November is Here: Celebrating Native American Heritage!
Check out Pacific’s NASS and their exciting events during this month of history and culture!
Here at University of the Pacific, the Native American student population is one of the smallest, making up just 0.2% of the undergraduate demographic as of 2023. However, Native American Student Services (NASS) at Pacific makes sure that such a small community of students still receives an abundant amount of support and recognition all year round! During the month of November, NASS has organized plenty of local educational events with community members, cultural discussions and movie screenings, and celebrates the rich heritage and achievements of Indigenous peoples on campus and in Stockton.
How did Native American Heritage Month come to be? Well, efforts to acknowledge Native American achievements were made as early as 1916, when New York became the first state to declare an “American Indian Day.” This led Congress to continue this practice and declare one week during the autumn months as “Native American Indian Heritage Week.” In 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed into law a joint resolution designating the month of November as the first National Native American Heritage Month. This month is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages, and stories of Native Americans, and to ensure their rich histories and contributions to America continue to thrive with each passing generation.
Starting off the month on an exciting note, the Native American Heritage Month Kick-Off on November 1st at the DUC Lawn featured a performance by Medicine for my Sisters, a Native women’s drumming group, delicious food, and tabling from local organizations. At this celebration, I had the privilege to speak with Andrew Talamantes, our program specialist for El Centro and Native American Student Services at Pacific, about upcoming events this month and how students can get involved and educated.
“I think with the Native American student population being the smallest here at Pacific, it’s very important that we still represent those students and support them in any way possible.” He explained which events he is most excited for: “We have our Native American Community Town Hall on the 18th of November, following that we also have Know Your Native, which is an opportunity for students to learn about their Native American cultural history from local Native American leaders. It is a great opportunity to be involved and to break bread with individuals on campus and in the community.”
Talamantes also held the “Decolonizing Thanksgiving” event last week, which allowed students to learn about the history of Thanksgiving from the Native American perspective and enjoy some good food with the Center for Identity and Inclusion (CII) department. Lastly, we discussed how students and faculty can be respectful of and educated on Native American culture this month: “I’d say, be cautious of your verbiage and be sure you are speaking on programs and terms correctly. Do your best to try to educate yourself.” As Talamantes reflects on being in charge of Native American Student Services, he states, “I'm still learning as I go, but I seek joy in meeting new individuals in this community who are willing to teach me about what’s going on. Having a sense of pride and being able to educate yourself is a great step in the right direction.”
NASS has created a balanced mix of both fun and informative events this November, ranging from movie nights that highlight Indigenous history, to socials and educational workshops, giving students many opportunities to learn about this month of culture while having a blast with their fellow community members and peers! Be sure to come out to these inspiring events, such as the Community Town Hall this evening, and join NASS in honoring this month of family, friends, and heritage!
Works Cited:
https://www.pacific.edu/about-pacific/fast-facts