Looking beyond the month

December marks the end of Native American Heritage Month, but the celebration of culture lingers on.

On Nov. 4, Columbia professor of anthropology Audra Simpson was featured as the keynote speaker of the opening ceremony for Native American Heritage Month. She spoke with both passion and insight on the importance of celebrating, sharing, and remembering Native American culture, asking the simple but essential question, “Why should it only be one month?” The speech was thought-provoking in its important perspective on Native American Heritage Month, presenting ideas that we would all be wise to consider. Even now that the month of November has passed, we should continuously celebrate, share, and remember Native American culture throughout the entire year, with the same intensity as in the past few weeks.

As the heritage month draws to a close, the Native American student community should be commended for their amazing job working together to organize events on campus that showcased the many talents and cultures of Native people. The success of the opening ceremony only marked the beginning of the continued successes that followed throughout the month. The Indians and Indians dinner­— an annual, co-sponsored event with the Bhakti Club in which the Native and Indian (from India) communities prepare and share food for a joint dinner—was on Nov.10. During the weekend of Nov. 13, the annual All Ivy Native Council Summit was held at Columbia, with Native students from around the nation meeting for networking, speakers and workshops. On Nov. 19, there was a dinner, co-sponsored with SisterCircle, to discuss the meaning of Thanksgiving within the context of stereotypes, culture, and identity. On Nov. 20, the Native American Arts Exhibition, co-sponsored by the Postcrypt Art Gallery, featured Native American students and professionals from Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oklahoma, New York and Ontario, Canada. The vast community support received at these events demonstrates the importance of Native American culture at Columbia. The last event of Native American Heritage Month—the closing ceremony—is appropriately scheduled for today, Dec. 3, reaffirming the idea that the celebration can and should extend beyond the boundaries of November. If the heritage month has proved one thing, it is that the Native student community wants to participate and share with the community in a way that both educates and entertains.

Native American presence and influence on campus grows steadily stronger each year. As a student group, the Native American Council meets every week to discuss different ideas on how to share our heritage. We also come to these weekly gatherings, however, just to hang out as friends—to stay connected. Each year, there are new members who prove increasingly enthusiastic and helpful, which makes me confident that Native American presence on campus will remain strong and will continue to grow over time. In the near future, Columbia will consider the addition of a Native American studies “emphasis” within the existing comparative ethnic studies major, a much-needed and desired field of study. This important achievement is the result of enthusiastic, determined students and teachers who have been discussing such a program for a long time. As a junior, I unfortunately will not have the opportunity to participate in this new field, but I commend the University for taking this initiative, and I am happy for the many people who will undoubtedly take advantage of this unique opportunity in the near future.

The heritage month closing ceremony will feature the Redhawk Dance Troupe, a Brooklyn-based group that specializes in both traditional and contemporary styles of Native American dance. The keynote speaker will be Larry Ahenakew, the chairman of the American Indian Community House in downtown New York City. The Community House is a nonprofit organization that serves the health, social service, and cultural needs of Native Americans residing in the New York City area. These visitors reflect the theme of this year’s heritage month, Native New York: Indigenous in the City, which examines the experiences and meanings of Native Americans living in a bustling metropolitan environment. The event, which will take place in the Satow Room of Lerner Hall from 6-8 p.m., reminds students of the important presence of Native Americans both at Columbia and in the community at large.

The author is a Columbia College junior majoring in the history and theory of architecture with a concentration in jazz studies. He is the vice-chair of the Columbia University Native American Council.