October 29, 2004

Native American Heritage Month set for November

by Bonnie Marx

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A variety of films and guest speakers will be featured during Native American Heritage Month in November at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The University's Multicultural Programs and Services office coordinates the annual observance. All the events are free and U-card approved. Here's the schedule:

Monday, Nov. 1

  • Video, "Native American Medicine," at 7 p.m. in Student Center Illinois Room. Explores reconnecting the ritual ceremony and spiritual traditions of Native American medicine with modern naturopathic medicine.

Tuesday, Nov. 2

  • Leonard Yankton, speaker, 7 p.m., Student Center Ohio Room. Yankton shares his first-hand experiences of the challenges faced by Native American youth living both on and off the reservations, such as education, jobs, health care, domestic abuse, gangs and discrimination.

Thursday, Nov. 4

  • Documentary, "American Indian Center: 50 Years of Service," 7 p.m., Student Center Ohio Room. Members of the greater Native American community of Chicago tell the story of the American Indian Center during its golden anniversary celebration and how it meets the needs of the community.

Monday, Nov. 8

  • Film, "Thief of Time," 7 p.m., Student Center Illinois Room. Based on a novel by Tony Hillerman, this film tells the story of two Navajo tribal policemen who investigate the disappearance of a noted anthropologist at Indian ruins where thieves have ravaged sacred ground for profit.

Tuesday, Nov. 9

  • Film, "World of American Indian Dance," 7 p.m., Student Center Mackinaw Room. This documentary dramatically illustrates the beauty, artistry, athleticism and competition of Native American dance and highlights the many dance styles incorporated into the culture from various tribes and nations.

Wednesday, Nov. 10

  • Film, "Dream Keeper," 7 p.m., Student Center Mackinaw Room. This film tells the story of a Lakota teen-ager who reluctantly agrees to drive his wise old grandfather from their South Dakota reservation to an all-nations powwow in New Mexico.

Thursday, Nov. 11

  • Don Moccasin, speaker, 7 p.m., Student Center Mississippi Room. Moccasin is a singer, dancer and fluent speaker of the Lakota language from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota.

Monday, Nov. 15

  • Bobby Gonzalez, speaker, 7 p.m., Student Center Video Lounge. Gonzalez will speak on "Red, Black, and Brown: Native American, African American and Latin American Connections."

Tuesday, Nov. 16

  • "Navajo Film Series," 7 p.m., Student Center Ohio Room. These dramatic films explore the lives of young people and their everyday experiences on the Navajo reservation, as well as their spiritual connection to their traditions and their past. They are part of an ongoing project to use video to help preserve indigenous languages and cultures.

Wednesday, Nov. 17

  • Film, "Incident at Oglala: The Leonard Peltier Story," 7 p.m., Student Center Kaskaskia Room. A documentary film and discussion that presents the facts, elaborate processes and role of the U.S. government in the continuing imprisonment of American Indian Leonard Peltier. Presented by Julie Sommers, member of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee.

Thursday, Nov. 18

  • Brenda Tafoya, speaker, 7 p.m., Student Center Mississippi Room. An expert in Native American pottery, Brenda Tafoya will speak about her experiences with pottery from the time she was a child to being the renowned artist she is today.

Embracing diversity is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.