Educational events celebrate Native American's heritage

Wade Manora Jr. aims to remove the stigma surrounding cultural heritage months by clarifying each heritage through celebratory events.

"We want to present a clear understanding of where each people came from and supply a virtual stage for each to thrive," the director of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) at the University of North Georgia (UNG) said.

This month, the MSA office will mark national Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month with events for UNG students, faculty and staff. Activities range from a digital trivia game and online panel discussion to a movie night and world-renowned speaker.

"We are conducting all of our events through an educational lens," Manora said, explaining it is important to know the history of the Native American and Indigenous People. "We have to pay homage to those who were here pre-colonization. It's important to recognize their culture."

Lakota Harden, an award-winning organizer and internationally recognized speaker, will share her experiences about being an activist for Native American and Indigenous People.

"She is not a shy person," Manora said. "One of the things that I love about her is she took her passion to the airways. She hosted a weekly radio program, called Bay Native Circle, in San Francisco. Her show amplified the voices of the Native American community and shared their struggles."

Harden also focuses on healing. She stresses it is important to look at the spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional complexities of individuals, according to her online biography.

"Acknowledging trauma, exploring methods and resources for healing, drawing on cultural practices and centuries-old knowledge, are some of the ways to move forward," according to Harden's website.

Harden's virtual presentation will be at noon Nov. 16 via Zoom and live-streamed on a few campuses.

While Harden's speech will close out Native American Heritage Month activities, a virtual trivia game will kick off the festivities in November. The game will test participants' knowledge of Native American history at noon Nov. 3 via Zoom. First, second, and third place each will win a cash prize.

Manora said the real victory will be the educational value, and he is a prime example. Manora said he tested the trivia game with a few facts surprising him.

"The first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York," Manora said. "I thought it would be sooner than in the early 1900s."

It took until 1990 for President George H.W. Bush to designate November as the National American Indian Heritage Month.

Manora also learned about the tribes that inhabited the northeast Georgia region. He hopes this knowledge-building events will inspire students, faculty and staff to support all marginalized communities.

For more information and a complete list of Native American Heritage Month events, visit the MSA website.