Celebrating a growing tradition

Amy Salvato

The Signal

November is Native American Heritage Month, which celebrates the culture and traditions of the first Americans.

President George H. W. Bush approved Native American Indian Heritage Month in 1990, the culmination of years to come.

Various American Indian community leaders worked to establish a day of recognition as far back as 1915. As a result, New York was the first to establish a day honoring American Indians in 1916; it has been a growing tradition since.

Maria Curtis, assistant professor of anthropology and cross-cultural studies said, “What we celebrate now as American Indian Heritage Month is a reflection of a more rigorous interest in examining the numerous contributions of Native Americans to American culture and society,” Curtis said.

American Indian organizations educate the general public on their heritage through traditional artifact displays, dances, speakers and large powwows.

Intercultural and International Student Services recently invited Anna Edwards, secretary and cultural director of the Native American Chamber of Commerce and a San Juan Pueblo Indian to speak to students at the university about her heritage and culture.

“Culture is important to everyone,” Edwards said. “You can have a beautiful home, build one of the biggest most incredible homes; it can be filled with marble floors and crystal chandeliers, but it can take one hurricane, windstorm, flood, fire, anything and wipe that house of its foundation. If you build the foundation strong enough and build it deep within mother earth, then you have a place to stand and rebuild.”

This analogy describes what culture means to Edwards. “It is an important foundation that takes us back to our ancestors and where we came from no matter your heritage,” Edwards said.

Students from Curtis’ class displayed an exhibit featuring artwork of American Indians at different historical moments. The exhibit will be available throughout November in Atrium 1, level 2 of the bayou building.

Curtis said she hopes that more educators will begin to put more emphasis on enriching their curriculum with more information on the many thriving American Indian tribes that exist today and continue to make important contributions to the American society.

Curtis said she is happy to see American Indian Heritage Month has garnered a lot of attention to the UHCL campus.

Coordinator for educational programming & outreach for Intercultural and International Student Services said, “I think people should take some time during this month to learn more about this community that is many times a forgotten community, said Susana Hernandez. “As a Latina, I feel it is very important to represent not only the Native American culture, but all cultures. This is also what the IISS Office prides itself on is celebrating the diversity of our university.”