NNMC NEWS RELEASE
Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) invites the community to join us from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thursday, October 24, to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. We will honor and recognize the history, culture and contributions of Indigenous peoples through dance, music, poetry, cultural demonstrations and more.
“We are so excited to bring this event to Northern New Mexico College. For me, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a deeply meaningful opportunity to honor the rich history and vibrant cultures of Indigenous peoples. It’s a chance to reflect on the resilience and contributions of these communities, and to challenge the narratives often surrounding colonization,” said Valentina Livingston, Interim Director of the Native American Student Center.” I believe it’s important to celebrate the diverse cultures that enrich our lives and to recognize the ongoing struggles for justice and equity. I look forward to sharing this day with our community and bringing a greater understanding of our shared history.”
Most activities will take place at Northern’s Center for the Arts (CFA), with an oven bread demonstration by Alicia Naranjo (San Ildefonso) at the campus hornos. Artist Dominic Aqueir (Cochiti Pueblo) will emcee the event.
Speakers will include Poet and Author Luci Tapahonso (Diné), who was the Inaugural Poet Laureate for the Navajo Nation and is a recipient of a 2018 Native Arts and Culture Foundation Artist Fellowship. Indigenous Poet/Author Boderra Joe (Diné) and Tewa Filmmaker Charine Pilar Gonzales (San Ildefonso Pueblo) will also be offering inspirational speeches.
Shawn Price (Diné) will present a lecture about William Tecumseh Sherman, ranging from his early career and civil war exploits to his role with the Peace Commission of 1867–1868 that established seven Tribal Accords, Nation-to-Nation agreements that are legally profound to this day. Dr. Sandra Rodriguez, chair of NNMC’s Teacher Education Department, will give a talk about teaching multilingual students (limited seating).
Dancers will include the Northern Southern Dance Group, Danza Azteca de Anahuac and Dineh Tah’ Navajo Dancers. Musician Ailani Swentzell will be performing at the event.
Other activities include Indigenous artist/resource booths, local resources and vendors.
The event is presented by Northern’s Native American Student Center, and the Center for Teaching and Learning. For more information, contact Marcel Povijua at marcel.povijua@nnmc.edu, (505) 747-5035 or Valentina Livingston at Valentina.livingston@nnmc.edu, (505) 747-5499.
About Northern:
Northern New Mexico College has served the rural communities of Northern New Mexico for over a century. Since opening in 1909 as the Spanish American Normal School in El Rito, NM, the College has provided affordable access to quality academic programs that meet the changing educational, economic and cultural needs of the region.
Northern is an open-admissions institution offering the most affordable bachelor’s programs in the Southwest. Now one of the state’s four regional comprehensive institutions, with its main campus in Española, Northern offers more than 50 bachelor’s, associate, and certificate programs in arts & human sciences, film & digital media, STEM programs, business, education, liberal arts, and nursing. The College has reintroduced technical trades in partnership with two local unions and five public school districts through its new co-located Branch Community College, the first of its kind in the state’s history. Northern is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has earned prestigious program specific accreditations for its engineering, nursing, education, and business programs.Learn more at https://nnmc.edu/.