Native American Indian Heritage Month was established by President George H. W. Bush on August 3, 1990. Since then, this commemorative month aims to provide a platform for Native and Indigenous people in the United State of America to share their culture, traditions, music, crafts, dance, and concepts of life. Among the 39 federally recognized Native American tribes in the state of Oklahoma, the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations are both two of the most populated tribes in the country.
To celebrate the rich heritage of these tribes, CASC hosted a series of themed events on both campuses to spread awareness of cultural practices and engage with students and community members through a joint collaboration with both the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations of Oklahoma.
CASC welcomes Gary ‘Litefoot’ Davis to its Poteau campus on Nov. 1 for an inspirational and motivational lecture to area students in the Hamilton Auditorium. Davis addressed the crowd and shared insight on a variety of topics such as: self-empowerment, leadership development, and economic development.
Samantha Piper, CASC Composition Instructor, had 27 students attend the lecture from Mr. Davis’ lecture. Her students appreciated his candid humor and his motivation to strive for excellence, she said.
“After the lecture, my class completed an analysis/survey assignment to evaluate the information he shared in his lecture,” Piper said. “One of their favorite components of his lecture was how he urged each student to ‘become better for yourself, actively participate in life, and to bet on yourself,” she said. The results of the survey were overwhelmingly positive as Mr. Davis’ words engaged their attention and motivated them to recognize their importance in making a positive impact on themselves and their community.
The Cherokee Heritage Department provided cultural workshops that taught students, faculty, and staff members the history of making corn husk dolls. In addition, those in attendance also learned the importance of giving back to one’s community. The workshops were held on both CASC’s Poteau and Sallisaw campuses early in the month.
The Cherokee Heritage Department also hosted Storytelling by Robert Lewis, an award-winning Native storyteller, author, and artist of the Cherokee, Navajo, and Apache descent, on Nov. 4 for the CASC Sallisaw students, faculty, staff, and Positive Tomorrow students and staff.
Edward Hummingbird, Director of Institutional Research, Effectiveness, and Planning at Southwestern Polytechnic Institute addressed the CASC President’s Leadership Class with a presentation of Native American Art history. The presentation included art pieces that Mr. Hummingbird previously donated to the CASC Library.
The Choctaw Cultural Department provided social dancing lessons to CASC faculty, students, and staff on Nov. 13.
In addition to the engaging campus events, the Joe E. White Library hosted an art exhibit throughout the month of November that featured Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma pieces that represented the Nation’s culture, heritage, and successes. From traditional Choctaw clothing, to stickball and language resources, the exhibit highlighted the proud Choctaw people who have proven their resiliency of overcoming obstacles and paving the way for the success of future generations.
Finally, several CASC departments have collaborated to create Project C.A.R.E. (Collaborating Areas, Respecting the Elderly). This project would allow campus departments and student organizations to give back to their communities while also celebrating Native American culture. The corn husk dolls made in the cultural workshops on both campuses would be combined with donated items gathered by the CASC Native American Club and Residential Assistants, to make gift bags to deliver to residents of The Oaks Nursing Home and the Sallisaw Manor Nursing Home during the upcoming holiday season.
“It has been an honor to tie Native American Heritage Month events to a community project,” said Micky Solomon, CASC Title III Project Director, “that several clubs and classes at CASC could support. I believe we should take every opportunity we can to show love to others. It has been a privilege to work with CASC’s partners, students, faculty, and staff on Project C.A.R.E.”
Rachel Johnson, Native American Club Sponsor and CASC Enrollment & Advisement Director, said every member that participated in making the corn husk dolls poured love into each package they made, and saw this service opportunity as a way to share a piece of their heritage with others, while also giving back to their communities.
“It takes a village to plan and coordinate events like these,” Solomon said, “and I’d like to thank the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations, and each individual who donated their time, talents, and resources into making this November a culturally rich month of celebration.”
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