We welcome you to WSU Vancouver in the homelands of Chinookan and Taidnapam peoples and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
November is National Native American Heritage Month. Throughout this month and every day, WSU Vancouver recognizes the contributions of Native Americans to technology, sciences, philosophy, arts, and the knowledge and deep cultural influences that have shaped this campus and are embedded in teaching, research, scholarship and service.
To develop and maintain WSU Vancouver’s vital relationship with Native American tribes and peoples, the coordinator of Native American programs provides collaborative leadership to impact the experiences of students, staff and faculty from Native American communities. WSU Vancouver also receives recommendations from the Native American Community Advisory Board. The coordinator and NACAB are partners of the WSU Office of Tribal Relations and Native American Programs. Collectively, they work with tribes and other key positions across the WSU system to help ensure culturally revitalizing and sustaining policies and practices.
While WSU Vancouver observes Native American Heritage Month, the university acknowledges its location on the homelands of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest who have occupied these lands since time immemorial.
The Morrill Act of 1862 established land-grant institutions by providing each state with “public” and federal lands, which are traced back to the disposition of Indigenous lands. In 1890, the state of Washington received 90,081 acres of Indigenous lands designated to establish Washington State College, as it was known then. The majority of these lands are retained by WSU to this day, some of which are located in Southwest Washington.
WSU Vancouver grapples with the historical atrocities of colonization and is dedicated to expanding relationships with and honoring sovereignty of Native American tribes and peoples. WSU Vancouver is in solidarity with Native American peoples and supports WSU’s pledge that these relationships will consist of mutual trust, respect, reconciliation and reciprocity.
Native American Heritage Month Events
BaCE: Embedding Equity in the Search for Staff
2:15 – 4:15 p.m. Nov. 1
Zoom
Register for Embedding Equity in the Search for Staff
This session provides tools to transform the search process and ensure equity, diversity and inclusion in recruitment, hiring and retention of staff. Open to WSU Vancouver search committees, faculty, graduate students, staff, supervisors and administration.
Office of Native American Programs
Creation Story Memoir Workshop
2 – 4 p.m. Nov. 3
Dengerink Administration Building, Room 110 and
Zoom, Meeting ID: 982 6751 5480, Passcode: CSMemoir
There is a creation story at the center of every culture. For the Nimiipuu ‘Nez Perce,’ their story begins at the landmark near present day Kamiah, Idaho called Heart of the Monster, where coyote killed a monster who was eating all of the animals. This workshop features the books, “Tell Me Who You Are” and “Braiding Sweetgrass,” which focus on personal creation stories and memoir writing for students.
SEEC Association: The Social Hour
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Nov. 4
Undergraduate Building, ground floor
Open to students, staff and faculty
Nov. 18 – Zoom
Open to staff and faculty
RSVP for The Social Hour online
CILA: First Generation Student Week
Nov. 7 – 11
Throughout the week, CILA will highlight and celebrate first-generation students, faculty and staff with a series of events and gatherings. Check the events calendar. We want to hear your story. Email van.studentdiversity@wsu.edu and share that you are first-gen proud!
BaCE: We Love Reading with Obie and Renny
2:15 – 3:45 p.m. Nov. 9
Zoom
Register for We Love Reading with Obie and Renny!
“Asegi Stories” examines gender and sexuality in Cherokee cultural memory, how they shape the present and how they can influence the future. Open to WSU Vancouver faculty, graduate students, staff, supervisors and administration.
CILA and Office of Native American Programs
Native American Heritage Month Celebration with Rodolfo Serna
11 a.m. Nov. 15
Firstenburg Student Commons
Open to all
Join the Center for Intercultural Learning and Affirmation for a Native/Indigenous Heritage Month Celebration with Rodolfo Serna. This interactive celebration will include land acknowledgement ceremonies, a medicine bag workshop, healing circles and exploring the experience and culture of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest.
Office of Native American Programs
“Braiding Sweetgrass” Reading
1 – 3 p.m. Nov. 16
Zoom, Meeting ID: 968 7194 8579, Passcode: BraidingSG
Hear passages from Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book “Braiding Sweetgrass.”
Office of Native American Programs
Rock your Mocs
Nov. 17
Take a pic with your moccasins with hashtag #RockYourMocs on social media and tag us #WSUNativePrograms
BaCE: Cultural Immersion Experiences and Sustainable Efforts
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Nov. 18
Zoom
Register for Cultural Immersion Experiences and Sustainable Efforts
In this interactive safe and brave community space, examples of pearls and lessons learned regarding cultural immersion experiences and sustainability in community partnerships will be presented to encourage reflection and conversation. Open to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, supervisors and administration at all WSU campuses
Office of Native American Programs
Film Screening “Smoke Signals”
1 – 3 p.m. Nov. 29
Undergraduate Classroom Building, Room 202
“Smoke Signals” was written, directed, co-produced and acted by Native Americans. The film explores lived experiences and prevalent issues impacting Native American communities.
Transgender Day of Remembrance
3 p.m. Nov. 29
Firstenburg Student Commons
Celebrate Transgender Day of Remembrance by attending a vigil for lost transgender community members, discuss the experiences of transgender students, faculty and staff on campus, and gather as a community to celebrate and honor transgender community members.