Honoring Native American History Month
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:
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
patricia.moonsammy@napavalley.edu
707-256-7166
Recent Articles
- Murals at NVC's student housing project complete
- Latinx Heritage Month 2024
- Moving day: Napa Valley College welcomes students to new on-campus housing complex
- Graduate praises college as a place of “fertile ground”
- Graduate emphasizes importance of “showing up”
- Future Winemaker Launches Career at NVC
- Napa Valley College graduation features State Sen. Bill Dodd