Native American Heritage Month Celebrated With Community in November

PUEBLO—Colorado State University Pueblo recognizes the importance of Native American and Indigenous heritage all year long, however the month of November is dedicated to sharing knowledge and creating space for indigenous voices across campus. CSU Pueblo’s Center for International Programs and Inclusive Excellence and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion invites the campus and Pueblo community to join in programming throughout the month.

“It’s our goal at the Center for International Programs and Inclusive Excellence to uplift and support indigenous voices by providing programming that allows students the space to learn and validate their stories,” said Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at CSU Pueblo, Victoria Obregon.

Each week throughout the month of November, the campus community is invited to participate in a different event highlighting the importance of Native American heritage or an elevation of Indigenous voices in the Pueblo community.

Thursday, Nov. 11 at 12 p.m. the Center invites CSU Pueblo students, faculty, staff and community members to participate in the ongoing Brown Bag Conversation- Land Acknowledgements. Lunch will be provided in the Occhiato Student Center room 104 for the first 10 people who sign up for the event. This is to build an understanding of land acknowledgements and join in the conversation of the importance here at CSU Pueblo. More information can be found here and anyone interested is encouraged to RSVP.

“Currently the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is working to establish a committee to develop a formal Land Acknowledgement as a way for this university to honor the indigenous peoples whose lands we occupy,” said Obregon.

Thursday, Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. the CSU Pueblo campus community is invited to participate in a tutorial of traditional earring beading and a discussion on Indigenous art around the world. Materials are provided and the event takes place in the Occhiato Student Center room 104.

Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. the Center for International Programs and Inclusive Excellence invites CSU Pueblo and the larger Pueblo community to join an evening of traditional dance and drumming in the Occhiato Student Center. The Piro-Manso-Tiwa Tribe is a Pueblo people who lived along the Rio Grande River Valley in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Learn more about this tribe from local member, the LeFebre’s.

Throughout the month of November, CSU Pueblo staff and faculty are invited to participate in the Academic Impressions training entitled, “DEI Foundations: Allyship in Higher Education.” Academic Impressions training is offered throughout the year on campus as an elevation of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming and membership for every employee is paid for by Title III and Title V Hispanic Serving Institution Grants from the Department of Education.

For more information about Native American Heritage Month contact Victoria Ruiz, programming assistant in the Center for International Programs and Inclusive Excellence at 719-549-2210 or victoria.ruiz@csupueblo.edu.