Nov. 1 marks the beginning of Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich and diverse histories, cultures, and traditions of Indigenous, Native American, American Indian, and Alaskan Native people.
“The month of November concludes a traditional harvest for many Native American tribes and is a time of celebration,” says Alexis “Dink” Dinkins, assistant director for programming and belonging in the Office of Identity, Student Engagement, and Access (ISEA).
ISEA and other campus offices have planned events in November to help the Clark community honor all Native American and Indigenous peoples. These include:
- Goddard Library Book Display
The library’s Native American Heritage Month Book Display will be available all month, and throughout November, selections will be featured on ISEA’s Instagram page. - Friendsgiving
ISEA and Residential Life and Housing will hold Friendsgiving on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the McCann Resource Room of Dana Commons. While there will be food at this event, it will also be educational, delving into the history of Thanksgiving and raising awareness about how the American educational system’s explanation of Thanksgiving has impacted — and continues to impact — local and national Native American tribes and individuals. Open to all undergraduate and residential students; RSVP to attend » - Virtual Book Club: “There There”
The monthly virtual book club sponsored by the Goddard Library and Alumni and Friends Engagement, held online on Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 7 to 8 p.m., will discuss “There There” by Tommy Orange. The book — a national bestseller and Pulitzer Prize finalist — follows twelve characters from Native communities who are traveling to the Big Oakland Powwow and are connected to one another in ways they may not yet realize. Learn more and register » - CEV Speaker Series: Athena Callender
On Thursday, Nov 30, from 3 to 4 p.m., the Center for Community Engagement and Volunteering will present a talk by Athena Callender, who is a member of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe as well as a plant-based expert and certified holistic consultant. She will highlight her journey as an Indigenous woman living a spiritual and holistic lifestyle, leading a successful company, and more. - Film Screening: “Beans”
“Beans” is a coming-of-age drama inspired by director/writer Tracey Deer’s real-life experiences witnessing and engaging with the 1990 Oka Crisis, a land dispute between a group of Mohawk people and the Quebec government. The screening, sponsored by ISEA and the Clark University Film Screening Society, will take place on Thursday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m., in Jefferson 320; refreshments will be available.
In 1990, President George H.W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including “Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month”), have been issued each year since 1994. Since 1990, Congress has authorized an annual presidential proclamation that designates November as National American Indian Heritage Month to encourage all people to learn about the contributions and cultures of the Indigenous peoples of the North American continent.
