On August 12, 2024, a special ceremony celebrated the creation of a new Indigenous plant garden near NAU’s Kitt Recital Hall thanks to support from renowned Navajo-Ute flutist R. Carlos Nakai, ’79, ’94, and spouse Pamela Hyde-Nakai.
A Grammy-nominated recording artist, Nakai has played the flute for over four decades and released more than 50 albums in his career. As a musician and lecturer, Nakai advocates preserving and sharing cultural traditions through his music. Nakai’s inclination toward education became deeply embedded in his approach to music, sharing his cultural traditions with artists and industry experts worldwide.
Wanting to infuse the area outside the Kitt Recital Hall and the Clifford E. White Theater with Native plants, Nakai and Hyde-Nakai worked with master gardener Laura Davis, long-time friend Phyllis Hogan, and manager at the NAU Greenhouse Adair Patterson to hand-select Indigenous plants and beautify a space now known as the Nakai Plaza.
“This area is in the heart of music, and we want to encourage connections to Native plants and provide a space for Indigenous people to be at the center of music and nature.”
R. Carlos Nakai, ’79, ’94 NAU alumnus and donor
“When we demonstrate our belonging to culture and invite students to join, we create a space that connects us all,” Nakai said.
Forestry and fire ecology student, Sahale James, ’26, was there to bless the space and share knowledge about each plant species. From the golden columbine to the blue catmint, plants were provided by the Museum of Northern Arizona and housed in the NAU Greenhouse until they were ready to be planted in the plaza.
“As a Navajo student and a student of forestry, researching helped me feel more connected with the plants itself, learning their medicinal purposes both from the western side and for my cultural and traditional use,” James said. “It was humbling to be a part of the blessing. I took the initiative to advocate for myself and extend a hand to teach what I know to other Native American students, encouraging them to impress their own culture.”
The Nakai Plaza symbolizes the importance of having spaces on campus that educate and enhance cultural engagement. It is a place to gather, celebrate music, and recognize an artist who has made notable contributions throughout his career.
