A Native American woman's hands wearing traditional beaded turquoise jewelry rest atop each other inside a woven basket.
celebratediversity

Native American Heritage Month

The month of November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States. 

Emerson College extends gratitude to the Wampanoag, Massachusett, Nipmuc, Tongva, Tataviam, Serrano, Kizh, and Chumash Peoples, who have and continue to steward the lands that Emerson’s two US campuses reside on.

The history of Native Americans, American Indians, and Indigenous People of North and South America is rich with diversity, culture, and pride. 

Learn about the Indigenous people throughout world. 

We welcome all Emersonians to explore the history and present-day joys and challenges facing Native American and Indigenous peoples in the events, resources, and videos below.

Resources

21-Day Indigenous Challenge

TheMassachusetts Center for Native American Awareness offers a 21-Day Indigenous Challenge that you can start and work through on your own time. Emerson’s Intercultural Student Affairs staff recently hosted community sessions for those who were interested in exploring together.

21-Day Indigenous Challenge with indigenous painting in the background.

 

 

 

 

 

Iwasaki Library: National Native American Heritage Month

Emerson’s Iwasaki Library offers resources through their National Native American Heritage Month Resource Guide, including information on Massachusetts and Los Angeles Native American Tribes and links to federal and local organizations.

Research Guides: Emerson College Library: National Native American Heritage Month.

 

 

 

 

 

ArtsEmerson and HowlRound Theatre Commons: Black and Indigenous Futures Convening

On September 20-21, 2023, the Black and Indigenous Futures Convening brought together artists, scholars, educators, and practitioners to unearth history, examine fault lines, and imagine new and different futures. This gathering, produced by ArtsEmerson in partnership with HowlRound Theatre Commons, was one piece of a larger ArtsEmerson initiative that seeks to activate a liberated future in Boston and beyond through the shared experience of art and public dialogue.

Gatherings during the Black and Indigenous Futures Convening showing diverse groups of people standing in a theater in a circle, in a group photo on the Boston Common grass, hugging and embracing each other, writing on colorful paper, and sitting on a stage in front of an audience. Photo by Christian Ruiz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Events

National Day of Mourning, November 28

Every November, since 1970, Indigenous people and allies gather in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to commemorate a National Day of Mourning coinciding with the U.S. Thanksgiving date. Participants honor Indigenous ancestors, Native resilience, and observe a day of remembrance and spiritual connection. 

Learn more, including details for participating respectfully.

A crowd of people march on the National Day of Mourning in Massachusetts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learn More

First Nations Development Institute: Celebrating Native Arts for National Native American Heritage Month 2024

Native Hope

Native Hope exists to address the injustice done to Native Americans. They aim to dismImage of Native American boy in traditional headdress from Native Hope website.antle barriers through storytelling and impactful programs to bring healing and inspire hope.

They share Native stories, provide educational resources, and assist Native communities.

Explore Native Hope’s online educational series: Native American History, Life, and Culture.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Cast of Rez Ball

Native Land Digital

An interactive global map informed of Native and Indigenous territories informed by Indigenous people and their cultures. 

Map of parts of North, Central, and South America with different continents highlighted with different colors signifying native land and indigenous communities.