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Native American Heritage Month

Write a short description of the content of the imageNovember 2024 - Native Heritage MonthView Flyer

Everyone is invited to celebrate Native American Heritage Month at El Camino College!

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month, observed annually in November, is a time to acknowledge and pay tribute to the Indigenous peoples who have inhabited North America for thousands of years. It is a month of reflection, education, and appreciation for the deep-rooted traditions, artistry, and resilience of Native American communities.

Calendar of Events

Join us for the events and cultural highlights planned for Native American Heritage Month. See Flyer

Calendar of Events
Monday, November 4
(Ongoing during November)		 Anthropology Museum Exhibition
    
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 Native American HM Kick Off featuring: 
Wildhorse Native American Association Performance

Wildhorse singers and dancers are a local intertribal pow wow drum group dedicated to preserving and sharing their cultural traditions. They will be performing drumming and dancing. Come check it out!		 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm Student Services Plaza
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 Native American Healing Circle

Students, staff, and faculty are invited to join us in a Talking Circle of Healing to celebrate indigenous cultures, led by Tomás Hernandez (Sun Dancer).

Native American communities have long utilized Talking Circles as a tradition to build community, provide a space of healing, and to resolve conflicts in a healthy way.
 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm Social Justice Center Conference Room (Comm 203)
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Say Her Name Film Screening and Conversation
This film explores families’ grief, pain and frustration when their loved ones don’t see justice in Big Horn County, Montana - the epicenter of MMIWP. Discussion led by Dr. Martin Leyva.
 11:40 am - 12:55 pm Social Justice Center Lounge (Comm 204)
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 Library Pop Up
Check out awesome book displays at the library featuring Native American authors, poems and novels. Click here to visit a Visual Library Guide on Native American and Indigenous Heritage at https://libguides.elcamino.edu/nativeamerican/nativeamerican 

 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Library Lawn
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 Native Indigenous Transfer Connections
Come meet Adan Perez, UCLA's CCCP Program Coordinator for ELAC, FISI, and Native-identifying scholars. As a first-generation, indigenous, system impacted, nontraditional reverse transfer student, he will share his unique perspectives to support transfer connections for Native American and Indigenous students at ECC.
 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Social Justice Center Lounge (Comm 204)
Monday, November 21, 2024 We Will Speak Film Screening and Discussion
Don't miss this free screening of the award-winning documentary “ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ” (“We Will Speak”). Filmed and directed by ECC English Professor Michael McDermit, the feature-length film follows a small group of Cherokee activists and educators fighting to save their language from extinction. A Q&A session with McDermit will follow the screening, moderated by El Camino College’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility+ Librarian Linda Cooks.
More info: https://www.elcamino.edu/news/el-camino-to-screen-award-winning-documentary-during-native-american-heritage-month.php 
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Marsee Auditorium
Monday, November 25, 2024 Reflections on Indigenous Knowledge and the Environmental Movement
This interactive event will explore the ways that indigenous perspectives on nature have impacted the Western environmental movement, particularly the idea of “deep ecology.” Discussion led by Dr. Teal Orion.
 3:00 pm - 4:25 pm Social Justice Center Lounge (Comm 204)
Tuesday, November 26, 2024 Campus-Wide Discussion: Beyond Land Acknowledgements
Students, staff and faculty are welcome to engage in an open discussion on how El Camino College can go beyond land acknowledgements to support Indigenous students and communities.
 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Social Justice Center Lounge (Comm 204)

 

Background

In response to an effort by many to gain a day of recognition for the great influence American Indians have had upon the U.S., Congress designated "Native American Awareness Week" in October of 1976. Yearly legislation was enacted to continue the tradition until August of 1990, when President Bush approved the designation of November as "National American Indian Heritage Month." Each year, a similar proclamation is issued.

President Clinton noted in 1996, "Throughout our history, American Indian and Alaska Native peoples have been an integral part of the American character. Against all odds, America's first peoples have endured, and they remain a vital cultural, political, social, and moral presence."

November is an appropriate month for the celebration because it is traditionally a time when many American Indians hold fall harvest and world-renewal ceremonies, Pow Wows, dances, and various feasts. The holiday recognizes hundreds of different tribes, approximately 250 languages and celebrates the history, tradition and values of American Indians. "National American Indian Heritage Month" serves as a reminder of the positive effect Native peoples have had on the cultural development and growth of the U.S., as well as the struggles and challenges they have faced.   

Accommodations

If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or have questions about the physical access provided, email mxdelgado@elcamino.edu as soon as possible, but no later than seven days prior to the event.

Contact

If you have questions, ideas, or want to get more involved with Native American Heritage Month at El Camino College, please email Monica Delgado, Social Justice Center Coordinator at  mxdelgado@elcamino.edu.