Native American Heritage Month at Brandeis
Dear Brandeis Community,
We are excited to announce our recognition and commemoration of Native American Heritage Month at Brandeis! While many people see this month as the lead-up to the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving — a time for family reunions and sharing meals — for American Indian/Alaska Native communities, it is a time to honor ancestors and remember the sacrifices they made, as well as celebrating our vibrant communities.
According to the Native American Heritage Month website: One of the very first proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the “First Americans” and for three years they adopted such a day [1912]. In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “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.
Last month, the Brandeis community came together to participate in an Indigenous Peoples Day program at the Brandeis Intercultural Center to highlight their presences, histories, and sovereignties. To continue our recognition of Native Americans, we are pleased to announce two events focused on Indigenous Peoples and topics in November.
November 1, 2023
“'More Than a Word' takes us inside the growing grassroots movement to encourage sports leagues at all levels to eliminate Native American-themed mascots and team names. Directed by John and Kenn Little of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, the film places the successful, indigenous-led effort to change the name of Washington’s NFL football team within the wider context of Native American history and the long, destructive legacy of racial stereotyping, white supremacy, and cultural appropriation. With eye-opening commentary from Native American scholars and activists, 'More Than a Word' serves as a necessary reminder that words, images, and struggles over meaning have the power to shape history.”
Event Schedule
- 10-11:15 a.m. - First screening followed by an informal group moderated by Habiba Braimah, Intercultural Center Director
- 2-3:15 p.m. - Second screening followed by Q&A with Dr. LeManuel Bitsóí (Diné) and Dr. Anik Chartrand (Métis), moderated by Habiba Braimah, Intercultural Center Director
Register for the screening(s) which will be held in the Alumni Lounge and available online.
November 21, 2023
This showcase will feature Geraldine Barney (Diné) who is a musician and painter whose work has been exhibited in the regional and national art fairs, and the Smithsonian Music Series. Hailing from New Mexico, Geraldine’s art and music stems from her love of nature, particularly from the Southwest, and will share her musical and artistic talents. A Q&A session will follow her presentation and performance.
Event schedule
- 12 p.m. – Introduction by Dr. LeManuel Bitsóí (Diné)
- 12:05 p.m. – Presentation and Performance by Geraldine Barney
- 12:45 p.m. – Q&A with Dr. LeManuel Bitsóí
Location: International Lounge, Usdan
In addition, we continue to seek guidance and input from our visiting scholars as we reconvene our collective efforts to create a Land Acknowledgement to honor and offer opportunities to the original inhabitants of what is now called Waltham where Brandeis is situated. In addition, we aspire to assist our Indigenous students in establishing a student club for Native American/Indigenous students at Brandeis.
In our Brandeis Library, we are proud to share our Native American Collections. Beyond Brandeis, we encourage you to learn more about and support local Indigenous communities and organizations, such as the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness (MCNAA), The North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB), and individual tribes like the Mashpee Wampanoag, Massachusett, and Nipmuc Nations.
In celebration,
LeManuel "Lee" Bitsóí
Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion