November is Native American Heritage Month, a time dedicated to celebrating Native Americans and their diverse cultures, histories, and traditions. America is a vast land of many cultures dating back thousands of years to the original inhabitants of the land.
Native American Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate ourselves about Native tribes: to raise general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens work to conquer these challenges.
It is also a time to celebrate the traditions, languages, and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Island communities to ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.
A land acknowledgement is a formal statement, typically presented at the beginning of public events and gatherings, that recognizes and honors the original residents of a given land, the Indigenous groups. We highly encourage campus members to open meetings and events with this land acknowledgement, especially during this month and beyond.
Please take a moment as we honor, acknowledge, reflect, and express our sincere gratitude for, and appreciation of, the peoples, ancestors, and sacred land that we gather upon today.
We honor the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of Indigenous peoples who have been here since time immemorial, and to recognize that we must continue to build solidarity, and kinship, with Native Indigenous communities.
At Irvine Valley College we honor the Kizh Nation, the Acjachemen Nation, and the Gabrieleño/Tongva Tribe. We would also like to pay our respects to the land and life of Indigenous people, the ancestors, elders, and our relatives/relations past, present and emerging.
Honoring the Acjachemen:
A Journey Through South Orange County's First People
Thursday, November 9 | 2:30 - 4 pm | Hybrid: LSB 112 or via Zoom
Join us for food and community as we deepen our knowledge of the Acjachemen and IVC's role in honoring their legacy. IVC welcomes Dr. Patricia Martz, co-founder and president of the California Cultural Resources Preservation Alliance, Inc. (CCRPA) as she shares the history of the Acjachemen, the first people of South Orange County.
Honoring Día de los Muertos Celebration Event
Wednesday, November 1 | 4 – 6 pm | SSC Quad
Join us in celebration of Dia de Los Muertos with face painting, crafts, a live Mariachi performance, and delicious Pan de Muerto!
Although Dia los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated widely throughout Latin-American countries, its roots trace back to indigenous traditions. Dia de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human cycle of life where, for three days, the dead return and are once again part of the community. Altars and offerings are put out to help awaken the deceased from their sleep and share in celebration with their families and loved ones.
To learn more, visit Beyond Sugar Skulls: The History and Culture of Dia de | PBS Education.
First Californians Exhibit
Bowers Museum
This installation showcases the Bowers' extensive permanent collection of Native American art and artifacts in stone, shell, plant fiber (through spectacular basketry), and feathers.
Native American Museum and Interpretive Room
Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano
Learn about the past and present as you explore authentic artifacts and an interactive station. Great for all ages!
IVC FELLAS: IVC Fellowship Exchange of Lessons Learned & Academic Support
Thursday, November 9 | 1 – 2 pm | Equity and Inclusion Center (SAC 130)
IVC FELLAS (formerly EMCEES) is a DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) driven male initiative focused on student success and community engagement for the college’s self-identified men of color students, staff, and faculty. This brotherhood was created to encourage college completion and transfer and to establish a sense of belonging. All are welcome. RSVP »
Womxn of Color Collective (WoCC)
The WoCC is a group dedicated to building community and empowering self-identified womxn of color students, staff, and faculty. Womxn is used in place of “women” to be inclusive of all gender experiences surrounding femininity. Non-female-identifying students, such as non-binary and gender-expansive, are explicitly invited and welcome. More Info »
IVC Puente Program
The Puente Program is an academic, counseling, and mentoring program that has improved college persistence and success rates for thousands of California’s educationally under-served students. The program's mission is to increase the number of community college students who transfer and enroll in four-year colleges and universities. More Info »