Historical Context:

Since time immemorial, long before this land came to be called the United States, the First Peoples lived in sacred relationship with Mother Earth and listened to the songs of the wind, the rhythm of the rivers, and the wisdom shared by our plant and animal relatives. Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month, honored each November, is a time for reflection, remembrance, and healing. This month was born out of the resiliency and persistence of our elders, who dreamed that future generations would celebrate our Native cultures openly and proudly. Officially recognized in 1990, this month is a reminder of our survival, our sovereignty, and our sacred connection to the land. Through storytelling, song, ceremony, healing, and learning, we come together to honor the languages, traditions, and wisdom that have carried us through centuries. 

Learning Outcomes for Native American & Indigenous Heritage Month 2025

1. Healing and Resilience: Through reflection, participants will learn how Indigenous healing practices promote community wellness, intergenerational strength, and collective resilience.
2. Storytelling as Knowledge and Resistance: Learners will recognize storytelling as a traditional and contemporary form of Indigenous knowledge-sharing, cultural preservation, and resistance to colonial erasure.
3. Protecting and Honoring the Land: Participants will analyze examples of Indigenous-led land protection efforts and articulate the importance of land acknowledgment as an action-based practice.
4. Intersectionality and Identity: Learners will examine how Indigeneity intersects with race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, and other identities, and discuss how these intersections shape experiences of belonging and advocacy.

Decolonizing Gender Collaboration w/ Pride Center
Date: Fri, November 7, 2025
Time: 2pm - 3pm 
Location: Pride Center, Building 6 Room-160