Penn State campus events celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State student organizations and units at campuses across the commonwealth will be holding events in honor of National Native American Heritage Month, celebrated during the month of November. Here’s a look at some of the events taking place at the University’s campuses. Additional events may be added throughout the month.

According to the Library of Congress Native American Heritage Month website, Native American Heritage Month, also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, celebrates the rich and diverse cultures, traditions and histories of Native people and recognizes the significant contributions of the first Americans. 

Penn State as an institution also officially recognizes Indigenous history and Native American heritage though its acknowledgement of land: The Pennsylvania State University campuses are located on the original homelands of the Erie, Haudenosaunee (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora), Lenape (Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe, Stockbridge-Munsee), Monongahela, Shawnee (Absentee, Eastern, and Oklahoma), Susquehannock, and Wahzhazhe (Osage) Nations. As a land grant institution, we acknowledge and honor the traditional caretakers of these lands and strive to understand and model their responsible stewardship. We also acknowledge the longer history of these lands and our place in that history.

The Penn State Indigenous Peoples' Student Association (IPSA) and the Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance (IFSA) are communities of Indigenous students, allies, faculty and staff at Penn State, dedicated to promoting the academic success of indigenous students on campus through the advancement of indigenous awareness, recruitment, retention and social activities.

Penn State University Park

5th Annual Centre Film Festival — Oct. 30-Nov. 5, the State Theatre in State College and the Rowland Theatre in Philipsburg. The Centre Film Festival will host an Indigenous Peoples Heritage track, presenting a curated selection of eight films that elucidate the diverse experiences and narratives of indigenous communities. 

Food Sovereignty Display and Book Recommendations — Nov. 1-30, College of Engineering Library, 3rd Floor Hammond Building.

Geovanni Siquihua lecture — 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3, in 112 Walker Building on the University Park campus and via Zoom. Siquihua, a Kichwa indigenous leader from Sani, a community in Ecuador's Amazon rainforest currently resisting oil extraction, will present "Oil extraction and Kichwa indigenous futurities in the Amazon rainforest: The experience of the Sani community" at the Department of Geography's Coffee Hour lecture series.

Talk: "The New Native Kitchen, Rediscovering American Cuisine" — Noon, Monday, Nov. 6, Foster Auditorium-Paterno 102. Penn State Sustainability, in collaboration with the Centre Film Festival, will host the esteemed Diné (Navajo) chef, Freddie J. Bitsoie, as a part of its ongoing Sustainability Showcase series. The presentation, inspired by Bitsole's published cookbook "New Native Kitchen: Celebrating Modern Recipes of the American Indian," will highlight the history and significant contributions of Native Americans to global cuisine. 

Indigenous Themed Meal — Tuesday, Nov. 7, East Food District. The centerpiece of the celebration will unfold with a meal hosted by Penn State Campus Dining. Open to the public, this event embodies a culinary voyage orchestrated by Chef Freddie J. Bitsoie, guiding attendees through a gastronomic exploration of modern Native American cuisine. Bitsoie is celebrated for his modernization of Native American cuisine while maintaining a deep reverence for its traditional roots.

Harvest Feast — 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 14, Abba Java Coffeehouse, 299 Locust Lane, State College. Hosted by the Penn State Indigenous Peoples' Student Association (IPSA) and Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance (IFSA). Dinner provided. Register here.

Talk: "How to Become a Good Ally to Indigenous Peoples" — 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 15, online. Presented by Paul Guernsey, University of Montana, visiting professor of environmental studies. Hosted by IPSA and IFSA at Penn State. Register here.

"Friendsgiving" event — 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 16, Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Join us for an evening of spoken word poetry, original music, dance and more! Our featured artist this year will be multi-talented spoken word artist Evita Colon. This event is free for anyone to attend, and dinner will be provided. 

Talk: "Indigenous Sciences of Sustainability: Ancient Native Food Systems and their Lessons for the Future" — 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 28, in-person and online. Presented by Lyla June Johnston (Diné). If attending in-person: Flex Theater, HUB-Robeson Center with a reception to follow.  Register here to attend via Zoom.

Free Community Soup Dinner — 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 11, Abba Java Coffeehouse, 299 Locust Lane, State College. Hosted by the Penn State Student Farm, IPSA and IFSA.

Penn State Altoona

Native American Heritage Bingo — Noon, Monday, Nov. 6, online. Discover and celebrate 75 important Native Americans who have contributed significantly to our society. Engage in cultural exploration while playing BINGO and gaining insights into the diverse history and achievements of Native communities.

The Piscataway Nation Singers and Dancers — 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, Slep Pond View. The singers and dancers will present a colorful, educational and entertaining pow-wow-style event featuring American Indian dance, drum and song.

Penn State Fayette 

Council of Three Rivers American Indians — Wednesday, Nov. 8, 12:15 p.m., Williams Building, Student Center. In honor of American Indian Heritage Month, the council of Three Rivers American Indians will perform Native American songs, drum, and dance. Learn about Native American history, culture and traditions.  

Penn State Hazleton 

Educational displays — throughout November, lower level, Butler Teaching and Learning Resource Center. The following educational displays will be housed in the Center for Multicultural Engagement:

• "Native American pottery and jewelry"
• "Indigenous activists"
• "The Tribes of Pennsylvania"

Penn State Mont Alto

Plains Indian Tipi Experience with Carolyn Rittenhouse MSW (Lakota Sioux) — Monday, Nov. 13, 3-4:30 p.m., Mont Alto Quad. 

Native Nations Trivia — Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2-3:15 p.m., Wiestling Student Center. 

Penn State Wilkes-Barre 

Make a Dreamcatcher! — Nov. 1. Create your very own dreamcatcher and discover the rich cultural significance behind this traditional Native American totem. This hands-on experience will not only be a fun and creative activity but also an opportunity to learn about the traditions of Native American culture.