Are you Rocking Your Mocs this week? Native November is in full swing all across the nation, with nearly a dozen local events yet to come on the UW-Madison campus.
What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S. has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose.
One of the very 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. In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kans., formally approved a plan concerning American Indian Day. It directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.
The year before this proclamation was issued, Red Fox James, a Blackfoot Indian, rode horseback from state to state seeking approval for a day to honor Indians. On December 14, 1915, he presented the endorsements of 24 state governments at the White House. There is no record, however, of such a national day being proclaimed.
The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example, legislators enacted such a day in 1919. Presently, several states have designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continues to be a day we observe without any recognition as a national legal holiday.
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. (Information courtesy of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior)
UW-Madison Joins in the Celebration
This year’s events feature contemporary and historical issues, lectures, feasts, interactive events and films. One of the highlights of the month is the Monday, Nov. 16, feast at the Gordon Dining and Event Center from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Guests are invited for a hearty feast to connect, build community, and celebrate Native American heritage. The event is free and open to the public.
Another important event will be the Tuesday, Nov. 17, Native Health Discussion Panel featuring Native Health professionals. The panel will be held in the Health Sciences Learning Center, 750 Highland Ave., from 5 p.m.to 6:30 p.m., and include Assistant Director of NACHP, Dr. Christine Athmann, M.D., MHA. Native American people in the United States have continually experienced lower health status when compared with other Americans. Wisconsin has many tribal communities located in health professional shortage areas (HPSA’s), yet a small number of Native medical doctors. The Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP) mission is to improve the health of Native people and increase the number of Native students entering health careers.
On Wednesday, Nov. 18, Dr. Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) will discuss Native Culture Appropriation from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Multicultural Student Center (Red Gym). Keene earned her educational doctorate in Culture, Communities and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2014 and is now a postdoctoral fellow in Native American studies at Brown University. She will be speaking about appropriations of indigenous culture and the issues involved with cultural appropriation. The event is sponsored by the Multicultural Student Center.
On Saturday, Nov. 21, Tanya Tagaq will bring Inuit Throat Singing to the Wisconsin Union Theater at 8 p.m. Tagaq’s solo Inuit throat singing talent is unique, unexpected and well-developed. The popular Canadian performer began studying throat singing at age 15 and has astounded audiences ever since, winning the 2014 Polaris Music Prize for her most recent album and the 2015 Aboriginal Recording of the Year Juno Award. This event is hosted by the Wisconsin Union Theater.
UW-Madison’s Native November Heritage Month was planned by a committee consisting of students, staff and faculty. This year’s partners include Wunk Sheek, Tribal Technology Institute, the UW-Madison Native American Center for Health Professions, Division of University Housing, UW-Madison’s American Indian Studies program, LBGT Campus Center, the Multicultural Student Center, alumni, community members and elders, along with the Division of Diversity Equity & Educational Achievement.
Other campus events, all free and open to the public, can be found below or at https://www.facebook.com/cdo.uwmadison/.
The full schedule:
November 8-15, Rock Your Mocs Week, All Week, Everywhere
Rock Your Mocs is an event that has now been extended to a full week. This event was founded by college student Jessica “Jaylyn” Atsye of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico. She created the event so that indigenous people can wear moccasins and stand together worldwide, while recognizing tribal individuality. Rock your mocs at school, work, or wherever your week brings you. You can find more information about Rock Your Mocs on Facebook.
November 12
Two Spirit Project Presentation with Ryan Young (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe)
Dejope Residence Hall- Yahara River Lounge, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Two Spirit, Anishinaabe mixed media/photographer/performance artist Ryan Young (Preferred Gender Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs) will be presenting their Two Spirit Project, which promotes visibility of a marginalized group of people that are rarely recognized, represented or discussed. They will talk about the impact of the project and its part in the creation of Indigenous Queers +, a queer/two spirit/LGBTQ student organization, and the development of other queer-friendly resources at the Institute of American Indian Arts.
November 14
Smartphone Photography Workshop with Ryan Young (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe)
American Indian Studies Student and Cultural Center (AISCC) – 215 N. Brooks St.
12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Ryan Young, Deputy Fashion Photography Editor at Native Max Magazine, will be hosting a workshop for everyone interested in learning how to use and share mobile imagery and explore the creative aspects of smartphone photography. An open dialogue will be created to discuss the technical skills for making great images with your smartphone, including exposure and focus controls. There will also be experiments with indoor and outdoor photography and additional editing techniques. All participants must bring a mobile device with a camera on it, such as an iPhone, Windows phone, or Android.
November 16
Native November Heritage Feast
Gordon Dining and Event Center
7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Join us for a hearty feast to connect, build community, and celebrate Native American heritage! Like all of our Native November events, the feast is free and open to the public.
November 17
Native Health Discussion and Panel
Health Sciences Learning Center – 750 Highland Ave
5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Native American people in the U.S. have historically experienced a lower health status when compared with other Americans. Wisconsin has a high number of tribal communities located in health professional shortage areas (HPSA’s), yet a small number of Native medical doctors. The Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP) mission is to improve the health of Native People and increase the number of Native students entering health careers. Join us for dinner and a discussion and panel on Native Health with a few of our Native Health professionals including our Assistant Director of NACHP, Dr. Christine Athmann, M.D., MHA.
November 18
Native Appropriation Talk
Dr. Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma)
Multicultural Student Center (Red Gym)
6:30p.m.-8 p.m.
Adrienne Keene earned a doctorate degree in Culture, Communities and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2014 and is now a postdoctoral fellow in Native American studies at Brown University. She will be speaking about appropriations of indigenous culture and the issues involved with cultural appropriation. The event is sponsored by the Multicultural Student Center.
November 19
Beading Workshop II
Emily Nelis (Bad River Ojibwe)
Multicultural Student Center (Red Gym)
1 p.m. – 3p.m.
Didn’t finish your beadwork from the first work shop or want to start a new project? This second workshop will teach the lazy stitch beading style. All materials will be provided at no cost. Snacks will be served. This event is sponsored by the Multicultural Student Center in conjunction with their Drop-in Arts and Crafts Wellness Group with UHS.
November 20
Movie Night: Up Heartbreak Hill
American Indian Studies Student and Cultural Center (AISCC) – 215 N Brooks St.
6 p.m.
Thomas and Tamara are track stars at their rural New Mexico high school. Like many teenagers, they are torn between the lure of brighter futures elsewhere and the ties that bind them to home. For these teens, however, home is an impoverished town on the Navajo reservation, and leaving means separating from family, tradition and the land that has been theirs for generations. Erica Scharf’s Up Heartbreak Hill is a moving look at a new generation of Americans struggling to be both Native and modern. Snacks will be served.
November 21
Inuit Throat Singing with Tanya Tagaq
Wisconsin Union Theater
8 p.m.
Tanya Tagaq’s solo Inuit throat singing talent is unique, unexpected and well-developed. The popular Canadian performer began studying throat singing at age 15 and has astounded audiences ever since, winning the 2014 Polaris Music Prize for her most recent album and the 2015 Aboriginal Recording of the Year Juno Award. This event is hosted by the Wisconsin Union Theater.
