Native American & American Indian Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate, recognize, and inform the public about the culture, traditions, histories, art, and contributions of Native Americans/American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The month was first designated in the United States in 1990.
Such recognition, however, dates back further with state and organizational recognition of Indigenous people's days and commemorations occurring at the turn of the twentieth century. For example, Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian and co-founder of the Society of American Indians in 1911, organized American Indian Day beginning in 1915. More recently, Columbus Day, which is recognized on the second Monday of October, has been reclaimed in cities across the United States as Indigenous People's Day.

In the 2020 U.S. Census, 7.1 million individuals reported American Indian/Native American/Alaska Native heritage. The federal U.S. government recognizes 574 tribes, with additional tribes recognized by state governments across the country.
Join the Multicultural Center, in collaboration with the Counseling Center, for Queer Destress Fest, a monthly series that focuses on factors that may contribute to stress, anxiety and other issues within LGBTQIQA and varying gender communities. Tools and resources are provided to students that help them navigate their educational journeys.
Pop on Wednesday, December 1st for the Multicultural Center's weekly discussions about pop culture, national/global news, trigger-warning topics and/or anything related to diversity and inclusion. This peer-facilitated dialogue series provides a safe space to engage in critical thinking, explore diverse identities, and examine privilege and understand systematic oppression. Just bring your topics and a willingness to think critically about the world.
The Access & Accommodations Center and the Multicultural Center invite you to an intimate webinar that teaches how to serve as an ally for the disability community. In this webinar you will learn about the various identities within the disability community, appropriate language, and how to best advocate for this community.
A great way to unwind and relax as the semester draws near the end. Join us for hot beverages, delicious snacks, and helpful study tips for your finals. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome.
Do you have any experience in marketing, digital media, or advertising? Or, would you simply like to get involved with the Multicultural Center?

Apply to volunteer as part of our Marketing Street Team!

For any questions email Te'Airah Wilbert!
As a part of our Community Connections (C2) Womxn of Color Mentoring Initiative, this week, we highlight the first woman elected to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee nation Wilma Mankiller (November 18, 1945 – April 6, 2010), as our #WomxnChangingTheWorld! 

Wilma Mankiller was motivated to get involved in activism after witnessing the occupation of Alcatraz Island by Red Power, a Native American youth activist group. Mankiller became active in groups supporting the occupation and continued to support American Indian initiatives throughout the 70s. After supporting California’s Pit River Tribe against Pacific Gas & Electric over the rights of tribal land, Mankiller used that knowledge and brought it back to her own Cherokee community. In 1974, Mankiller moved back to Oklahoma. With the help of a federal grant, she was able to help revitalize Bell, Oklahoma, a small community of 200 families in a few years. In 1983, Mankiller ran for deputy chief of Cherokee Nation and won. Then, in 1985 she made history as the first woman to serve as principal chief of the Cherokee people. During her two terms, she focused on improving the nation’s government, healthcare, and education systems. After stepping down as principal chief in 1995 Mankiller, spent the rest of her life advocating for Native American rights. In the words of President Obama, she “served as an inspiration to women in Indian Country and across America.” 

🌎 Culture & Identity: Wilma Pearl Mankiller was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and lived on her family’s allotment in Adair County, Oklahoma, until she was 11. Her father was full-blood Cherokee, and her mother was of Dutch and Irish descent. Her family relocated to San Francisco as part of the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, an effort to urbanize Native Americans. 
This week in our Social Justice Corner we are highlighting Native American activist, Tom Goldtooth!

Culture & Identity: Tom Goldtooth (July 27, 1953 - Present) is a Native American environmental, climate, and economic justice activist, speaker, film producer, and Indigenous rights leader within the climate and environmental justice and indigenous movement. Goldtooth is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, as well as a member of the Bdewakantunwan Dakota tribe.
 
Life: Goldtooth was born in Farmington, New Mexico, near the Navajo Nation. His mother, Norma Bell Lee, is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and is the first Navajo and possible the first Native American woman to obtain an undergraduate degree in microbiology. His biological father is unknown. His stepfather, Dennis Wesley Goldtooth, is also a member of the Navajo Nation and worked as a Navajo Policeman.
 
Impact: Tom Goldtooth is one of the leading fighters for environmental and economic justice, sustainable development, and effective economic systems. He is the executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, one of the most influential Native non-governmental organizations in the country. Goldtooth is more often than not seen at the front lines of his organization’s grass-roots rallies for environmental justice. He was recently at the front of the line of the People’s Climate March in New York City. He was awarded the Gandi Peace award in 2015, and in 2010 he was honored by the NAACP and the Sierra Club as a "Green Hero of Color. 

We are currently conducting a research study exploring issues around mental health, service use, and HIV among young Black gay and bisexual men here in Atlanta. We are currently seeking study participants for a one-time survey that will be administered online using REDCap and take up to one hour. If you are eligible and choose to participate, you will receive a $50 electronic gift card for your time.
 
If you are interested in participating, please fill out the screening survey link here. If you are eligible, our study team will contact you with more details about participation. Alternatively, if you would like to learn more about the projects first, please feel free to visit our website or contact our team members directly via phone, text or email.
 
Thank you for your consideration!
Special Days This Week
November 28-December 6: Chanukah (Hanukkah)

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, commemorates the Maccabees military victory over the Greek Syrians and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The festival is observed by the lighting of a special candelabrum, the Menorah, with one additional light lit on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night 
December 1: World AIDS Day 

World AIDS Day commemorates those who have died of AIDS, and to acknowledge the need for a continued commitment to all those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. 

Designed to raise awareness in regard to persons with disabilities in order to improve their lives and provide them with equal opportunity. 
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