UT celebrates Native Americans throughout November

The Office of Excellence and Multicultural Student Success (OEMSS) will celebrate the Native Americans by hosting a series of events throughout the month of November in honor of Native American Heritage Month (NAHM).
“The goal of hosting Native American Heritage Month is to involve as many students as possible in events that are not only educational and informative, but enjoyable and entertaining,” said Daniel McGuire, associate director of Toledo EXCEL.
McGuire is helping with the planning process of the NAHM events along with OEMSS.
The events planned for NAHM are a soup sampling, a cultural presentation of dance, customs and attire by the Black Swamp InterTribal Foundation and a keynote poetry reading and talk by Sherwin Bitsui.
The Three Sister’s soup sampling happened on Tuesday, Nov. 18 in the lobby of the Student Union.
McGuire said during the soup sampling, students received historical information about an innovative Native American cultivation method of combining corn, beans and squash to complement each other both agriculturally and nutritionally.
“The soup is simply one example of many things that can be done with the “three sisters,” but was primarily chosen because it’s hot and delicious, which is perfect for November,” McGuire said.
McGuire said students should attend these events because one of the benefits of attending the university is access to the cultural events outside the classroom, and many opportunities to learn about and celebrate diversity around campus.
“Our office encourages students to avail themselves of these unique opportunities as much as possible,” McGuire said. “Native American Heritage Month is an opportunity to learn about a culture that played, and is still playing a vital part of this country’s history.”
Jeffery Witt, program manager at the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women, planned the Black Swamp InterTribal Foundations Living History Presentation of Dance, Customs and Attire by Native American Women.
Witt said the performance will be a re-enactment of traditional tribal dance and drum playing, and the performers will also speak about the experiences of Native Americans in Northwest Ohio.
“They will also talk about the Black Swamp InterTribal Foundation and explain its mission and activities,” Witt said.
The Black Swamp InterTribal Foundation’s presentation will be on Thursday, Nov. 20 in the SU Auditorium on the third floor. The presentation will run from 5:30-7 p.m.
The presentation will be free and open to the public and light refreshments will be available at the event.
Bitsui’s poetry reading and keynote speech will be Monday, Dec. 1 in SU Ingman Room on the second floor next to Ask Rocky. Bitsui’s talk will run from 7-8 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Bitsui will be reading some of his poems from his 2009 poetry collection entitled “Flood Song,” as well as some of his newer work.
“Native American History is American history,” Bitsui said. “One should always know why and how things became what they are today.”
Bitsui said he is constantly interested in shifts that occur between the English and Navajo languages.
“I’m interested in what happens between these two worldviews,” Bitsui said. “My poems are an attempt to make connections between them.”
Bitsui said he has been into poetry since his late teens.
“I feel like I’ve always perceived the world poetically when I was growing up on the Navajo reservation,” Bitsui said. “It wasn’t until I started studying poetry that I was able to fully commit to it as my artistic practice.”
McGuire said that in Bitsui, they have someone that is knowledgeable about Native American culture who is also an accomplished artist, which makes him an ideal speaker for the keynote event.
According to McGuire, following the poetry reading, Bitsui will also hold a book signing.
“Sherwin [Bitsui] was chosen as the keynote speaker because he fits the bill of being educational and informative, enjoyable and entertaining,” McGuire said. “Aside from him reading his poetry, he will discuss his heritage and background and field questions from the audience.”