of support and family.
Wells “has been the consummate teammate over the course of her time” as a Trojan, “someone who exudes positive energy, uplifts the people around her, and always puts the team first,” said Kelly Farrell, head coach of the Trojan’s women’s soccer team. “Kendal’s work rate is second to none, she’s prepared and comes ready to face every challenge head-on. She’s an incredible representative of Little Rock Soccer, and I’m so proud to call her a Trojan.”
Wells “couldn’t imagine going through college without being a student-athlete,” she said. “I love soccer so much, and you build a family with your teammates.”
Photo by Nelson Chenault
That experience has shaped how she approaches her own involvement. As a college ambassador and chemistry learning assistant, Wells enjoys welcoming students, sharing her interest in science and helping others build confidence in their abilities.
Dr. Mark Baillie, provost’s fellow and associate professor of chemistry, has seen Wells’s commitment to helping others as her instructor, her research mentor, and as her learning assistant mentor.
“I’ve been fortunate to have Kendal as a student and later as a learning assistant in my general chemistry courses,” he said. “She has an amazing ability to balance rigorous academic courses, high-level athletics and a research position while still finding ways to improve the lives of those around her.”
She’s extended that effort beyond the classroom by founding the Trojan Outdoors Club, which gives students opportunities to take part in activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and biking. Wells hopes to make outdoor recreation more accessible while helping students connect with one another and explore Arkansas.
“I have my teammates that I love, and the more people you know, the more fulfilled you are and the more people you can help,” she said.
Whether through her cultural connections, campus involvement or future career, Wells continues to look for ways to support others and strengthen the communities around her.
“I just want to help people,” Wells said. “I think at the end of the day, that’s why I love being so involved on campus, because I’m helping other people. It feels good being there and providing something for others.”
Source: ualr.edu
