NATIVE AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS HERITAGE MONTH
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Native American Heritage Symposium
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Villanova Room, Connelly Center
Celebrate Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month with a discussion of Native identity, traditional food and crafting and Native vendors from around the Philadelphia area. Hear from keynote speaker Chef Cristina Martinez of South Philly Barbacoa, a James Beard Award recipient who has been featured on Netflix's "Chef's Table!" Sponsored by NISA, Student Life UNITAS: Office of Belonging and Inclusion, Falvey Library, Athletics UNITAS, Residence Life and Villanova School of Business. ACS approved.
Hosted by NISA
Co-sponsored by Student Life UNITAS: Office of Belonging and Inclusion, Falvey Library, Residence Life, IDP Philly, VSB and Athletics UNITAS
PAST EVENTS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Real Reels: A Celebration of Indigenous Film
6:30 p.m., Connelly Center Cinema
Hosted by NISA
Co-sponsored by ZphiB, ACT and VSB DUSAC
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Spotlight Speaker Series featuring
This installment of the Villanova Spotlight Speaker Series will feature Frank Waln, an award winning Sicangu Lakota multi-genre music artist, public speaker and educator. All are welcomed to an evening of gratitude over a shared meal, and a thought-provoking presentation.
5-6:30 p.m., Curley Exchange, Bartley Hall
Hosted by VSB Unitas
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13
Crafts and Convo
6:30 p.m., The SUITE, Corr Hall
Hosted by NISA
Co-sponsored by Student Life UNITAS: Office of Belonging and Inclusion
Native American Storytelling: Fiction and Cultural Identification
Native American heritage is a vital part of the cultural fabric of the United States. It reflects centuries of rich traditions, deep spiritual beliefs, and profound connections to the land. Honoring this heritage means recognizing the resilience of Indigenous communities who have preserved their histories through a myriad of stories, passed down between generations. Many Native authors have continued this tradition through fictional narratives that grapple with the Native identity in the modern age, and what it means to be “connected to your roots” in an increasingly future-focused world. Tommy Orange’s There, Thereis a beautiful novel that follows the experiences of 12 Native American characters in the Oakland, CA area as they negotiate what it means to be a modern-day Native American. It masterfully switches between plot-driven vignettes and essays that poetically discuss Native histories.
My favorite character in the book is Tony Loneman, who opens and closes the book. Struggling with being perceived as physically imposing due to his size and his fetal alcohol syndrome, he contemplates what it means to be ‘authentically Native’ in this urban landscape of Oakland. Surrounded by violence, addiction, and cultural disconnection, he finds he connects best with his heritage through donning regalia for the Oakland powwow, highlighting the intersection of physical appearance and cultural identification. I found his fixation on appearance to be indicative of how modern US racial and ethnic identities are so strongly tied to physical characteristics, rather than adherence or observance of cultural traditions and events. How does one show how deep their roots go? The desire to be seen as what you identify with is a refrain many can relate to in the struggle to find community and cultural identity. I encourage you all to read more and consider how your own identity conceptualization came to be! If you’re interested in reading, , in addition to a book display celebrating Native American Heritage!
—Lee (Lia) Jones(they/them);Student Life UNITAS: Office of Belonging and Inclusion Graduate Assistant andClinical Mental Health Counseling Master's Student
Sources:
- There, There by Tommy Orange
- https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/storytelling-and-oral-traditions