University Celebrates Native Heritage Month

Throughout the month of November, the Native Student Program in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Indigenous Students at Syracuse student organization and campus partners, hosts the annual Native Heritage Month celebration.

This year’s celebration begins on Thursday, Nov. 1, at noon with the opening ceremony and Thanksgiving address in the Schine Student Center’s Jabberwocky Café. Additionally, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., campus community members can stop by the Schine Atrium, where there will be an information table.

“Native Heritage Month brings the community together to celebrate and share the rich diversity of Native peoples’ identities, traditions and histories,” says Regina Jones, assistant director in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Native Student Program. “We invite the campus community to join us in honoring and raising awareness about the cultures and contributions of indigenous peoples.”

As part of the celebration, a Native Speaker Series will be held throughout the month, and a film festival featuring Syracuse University alumni productions will take place on Saturday, Nov. 10, from 2 to 5 p.m. in Shemin Auditorium in the Shaffer Art Building. A closing ceremony will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1. Additional details regarding these events, as well as other Native Heritage Month community events, will be available soon on the Office of Multicultural Affairs website.

Speakers for the Native Speaker Series are:

• Michael Obert, distinguished professor of history at SUNY Geneseo, for the Treaty of Canandaigua Lecture on Monday, Nov. 5, at 2:30 p.m. in 443 Dineen Hall.
• Jolene Rickard, Ph.D., director of the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program and associate professor in the Departments of History of Art and Visual Studies and Art at Cornell University, on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. in Kittredge Auditorium in Huntington Beard Crouse Hall.
• Lori Quigley, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs at Medaille College and member of the board of directors of the National Indian Education Association, on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. in 121 Shaffer Art Building.

The celebration will also include participation in the national “Rock Your Mocs” movement, which encourages indigenous peoples across the world to wear moccasins and stand together as one, while also recognizing and celebrating tribal individuality. The national Rock Your Mocs Day is Thursday, Nov. 15, but is celebrated throughout the week on campus to allow for more moc-wearing opportunities.

For more information or questions, contact Jones at 315.443.0258 or rajones@syr.edu. Join the celebration on social media using #CuseNHM.