Beginning in 1990, President George H.W. Bush established November as Native American Heritage Month in order to help promote understanding and awareness of Native American culture.
Comedian Jim Rule performs at the University of Idaho Administration Building auditorium Thursday evening as part of the Annual Heritage Month and has been featured on Comedy Central and also Showtime.
For Steve Martin and the University of Idaho Native American Student Center, it’s a year-round job.
“It is the responsibility of the Native American Student Center to plan these activities for Native American Heritage Month, but I always say that we like to celebrate our culture every day of our lives — not just in a given month,” said Martin, NASC director. “In order to educate this campus we try to provide a variety of diverse speakers and programming events to this campus.”
For Indigenous Day last month, the NASC brought in Native American Rights Fund Staff Attorney David Gover. He gave a presentation regarding water rights for the Klamath Tribe in the Northwest Klamath Basin.
The celebration began with “According to the Coyote,” a presentation of a collection of traditional Nez Perce stories written by John Kauffman and performed by his sister Carlotta Kauffman.
Thursday, Native American comedian Jim Ruel performed a comedy act. Ruel has been featured on Showtime and Comedy Central.
The last event is the 12th Annual Distinguished American Speakers Series featuring Kiowa/Choctaw artist and filmmaker Steven Paul Judd at 7 p.m. tonight in the Lionel Hampton School of Music Haddock Performance Hall.
“His focus is on popular culture — contributing to it, and critiquing it,” said Janis Johnson, Coordinator of the American Indian Studies Program. Johnson also teaches courses in Native American Literature and Film.
“The Native American Heritage Month allows us to share with people and give them an understanding of who we are as Native peoples,” Martin said. “Although, this month gives us an opportunity to share both our contemporary and traditional ways.”
Vanessa Santos, vice president of the Native American Student Association, said the month is an opportunity for them to connect with others. “It’s always room for a good time for departments from other states to come here,” Santos said. “It’s kind of like a big family reunion is what I can relate it to.”
Native American Student Association President Effie Hernandez said the annual heritage month connects tribes on a national scale.
“It makes us feel more welcomed and it makes us feel more comfortable with each other to be around native people and knowing that everyone else there to around the United States are having that same aspect,” Hernandez said.
Native American Student Association Secretary and Treasurer T.J. Hammersland said the month promotes unity among tribes.
“It’s the coming together and celebration of all our cultures, gaining an education and understanding of cultures surrounding us and across the nation as well but then educating them about our background, our history, where we’ve come from, how we’ve grown,” Hammersland said.
Aaron Wolfe can be reached at [email protected]