The University of Toledo celebrates Native American Heritage Month by educating people on and remembering aspects of Native American culture through campus events organized by the Office of Excellence and Multicultural Student Success.
“Our office coordinates the various history and heritage months throughout the year, and the unique thing about them is that while providing opportunities to become educated about different cultures, they are also cause for celebration and taking pride,” Daniel McGuire, associate director of the Toledo Excel Program, said.
At noon on Tuesday, Nov. 18, a free soup sampling will take place at the Three Sister’s event in the Student Union lobby.
“We will be giving out free Three Sisters soup, along with handouts explaining its historical significance and a recipe for making it yourself,” McGuire said.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the Black Swamp InterTribal Foundation will demonstrate a living history presentation in the Student Union Auditorium. The event will feature dance, customs and attire of Native-American women. This event is co-sponsored by the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women.
Native American Heritage Month events will come to a close with a keynote talk Monday, Dec. 1, from 7 to 8 p.m. A poetry reading by Sherwin Bitsui will take place in the Student Union Ingman Room.
Bitsui, a Diné from the Navajo Reservation in White Cone, Ariz., has received numerous honors, including a Whiting Writer’s Award, a grant from the Witter Bynner Foundation for Poetry, a Lannan Literary Fellowship, and a Truman Capote Creative Writing Fellowship.
“He fits the bill of being educational and informative, enjoyable and entertaining,” McGuire said. “Aside from reading his poetry, he will discuss his heritage and background, and field questions from the audience.”
For more information on the free, public events, visit utoledo.edu/studentaffairs/oemss or contact McGuire at daniel.mcguire@utoledo.edu.
