JACOB SANTOS
Special to The Leader
Since 1990, during the presidency of George H.W. Bush, the U.S. has federally recognized the month of November as Native American Heritage Month. At SUNY Fredonia, the Native American Student Union will be sponsoring a number of events, open to all students and faculty, highlighting the current issues and traditions of Native Americans today.
“Native American Heritage Month celebrates centuries of rich, vibrant Native American culture, and brings to light many issues modern Natives are facing,” said Katelynn Rought, a sophomore French adolescent education major who serves as NASU’s secretary.
During the 1980s, initiatives to create a heritage month were largely voiced by politicians and activists who advocated the need to highlight important historical figures and events, which had long been disregarded from U.S. history. Today, federal, state and local entities are encouraged to provide educational programs for employees and the broader communities they serve.
“Here at Fredonia, we celebrate [Native American Heritage Month] by having a series of events in November based on local and nation-wide indigenous cultures,” said Riley Cox, a senior history major serving as NASU’s president. “All of our events are free and unticketed and will be led by guest speakers.”
NASU aims to promote positive awareness of the Native American identity, as well as issues that presently affect the 5.4 million Natives in the U.S. today.
“Many Native American nations are suffering from a loss of language,” said Rought, “which in turn leads to a loss of culture. [We] are still here and have many wonderful cultures.”
Much of the events during heritage month will be led by visiting speakers, which have largely been brought and coordinated by Cheryl Jones, the director of the Native American SUNY Western Consortium.
“The people during [Heritage] month have different talents and knowledge of information,” said Jones.
From Oct. 31 to Nov. 14, an exhibit will be on display in the Reed Library called “Here, We Tell Our Own Story: A Celebration of Native American History and Culture Through Art.”
There will be other events occurring throughout the month of November, including visits from speakers, such as David George-Shongo, who will give a presentation called “Remembering is a Political Act” on Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. in the Williams Center S204ABC. George-Shongo, a lifelong resident on the Seneca Allegany reservation, serves as the acting director for the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, which works to display and preserve cultural materials for the Seneca community and the general public.
Later that evening, at 6 p.m. in the Williams Center G103B, Peter Jemison, a Seneca artist and writer, will give a talk called “Our Art and Our Way of Life.” In years past, Jemison has been very political advocating for Native American rights.
Perry Ground will speak about Native American Thanksgiving on Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. in the Williams Center S204ABC. Ground, a member of the Onondaga Nation, is a cultural educator and a professional Native American storyteller.
Dr. Rodney Haring will give a presentation called “Exposing the Health Issues in the Native American Community” on Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. in the Williams Center S204ABC. Haring works for the Roswell Park Cancer Institute and focuses on research and discrimination in healthcare.
Cranston Marché will be serving traditional Native foods throughout the day on Nov.17, as a special known as “Cranston Thanksgiving.”
A Native American arts and craft event, taught by Michael Galban, will take place on Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. in the Williams Center S204ABC during an event called “Porcupine Quill Arts.”
NASU will conclude its Heritage Month with a closing ceremony on Nov. 29 in the Williams Center G103B with Megan Red Shirt-Shaw, who will be speaking on activism and education.
All students, whether Native American or not, are welcome and encouraged to attend the events sponsored by NASU.