Diversity Activities at Kodiak College

November: National Native American Heritage Month

What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose.

One of the very proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the “First Americans” and for three years they adopted such a day. In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kans., formally approved a plan concerning American Indian Day. It directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.

The year before this proclamation was issued, Red Fox James, a Blackfoot Indian, rode horseback from state to state seeking approval for a day to honor Indians. On December 14, 1915, he presented the endorsements of 24 state governments at the White House. There is no record, however, of such a national day being proclaimed.

The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example, legislators enacted such a day in 1919. Presently, several states have designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continues to be a day we observe without any recognition as a national legal holiday.

In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including “Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month”) have been issued each year since 1994.
---From the National Native American Heritage Month website

Past Diversity Activities

• Activities AY 2023-2024
  • Filipino-American History Month

    Filipino American History Month

    October 

    Check out the Filipino American book display in the library and learn more!

    Filipino Americans are the second-largest Asian American group in the nation and the third-largest ethnic group in California, after Latinas/os and African Americans. The celebration of Filipino American History Month in October commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States, which occurred on October 18, 1587, when “Luzones Indios” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California. In 2009, U.S. Congress recognized October as Filipino American History Month in the United States. Various states, counties, and cities in the U.S. have established proclamations and resolutions declaring observance of Filipino American History Month. The late Dr. Fred Cordova, along with his wife, FANHS Founder Dr. Dorothy Laigo Cordova, first introduced October as Filipino American History Month in 1992 with a resolution from the FANHS National Board of Trustees.

    Across the nation, FANHS Chapters, colleges and universities, museums, and community groups will be commemorating Filipino American History Month with various activities and events to bring awareness of the significant role Filipinos have played in American history.
    --From the Filipino American National Historical Society

  • Orange Shirt Day

    Orange Shirt Day

    Saturday, September 30th

    "[ Orange Shirt Day] recognizes the tragic legacy of residential schools, the missing children, the families left behind and honours the survivors. By wearing an Orange Shirt, we raise awareness of how during the residential school period, personal belongings such as clothing and with it culture and freedom, were taken away from children and multiple generations after them.
    -Wa-Say Healing Centre

  • Hispanic Heritage Month

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    September 15 - October 15

    Check out the book display in the Library!

    

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    Todos Somos, Somos Uno

    We Are All, We Are One

    Each year, people across the United States observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating and reflecting on the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America

   

• Activities AY 2022/2023
  • The Healing Power of Stories

    March 10, 2023

    The Cama'i Club and KoC Nursing present a brown bag lunch event. Learn how Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD unites neuroscience and traditional medicine and learn how retelling your personal, family, and cultural stories can transform your life, your relationships, and the world. Friday, March 10 in Benny  Benson Room 106 or via Zoom.     

    Lewis Mehl-Madrona graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine and trained in family medicine, psychiatry, and clinical psychology. Explore how narrative therapy can help replace dysfunctional cultural stories with those that offer templates for healthier relationships with each other and the planet.
     
    Dr. Mehl-Madrona is the author of the Coyote Medicine trilogy. His work discusses healing practices from Lakota, Cherokee and Cree traditions, and how they intersect with conventional medicine. 

    Zoom presentation recording
    Passcode: M#nk16^!

  • Elizabeth Peratrovich Day

    February 16, 2023

    Join the Cama'i Club for a brownbag lunchtime viewing of "For the Rights of All: Ending Jim Crow in Alaska" Friday, February 17 at Noon. "For the Rights of All: Ending Jim Crow in Alaska" tells the story of an extraordinary Alaskan woman who becomes an unforeseen hero in the fight for civil rights. Elizabeth Peratrovich–a young, unassuming Tlingit Indian mother of three–testified before the Alaska Territorial Senate in 1945 and swayed the floor vote with her compelling testimony in favor of the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Act, the first civil rights bill passed in the United States since the Civil War. 57 Minutes Long 

  • Make the Yuletide Gay Potluck

    December 20, 2022

    Kodiak College Diversity Committee and Kodiak Pride partnered to produce Make the Yuletide Gay.  This was a potluck event that included a white elephant gift exchange and ugly sweater competition.  19 people came together to share in a potluck meal, exchange white elephant gifts, play games, and have a ugly sweater contest.  Prizes were provided by the Director of the College.  

    This event was able to capture the timing of many students returning to the island from other colleges (there were several Kodiak College Students present as well).  Two students from other colleges mentioned how great it was to see a thriving Queer and Ally community visible in Kodiak and how great it was to have the college in partnership with these events

  • Friendsgiving Brunch Pride Event 11/19

    November 19, 2022

    On November 19, Kodiak College Diversity Committee and Kodiak Pride partnered to put on a Friendsgiving Brunch event.  Eight people from the community attended and brunched together.  While not a large showing, two people mentioned this would be the only safe Thanksgiving event they would have where their identities would be accepted and respected

  • History, Historical Trauma, & Healing Event

    November 18, 2022

    Hosted by Cama'i Club & KANA Prevention, all were welcomed to this evening event Friday from 6-8 pm in Benny Benson Building room 130. People learned about the Refuge Rock site and watched the film "Finding Refuge" in person or via Zoom.

  • Alaska Native/Native American Heritage Month

     

    Kodiak College, UAA is proud to celebrate Alaska Native/Native American Heritage Month. In 1990, George H.W. Bush declared November to be Native American Heritage Month. It is now more commonly referred to as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. It is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse American Indian and Alaska Native histories and heritage, as well as educate ourselves about the historical and lived experiences of indigenous peoples who live(d) on the lands which became the United States.

  • Coming Out Stories Event

    October 11, 2022

    In celebration of National Coming Out Day, Kodiak College’s Diversity Committee partnered with Kodiak Pride to produce The Coming Out Stories.  The Coming Out Stories is an adaptation of the Coming Out Monologues national movement.  

    Four individuals living in Kodiak and identifying as Queer shared their coming out stories to a crowd of 23 people.  There were light refreshments and beverages provided by the Director of the College.  The response was positive and plans are currently in the works to have another event next year.

   

• Activities AY 2021/2022
  • MMIWG: A Conversation With Hanna Sholl. 

    April 30, 2022

    Kodiak College is hosted a second virtual event recognizing MMIWG. All were welcome to attend A Conversation with Hanna Sholl, on Saturday, April 30 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. This Zoom discussion lead by Alutiiq artist and advocate Hanna Sholl complemented  the video showing of the movie, Bring Her Home, and explore the issues of MMIWG.  

  • MMIWG Film Event :Bring Her Home

    April 29, 2022

    This was the first of two events in recognition of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), with a free virtual screening of Bring Her Home, Friday April 29 at 7pm. Produced in 2022, this film shares the stories of three Indigenous women working to bring to light this national epidemic of violence and injustice. Sponsored by the Kodiak College Diversity Committee and the Alutiiq Studies Program, advance registration was required to attend. 

• Activities 2020/2021
  • Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Day of Awareness (May 5)

    May 5, 2021

    raise awareness about the human rights issue of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), Kodiak College hosted a lunchtime conversation with Sugpiaq artist and community member Hanna Sholl.

    Hanna is a 2020 Henry Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellow whose art in many mediums encompasses themes of Alutiiq celebration and revitalization, and advocacy for justice and reform.

    The event took place via Zoom on Wednesday May 5, the MMIWG National Day of Awareness, from noon to 1pm. All were invited to attend this free event.

  • Women's History Month, March
    Community Herald Native Women, a Celebration of Women's History Month, with free showings of seven films by and about Native Women, produced by Vision Maker Media. Kodiak is featured in Keep Talking, which follows four Alaska Native women fighting to save Kodiak Alutiiq, a critically endangered language with only 41 fluent Elders remaining.
  • Elizabeth Peratrovich Day (February 16)

    February 16, 2021

    UAA Alaska Native Studies Symposia in Honor of Elizabeth Peratrovich 

    

    Presentations by Alaska Native Studies students

    Presenters: Valerie Svancara and Barbara Sikvayugak 
    Title: Stories of Resilience: Alaska Native Student Transition and First Year Persistence in Higher Ed 

    Presenter: Christopher Liu
    Title: "Yugtun Language Tools" 

    Presenter: Joel Isaak 
    Title: Indigenous Literacy Development 

    Presenter: Sondra Shaginoff-Stuart, MA 
    Title: Łinay'snułkaas de' - Lets' Start Sewing, Learning Ahtna Language 

  • Celebrating Alutiiq Cultural Revitalization

    December 7 & 8, 2020

    Pathways to Individual Health & Community Wellness (Dec. 7 & 8, 2020)
    Listen to the recordings:

    Monday, 12/7 morning session access code: 7@yF6jg&

    9:00    Welcome & Opening Remarks
    9:30 – 10:00    The Massacre at Refuge Rock – Libby Eufemio, Alutiiq Studies Program
    10:15 – 10:45   Film – Finding Refuge
    10:45 – 12:00   Panel Discussion Historical Trauma - Margie Mete, RN KoC Nursing Program with Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD & Barbara Mainguy, MSW

    Monday, 12/7 afternoon session access code: b=8AD%Zz

    1 – 2:00   Film – Keep Talking
    2 – 3:30   Panel Discussion Alutiiq Language Revitalization - Alisha Drabek, PhD & Candace Branson, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak

    Tuesday, 12/8 morning session access code: 2W+!MHv0

    9 – 10:30   Hanna Sholl – Healing Through Art, Henry Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellow
    10:30 – 12 Susan Malutin – Alutiiq Sewing & Embroidery Traditions

    Tuesday, 12/8 Afternoon session access code: r@bA7rLc

    1 – 2:00 Healing with Indigenous Plants & Cultural Foods
    2 – 3:30 Judy Simeonoff – Engaging Youth at Akhiok Spirit Camp
    Quyanaa & Closing Remarks