Celebrating Native American culture and traditions

In celebration of American Indian Heritage Month, the Office of Multicultural Affairs will offer four events throughout the month of November to celebrate Native American culture and traditions.
“We are extremely excited to celebrate American Indian Heritage Month here at Lehigh,” says Alta Thornton, assistant dean for multicultural affairs. “This month’s celebrations are in line with the Office of Multicultural Affair’s goal to expand our scope and widen our audiences, providing more services, to more people, more often. We are happy to provide such authentic experiences, in which the campus community can take part right here on campus.”
American Indian Heritage Month will kick off on Friday, Nov. 10, when Lehigh students, faculty and staff are invited to create a traditional dreamcatcher in the Ulrich Student Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dreamcatchers hang over people as they sleep, and are believed to catch bad dreams in their webs while letting good dreams pass through to the person who is sleeping.
The other events to follow are:
• An American Indian Heritage Dinner, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13 at Center Cort. The meal cost is the same as a normal dinner swipe. Only the “Center Cort” stand, in midcafeteria, will feature Native American dishes.
• The Lenape Native Nations Dance Theater, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, in Ulrich Kenner Theatre. The dance troupe will perform with live music and provide an explanation of the dance. The Native Nations Dance Theatre is a non-profit organization in Philadelphia and is the only indigenous dance troupe in the region that was developed for the purpose of educating children and adults about the existence of Native American artists.
• Dinner with Taino lecturer and poet Bobby Gonzalez, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 in the Asa Packer Room (UC 3rd floor). Bobby González is a nationally known American Indian lecturer, storyteller and poet. Born and raised in a bicultural environment in New York City, Bobby draws on his Taino and Puerto Rican roots to offer a unique repertoire of performances, readings and discourse that celebrates his indigenous roots. His lecture will focus on the topic Taino: the Native Americans who discovered Columbus.
Sponsors and partners of American Indian Heritage Month include the Offices of Multicultural Affairs and Student Activities, and Lehigh University Dining Services.
For more information, please e-mail the Office of Multicultural Affairs or call (610) 758-5973.
--Sarah Cooke