Michelle Anguka
The month of November is Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month, a time to reflect on our nation’s history while also celebrating Indigenous peoples, cultures and history. Chapman University’s Cross-Cultural Center is celebrating Indigenous Peoples Heritage month through a month of virtual programming aimed at sparking candid conversation about Indigenous history and its connection to our larger community.
Preetha Raj, the lead cross-cultural assistant helping plan this month’s events, reflected on the importance of this month: “One of the reasons this is my favorite heritage month is because it highlights the lost and often overlooked truth of our nation’s history. Learning about our roots emphasizes reunification and feels more inclusive.”
Mark your calendars for this year’s programming.
Lacrosse Talk
On November 6 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Cross-Cultural Center is collaborating with the Civic Engagement Initiatives for an Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month Kick-Off event. This event will include a panel and discussion on the history and present-day significance of lacrosse. A Zoom code will be provided on both the @chapmancrosscultural Instagram account.
Reclaiming Native Hawaiian Culture
On November 12 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Cross-Cultural Center is hosting a forum to highlight the importance and history of Hawaiian culture and how to identify cultural appropriation. The discussion will center on student perspectives, unpack how Hawaiian culture has historically been misinterpreted and misrepresented. A Zoom code will be provided on both the @chapmancrosscultural Instagram accounts.
Instagram Indigenous Heritage Highlights Landmark Scavenger Hunt
For all of November, the Cross-Cultural Center Instagram, @chapmancrosscultural, will be hosting a virtual scavenger hunt where students can learn about significant Indigenous landmarks in the U.S. while following a fun and an interactive scavenger hunt. The first five participants to reach the end will be awarded prizes. The rest of the month will feature weekly posts highlighting historically underrepresented groups in the Indigenous community
