The new marker, which sits next to Schar Hall, includes the Yesa:sahį́ (yay-sa-sa-heen) translation for “grove of oaks."
Elon University is honoring its partnership with the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation (OBSN) with a new historical marker Under the Oaks. A dedication ceremony will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.
The event will honor the deepening relationships between Indigenous communities and institutions of higher learning, built on the principles of respect, relevance, reciprocity, and responsibility. The new marker, which sits next to Schar Hall, includes the Yesa:sahį́ (yay-sa-sa-heen) translation for “grove of oaks.”
Elon University strives to honor the legacy of the Siouan-speaking American Indian tribes who first lived in this area and the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, which became the most prevalent by 1650. Members of the OBSN continue to live in this area today and carry forward their ancestors’ history, traditions and love for this land.
RSVP to the event by Thursday, Sept. 4.