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 us for free coffee, cocoa or tea, coupled with conversation about cultures, communities, and inclusion. Connect with others around identity, intersectionality and intercultural engagement.
Join CCI for GATHER: The Friendsgiving Feast, as we gather in gratitude for community connections at GSU! During this event, we're redefining the narrative of Thanksgiving & honoring Native American/Indigenous communities.Your seat at the table includes food, fellowship & fun! And did we mention, it’s FREE! RSVP on now!
Join the Multicultural Center for an interactive workshop on allyship and advocacy for the Trans and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) community. In this workshop you will learn the history, common vocabulary and lived experiences of TGNC communities and how you can best advocate to create a more equitable society!
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 and Environmentalist, Winona LaDuke!
  
Culture & Identity: Winona (Meaning "First Daughter" in Dakota Language was born on August 18, 1959, in Los Angeles, California. Her father was from the Ojibwe White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, and her mother was of Jewish European ancestry from The Bronx, New York.
 
Life:  Due to her father's heritage, she was enrolled with the Ojibwe Nation at an early age, but did not live at White Earth, or any other reservation, until 1982. She started work at White Earth after graduating from college, when she got a job there as the principal of the high school. While working as a principal at the high school, LaDuke became an activist. In 1985 she helped found the Indigenous Women's Network. She worked with Women of All Red Nations to publicize American forced sterilization of Native American women. In 1989, LaDuke founded the White Earth Land Recovery Project (WELRP) in Minnesota with the proceeds of a human rights award from Reebok. The goal was to buy back land in the reservation that non-Natives bought and to create enterprises that provide work to Anishinaabe. By 2000, the foundation had bought 1,200 acres, which it held in a conservation trust for eventual cession to the tribe. In 1996 and 2000, LaDuke ran as the vice-presidential candidate with Ralph Nader on the Green Party ticket.

Impact: Winona LaDuke works to this day on issues of climate change, indigenous and human rights, renewable energy, and food systems. She is the executive director of Honor the Earth, a Native environmental advocacy organization that played an active role in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. In 1985 she helped found the Indigenous Women’s Network. That same year she also worked with Women of All Red Nations to publicize American forced sterilization of Native American women. This is a mere fraction of her resume, and it is important to note that her impact is so much greater than the organizations she founded or awards she won. Laduke has dedicated her life to preserving our world and inspiring the people who live on it and continues to do so to this day.
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 13-19: Transgender Awareness Week

Each year between November 13 – 19, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues the community faces.
November 16-20, American Education Week  

American Education Week (AEW) spotlights the importance of providing every child in America with a quality public education from kindergarten through college, and the need for everyone to do their part in making public schools great. Learn more here 
November 15th: Rock Your Mocs

Established in 2011, Rock Your Mocs, is a worldwide Indigenous Peoples, American Indian and Alaska Native grassroots movement held annually in the U.S. during Native American Heritage Month (November). This social media campaign is held to inspire cultural pride for Native Americans and Alaska Natives and to showcase individual tribal identity that also honors ancestors.

It’s easy to participate, because you can simply wear moccasins! Or if you don’t own or can’t wear moc, wear a Turquoise Ribbon or Apparel instead
November 16th: International Day of Tolerance

In 1995, UNESCO created the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance as a way to define and provide awareness of tolerance for any and all governing and participating bodies. Now, as an anniversary of the Declaration, we celebrate the International Day for Tolerance every November 16 to help spread tolerance and raise awareness of any intolerance that may still be prevalent in the world today. Although we should be tolerant every day, it’s always good to have one occasion to remind us just how important tolerance is.  
November 17: International Students Day 

A day to honor students from all over the globe working to achieve their career goals and to make a difference in the world. 
November 19th: Red Shawl Day

The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 clarified that the unique legal relationship of the United States to Indian tribes creates a federal trust responsibility to assist tribal governments in safeguarding the lives of Native women. For the week of November 15-21st, wear red to draw attention to the horrible acts of violence committed against Native American, Indigenous, and Alaska Native people, particularly women and children. Red symbolizes the loss of sacred life blood through violence. Add to the bigger conversation by using #RedShawlWeek on your social media channels.
November 19, 2021: Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday 

The Birthday of Guru Nanak Sahib falls on Kartik Puranmashi, the full moon day of the month Kartik, which usually falls in November in the western calendar. This holiday is one of the most significant festivals of the Sikh community and commemorates Guru Nanak Sahib who was the founder of Sikhism and the first Sikh Guru. 

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was established in 1998 to memorialize those who have been killed as a result of transphobia and to raise awareness of the continued violence endured by the transgender community. 
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