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Honoring Native American History Month

A Glorious History, A Golden Memory mural  Eliseo Art Silva

November is Native American Heritage Month, a month dedicated to the recognition and appreciation of the contributions and history of the Indigenous peoples of this country and the wider world.

An environmental and social movement that has emerged in the Native American movement is known as Land Back. The Land Back movement is a growing movement in Indigenous communities in the United States, but also in communities beyond the borders of this country. As we are increasingly aware of the challenges posed by climate change, there are important lessons that can be learned from Indigenous communities. Leader of the Land Back movement, Alvin Warren, noted in a lecture at Harvard University's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation that “[w]e need to recognize that landback is crucial to the health of our mother earth and potentially our survival as humans on this planet.”  A recording of his lecture can be found at the following website:

Ash Center Lecture

Returning land to Native nations is about righting historical wrongs—and also averting future environmental disaster
Published on October 27, 2022 “We need to recognize that landback is crucial to the health of our mother earth and potentially our survival as humans on this planet,” Alvin Warren MC/MPA 2013 said last week during a talk at Harvard Kennedy School examining the landback movement, a growing effort to return land to the control of Native peoples.
ash.harvard.edu
As an article by pubilshed by KQED notes, "[a]lthough acquiring sovereignty over stolen lands is a key goal, Land Back seeks to heal and reclaim other things that are connected to land reclamation:  languages and ceremonies, governmental sovereignty, food, and housing security; equitable access to healthcare and education. All part of a larger goal to dismantle white supremacy and uplift BIPOC groups." Please read the article, located here, for more history on this movement and links to resources about the Land Back movement.

https://www.kqed.org/education/535779/land-back-the-indigenous-fight-to-reclaim-stolen-lands

Napa Valley College will be hosting a panel discussion on the Land Back movement with artists, activists, and educators involved in the production of the following short film/music video, "Land Back."  Details about the panel discussion at NVC will be forthcoming in the following weeks. In the meantime, enjoy the video, featuring Desirae Harp of the local Onatsátis tribal community.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvj3Fom38vo

REBELWISE - Land Back ft. Desirae Harp, AshEL SeaSunZ, Quincy Davis, Cheryl Angel
“Land Back” to inspire all people to reindiginize and envision a better world for future generations. Weaving traditional wisdom with modern music, this collaboration features Desirae Harp singing in the Chochenyo language (Native to the Bay Area, California), with vocals by AshEL SeaSunz, production by Quincy Davis and a vital message from ...
www.youtube.com

 

Events happening in the Bay Area to celebrate Native American Heritage Month

https://newsfromnativecalifornia.com/events/

WED, Nov. 1

November 1 @ 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Native American Heritage Celebration 2023

San Francisco City Hall 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl, San Francisco, CA, United States


FRI, Nov 3

 

November 3, 2023 - January 26, 2024
Roles, Rules & Responsibility: Northern California Two-Spirit Weavers

Multicultural Museum at Santa Rosa Junior College Bussman Hall, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA, United States


TUE, Nov. 7

November 7 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
California Native American Monument Unveiling and Dedication

Capitol Park 1300 L St., Sacramento, CA, United States


THU, Nov. 9

November 9 @ 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Fireside Chat

Berkeley City College 2050 Center St, Berkeley, CA, United States


SAT, Nov. 11

November 11 @ 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
13th Annual Richmond Contest Powwow

Veterans Memorial Hall 968 23rd St., Richmond, CA, United States


SAT, Nov. 11

https://cpnaturecenter.ticketleap.com/blessing/details

Indigenous Blessing Ceremony with Charlie Toledo
Join us as we welcome Charlie Toledo, Director of the Suscol Intertribal Council, as she leads us in a traditional blessing ceremony. We'll learn how the indigenous peoples of Napa County lived in harmony with nature utilizing native plants and animals, and how they protected their farmland to secure healthy ecological living for centuries. We're so thrilled and grateful to have her teach us about these beautiful traditions. Make sure you stay and enjoy a delicious acorn muffin! Please remember that we have limited parking, as we share our lot with Westwood Hills Park, which is popular on the weekends. We suggest you come early if you'd like to avoid parking on the street. There is also extra parking on Thompson Ave near Connolly Ranch. Thank you so much, we're excited to have you all join us!
cpnaturecenter.ticketleap.com


TUE, Nov. 14
November 14 @ 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
San Francisco Public Library Presentation: News From Native California
Learn about News From Native California magazine from its editor, Terria Smith. The San Francisco Public Library provides access via several databases, the online magazine platform, Flipster and in print. The current issue is on display in the 5th floor Reading Room. Presented by Terria Smith (Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla), Director of the Heyday Berkeley…


FRI, Nov. 24

November 24 @ 10:00 AM
Past, Present & Future: Shellmound 2 Shellmound

West Berkeley Shellmound Shellmound Street, Emmeryville, CA, United States
Shellmound 2 Shellmound Friday, November 24th 3 mile prayer walk from the West Berkeley Shellmound to the Emeryville Shellmound

Join me in celebrating Native American Heritage Month and the resilience, resistance, arts, and activism of the Native American community!
Patricia


Dr. Patricia van Leeuwaarde Moonsammy
Senior Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
[email protected]
707-256-7166

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