Native American Heritage Month creates a chance for students and the community to immerse themselves in a different culture.

Sunday’s campus cleanup for Environmental Awareness Day began the month’s events at Central Michigan University that run through Nov. 23.

“Native American Heritage Month is a chance for Native and non-Native people to share in the Native American culture, traditions and issues that Native people are faced with today,” said Native American Programs Director Colleen Green.

The 2009 theme is “Indian Boarding Schools,” an idea that spawned from the White Bison Organization that toured the United States and came to Mount Pleasant last summer to bring light to Indian boarding schools, Green said.

“I thought it would be fitting to have speakers talk about this topic this fall,” Green said.

Green said she hopes students will be open to hear about Native Americans’ historical past, as cultures and traditions are shared through the food taster event, Native American workshops and Environmental Awareness Day.

Student involvement

Nigeria graduate student Olufemi Fasesan said he would love to attend an event celebrating Native American culture.

“It’s going to be an opportunity for me to learn a great deal about the culture, people and history — also, it’s going to be so much fun for
me,” he said.

This month also will be an opportunity for students to learn about Native American history, culture and contributions to U.S. society, said
Multicultural Program Director Ulana Klymyshyn.

“This is especially important at CMU, since we use ‘Chippewa’ as our athletic nickname,” Klymyshyn said.

Klymyshyn urges all CMU fans to view the exhibit of pow wow photos on display in the Multicultural Center during November.

“The images will provide a way of distinguishing between real and imitation representations of Native American culture,” Klymyshyn said.

Native American Heritage Month ends Nov. 23 with Native American Music Awards Performers in the Bovee University Center Terrace rooms.

For more information, contact the Multicultural Education Center at 774-7318 or Office of Native American Programs at 774-2508.

E-mail the author: Sherri Keaton