November was formally designated by President George H.W. Bush as Native American Heritage month through joint resolution in 1990. This November, UNC recognizes the indigenous peoples of the United States from over 570 federally recognized tribal nations and 75 state recognized tribes. Throughout the month of November, Native American Student Services seeks to align the educational initiatives with the mission and values: to build awareness around historical and contemporary Native issues, while acknowledging and exemplifying the rich culture, tradition, history, and language of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples.
The University of Northern Colorado sits upon the traditional territories of the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Lakota peoples. Further, we acknowledge that 48 tribes are historically tied to the state of Colorado.
If you are considering sharing a land acknowledgment statement, here are some questions to reflect upon:
- Why are we performing this land acknowledgment?
- Am I familiar with the histories of the people I am acknowledging?
- Am I familiar and have a relationship with the contemporary population of these communities?
- Does our organization understand the Native people we serve? Is this based on assumptions or through authentic connection?
- Will this be the only action I make in relation to Native people this year?
Take Action:
- NASS Presents Guest Speaker: Aaron Yazzie, Diné – Tuesday, November 9 at 4:00pm, Michener, Lindou Auditorium, register to attend
- Educational opportunities from The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Smithsonian Social Studies Online: Native American History Month Webcast
- National Museum of the American Indian: Native Cinema Showcase 2021
- Attach the Native American History Month design elements to your email signature and/or use it in your social media
For additional education and personal development related to diversity, equity and inclusion, the following resources are available: DDEI Education and Resources, DEI & Antiracism Resources from the UNC Libraries, the Education Equity Toolkit from the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and the UNITE workshops for faculty, staff, and students.
