BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University’s First Nations Educational and Cultural Center is hosting a number of events during November in honor of Native American Heritage Month.
IU’s celebration kicks off at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, with a reception for Steven Paul Judd in the Indiana Memorial Union President’s Room. Judd, a Kiowa and Choctaw Native, is a celebrated director and actor known for his films “American Indian Graffiti: This Thing Life” and “Search for the World’s Best Indian Taco.”
A screening of his latest film, “Ronnie BoDean,” followed by a discussion, will take place at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at the IMU's Whittenberger Auditorium.
“Each November we try to honor Native American Heritage Month by providing programming that works to support Native students on campus, culturally, as well as working to educate the broader IU Bloomington community about the diversity of Native American cultural life and about aspects of, and issues within, contemporary Native communities,” said Nicholas Belle, director of First Nations, a program within the IU’s Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs. “We are really happy to be offering all the events we have lined up for this month. We hope that everyone on campus gets a chance to come celebrate Native American Heritage Month with us and to learn a little bit more about what's going on in Native North America.”
Events hosted throughout the month include a lunchtime speaker series at 12:30 p.m. each Wednesday at the First Nations Educational and Cultural Center, 712 E. Eighth St.; lunch will be provided. Other events include craft workshops, a storytelling session and a fundraiser for the American Indian Student Association. First Nations is also co-sponsoring events and talks on campus with the Mathers Museum of World Cultures and the Phi Beta Kappa Lecture Series.
The IU Powwow, traditionally held in November, is being planned for Spring 2017.
Other events include:
- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov 5: Beading workshop with Marilyn Cleveland, a member of the White Mountain Apache and Cherokee tribes, at the First Nations center. Registration is required and available by emailing fnecc@iu.edu.
- 3 p.m. Nov. 6: Film screening of “Fractured Land,” at the Whittenberger Auditorium. The screening is part of the 10th Annual Native Film Series. A screening of “Yakona” will take place at 3 p.m. Nov. 13 as part of the series.
- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 11: Indian taco sale, a fundraiser for the American Indian Student Association, taking place at First Nations. Price is $8 each. Vegetarian options will be available.
- 10 a.m. Nov. 12: Cherokee Double Weave Basketry Workshop with John Johnson, at First Nations. Supplies will be provided, and attendees can take home the basket they create.
- Noon Nov. 14: Special Lunchtime Talk at First Nations: Heritage and the Locals, hosted by IU’s Native American and Indigenous Studies.
- 9:30 to 11 a.m. Nov. 19: Family Friend Event -- Storytelling with Marilyn Cleveland at First Nations. Cleveland will tell traditional Cherokee stories.