November is National Native American Heritage Month. While this celebration continues throughout the year, November is the specific month dedicated to the beauty of our First Nations cultures. While the history of tribal nations makes us aware of many painful and complex stories, we recognize the tremendous positive accomplishments, contributions and cultures of our Native peoples. From astronauts to actresses, physicists and educators, Native people have been and continue to be leaders and a source of inspiration for everyone.
For even more information, visit the Native American Culture and Education team and the Culture, Equity and Leadership Team pages.
Student Spotlights
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Name: Rosalynn Cenicero “My favorite part of Native American culture is going to pow wows and seeing all the different dances and helping my great grandma make yummy frybread.” |
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Name: Emma “Native American Heritage month is important to show people we’re still here; to have a voice. The best part of being Native American is the rich traditions, Indian tacos (LOL), making beautiful authentic jewelry, and having all tribes come together. There should be more classes for Native languages.” |
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Name: Mikiyela Kaline “My name is Mikiyela Kaline. I am 17 years old, about to turn 18. I am from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe. Make-up makes me feel confident and noticed. It accentuates my cheek bones and make-up makes me feel powerful. Make-up brings me peace and makes me want others to feel this way too. I love the artistic aspect of make-up! When I graduate I want to be a make-up artist and own my own indigenous beauty shop. I love make-up. In my spare time, I bead, paint, and practice traditional powwows dance. This is me, a proud Oglala Lakota Sioux woman!" |
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Name: Jacob Josytewa II “My name is Jacob Josytewa II. I enjoy playing lacrosse both for East High School and Denver Elite. I also participate in wrestling at East HS. In my spare time, I help coach younger kids the game of lacrosse. My family and I enjoy hunting and fishing. We love being in nature and giving thanks to our Creator. We enjoy making/eating fry bread and giving that experience to others.” |
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Name: Cassidy Mendoza DPS Native Student Scholarship Recipient “Native American Heritage month to me is a time to honor and celebrate all the Indigenous peoples of the land past and present. It is a time to celebrate and share our culture as well as reflect on our ancestors who came before us.” |
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North High School NA Student Leadership Class The Native American Student Leadership class at North, is the first of its kind in DPS. Taught by Gracie RedShirt-Tyon, the class is aimed to prepare the next generation of Native leaders by combining cultural values with modern tools. We learn about tribal sovereignty and self-determination, Indigenous Leadership theory and methodology and the importance of servitude, how to be a good relative and much more. The student leaders in this class have planned the Native American Heritage month activities for North HS, they are as follows:
Additionally, I have asked a few members of the class to share what NA Heritage month means to them..... "It means another way to express that WE ARE STILL HERE" (Linwood, Morton, 9th Grade, Cheyenne Arapaho). "It means that we are representing ourselves and our tribal nations (Cesar Martinez-Gutierrez, 11th Grade, Lakota/Navajo) "It means that we have an opportunity to educate others about our history, our culture and who we are today" (Autumn Whatley, 12th Grade, Oglala Lakota) “It means that every month and every day is about Native American Heritage, culture and history because this is Turtle Island and we are the original peoples of this place” (Lilyana Respects Nothing-Trujillo, 10th Grade, Oglala Lakota) |
DPS Photo Galleries
Resources
Check out this comprehensive book list for reading materials for various grade levels.
Events:
- CU Boulder - The Power of the Indigenous Vote - Nov. 1st
- Friends of Longmont Youth Native American Heritage Month Celebration - Nov. 2nd
- CSU Fort Collins - 40th Annual Pow-Wow - Nov. 2nd
- CU Denver - Native American Heritage Month Kickoff - Nov. 4th
- Inclusive Excellence in Gaming - An Evening with John Romero - Nov. 6th
- Honoring All Who Served - Veterans Pow Wow - Nov 9th
- Denver Public Library - Indigenous Paint and Sip (all ages) - Nov. 10th
- National Parks, Native Sovereignty: A Book Convening - Nov. 13th
- The Story of Real Thanksgiving with Donna Chrisjohn - Nov. 19th
- Sand Creek Massacre and Amache Histories with Greg Spotted Bird - Nov. 21st
- Denver EATSS - Nov. 23
- AICF - Book Club: Deborah Taffa - Nov 26
- Native American Arts & Crafts Bazaar - Dec. 14th;
- Mile High New Year’s Pow-Wow - Dec. 31st (TBD)
- 42nd Annual Colorado Indian Market & Southwest Art Fest - Jan. 12-14, 2025
- Denver March Powwow - Mar. 15-17, 2024
- Denver Art Museum Exhibitions
- https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/calendar/indomitably-indigenous-2024 - Nov. 1-Jan 3
- Indigenous Arts of North America Galleries - Currently available
- Northwest Coast and Alaska Native Art Galleries - Currently available
- Arts of the Ancient Americas Galleries - Currently available
Videos:
- Happy National Native American Heritage Month by Deb Haaland -US Dept of Interior
- Understanding Native American Heritage
- Denver’s biggest Native American gathering is a Celebration for everyone
- The Three Sister Plants
- Ute Wisdom, Language and Creation Story: Larry Cesspooch
- Native Power: Celebrating Excellence Across Native Communities
- Colorado Experience: The Original Coloradans
- A Real Thanksgiving Address
- Denver Nuggets Native American Heritage Night Halftime Show 2023
- Native American Drums by Sid Whiting
- DPS Native American Heritage Month 2023
Written Resources/News:
- American Indian College Fund Statement on President Biden’s Apology on Federal Indian Boarding School Policy - American Indian College Fund
- American Indian College Fund Native American Heritage Month
- Here’s What's Going on in Indian Country Nov 1- 3 - Native News Online
- Indigenous Peoples’ Heritage Month
- Six Divine Matriarchs Who Are Living Our Indigenous Dreams - NDN Collective
- Indigenized Education: Reclaiming Language, Culture, and Land Through the Oceti Sakowin Community Academy
- American Indian Perspective on Thanksgiving
- NDN Collective Responds to President Biden’s Planned Apology for US Government’s Role in Native Boarding Schools
- NDN Collective Holds Action and Healing Event Post Boarding School Apology
- Indigenous Tribes of Colorado
- Indigenous Colorado
- Indigenous Exceptionalism
Meet the Native American Culture and Education Team
Who We Are: Native American Culture and Education
What We Do: Native American Culture and Education (NACE) supports Native American/Alaska Native students in Denver Public Schools, many of whom experience two worlds in their day-to-day lives as they navigate the Denver community but still have a strong cultural identity with their tribal Nations. We foster culturally responsive approaches and practices to support academic success and overall well-being for Native students in Denver Public Schools.
- NACE Google Site Page
- NACE Fall Newsletter
Staff:
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Rose Mcguire |
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Gwen Holmes Cheyenne River Lakota Lakota Language Instructor Abraham Lincoln High School She/Her/Hers |
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Marcus Cyrus Apsaalooke Nation Native American Culture & Equity Specialist South High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Northfield High School and George Washing High School |
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Audry Brady Diné Program Manager West Middle School, West HS & East High School |
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Melanie Archuleta |
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Grace RedShirt-Tyon |
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Eileen Masquat |
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Destiny Leftwich |
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Michelle Perez |
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Clark Tall Bull |
