Did you know Native American Heritage Month in November has a local connection? Dr. Arthur C. Parker, of Seneca and Scots-English descent, a prominent archaeologist, historian, and director of what is now the Rochester Museum and Science Center from 1924 to 1945, was among the first to propose an annual day to honor American Indians. “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” (https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/about/index.html).
The Finger Lakes region figured early in this aspect of United States history with the signing at Canandaigua of the peace treaty between the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and the US government on November 11, 1794. One of the earliest such treaties, it also “recognized the sovereignty of the Six Nations to govern and set laws as individual nations” (https://www.ganondagan.org/TreatyCelebration.html).
MCC’s Native American Initiative will show the film “We Still Live Here – as Nutaynnean” on Tuesday, November 15, in the Flynn Campus Center Forum from 6-9 PM, about the cultural revival among the Wampanoag people of southeastern Massachusetts, with Wampanoag member Tim Roderick present to answer questions afterwards. MCC’s Native American Initiative, Scholars’ Day, and Libraries have all sponsored programs at MCC in the past year related to American Indians. The Democrat & Chronicle lists Rochester events for this year’s Native American Heritage Month at https://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011111060337. Take advantage of some of these opportunities to learn more about our history and community.
This is part of a monthly series of articles from the Diversity Council about topics related to diversity and multiculturalism.
Debbie Mohr
ETS: Libraries (Diversity Council)
11/11/2011 |