Upstate Medical University Multicultural Affairs & Student Inclusion

CELEBRATE. EDUCATE. ADVOCATE.CONNECT!

Skä·noñh (“peace and wellness”) is a Haudenosaunee greeting and, as Tadodaho Sid Hill reiterates time and again, can only be obtained when human beings are in proper relationship with the natural world.

November is Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly referred to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.

Don't let the culture of the Native Americans pass you by unnoticed, and make sure that you take the time to learn about your neighbors in the United States and the role that they have had in your history. Who knows, you might realize you have a lot more in common with the natives of this land than you thought!,

5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIVE AMERICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH!

1. MAKE A NATIVE AMERICAN DISH:
One of the best ways to learn about a culture is through food. There are endless options when it comes to Native American recipes, but here are a few for you to look up and try out: Apache Acorn Cakes, Native Mommy Soup, Alogonquin Three Sisters Rice, Corn Chowder, Mantaka Acorn Bread.

2. DISCOVER THE DIVERSITY OF NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES: There are hundreds of tribes across the continent, but most people can’t name more than a few, and even less are represented in the popular culture. Native American Heritage Month is a great opportunity to research your local history and discover which tribes called the land you now live on home. Below are a few links to get you started:
https://classroom.synonym.com/native-american-tribes-1846-new-york-12149922.html

https://youtu.be/j_mVBs2xLtE

https://delta.kanopy.com/video/we-shall-remain

3.READ A BOOK ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY:
Here are a few suggestions:
-Hearts of our People: Native Woman Artists, by Jill Ahlberg Yohe

-This Land is their land The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the troubled history of Thanksgiving, by David Silverman

-First Americans: A History of Native Peoples, by Mark Nicholas

4. TAKE A VIRTUAL VISIT TO A NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE SITE: he US is scattered with beautiful and significant American Indian landmarks. From burial mounds to ruins to museums, there are thousands of locations to to experience Native America. Here is a link to help you start your journey: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/best-usa-indian-culture/index.html

5. IMPROVE YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Suggested Websites:
http://peacecouncil.net/programs/neighbors-of-the-onondaga-nation/marker-list/the-iroquois-confederacy
https://americanindian.si.edu/sites/1/files/pdf/education/HaudenosauneeGuide.pdf

https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/culture-and-cures-healing-native-american-health

Congratulations👏🏽👏🏾👏🏿👏🏼! At the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) Annual Conference in Atlanta, Katherine Beissner, PT, PhD, FASAHP, dean of the College of Health Professions, was presented the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award for furthering the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the academic setting.

Dean Beissner has pioneered a number of outreach programs aimed at diversifying the health professions by providing local high school and college students hands-on immersion in the health professions. At the conference she presented a poster, "Jump Start Your Health Career (JSYHC): A Problem-Based Approach to Increasing Health Professions Awareness," co-authored by Chawka Albadeh, the program's coordinator.

Beissner is also an ASAHP Fellow.