Native American Heritage Month @ UCSF

Date:

November 30, 2024

Time:

All day, every day.

Place:

Virtual & In-person

Native Anerican Heritage Month at UCSF

This November, the UCSF Office of Diversity and Outreach is proud to host the celebration of Native American Heritage Month (NAHM) at UCSF.

It is a time to honor and celebrate the rich history, culture, and connection to traditions, stories, languages, music, food, and more within the Indigenous community. However, we must honor and uplift the continuous contributions, leadership, and efforts of Indigenous peoples every day - locally, nationally, and globally. Indigenous Peoples make up approximately 6.2% of the global population across over 90 countries and 1.6% of the population in the United States (includes Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities).

We extend gratitude to the Native American Heritage Month (NAHM) Planning Committee for 2024 at UCSF for sponsoring and hosting these impactful and engaging events for the entire UCSF community.

NAHM Planning Committee 2024:

Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS)
Native American Health Alliance (NAHA)
Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) at UCSF
Multicultural Resource Center, Office of Diversity and Outreach (MRC)

As a land-grant institution, UCSF and the entire UC system sits on and benefits from land previously owned by tribal nations in California. It is our collective responsibility to not only acknowledge the land with which we sit on but to redistribute wealth back into the Native communities that once controlled this land. Visit here to learn more about the Land Acknowledgement of UCSF, how you may support local rematriation, revitalization, and restoration efforts, and key learnings and recommendations from the two-part forum on The University of California Land Grab: A Legacy of Profit from Indigenous Land.

Test Your Knowledge

How many state/federally recognized tribes are there?

There are over 500 federally recognized Indian Nations (variously called tribes, nations, bands, pueblos, communities and native villages) in the United States. Over 200 of these nations are located in Alaska alone; the other federally recognized tribes are located in 35 other states. Additionally, there are over 60 state recognized tribes across 15 states.

How many indigenous languages are spoken in the United States?

Approximately 167 are spoken in the United States with the most popular languages being Navajo, Yupik, Dakota, Apache, Keres, Cherokee, Choctaw, and Zuni.

When was Native American Heritage Month first recognized nationally?

November 1990 as American Indian Heritage Month. However, American Indian Day and Week have been recognized by states since the early 1900s.

When were Native Americans granted citizenship?

In 1924, Congress enacted the Indian Citizenship Act, extending citizenship to all U.S.-born American Indians not already covered by treaties or other federal agreements that granted such status. The act was later amended to include Alaska Natives. However, similarly to other racial and ethnic minority groups, they didn’t have the right to vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

NAHM Events

Staff RCO Showcase: Native American Heritage Month

Thursday, November 7, 12:00pm to 2:00pm

Rutter Center Atrium & Pub Lounge, 1675 Owens St.

Map

Native American Heritage Month: Community Dinner

Wednesday, November 13, 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Clinical Sciences 0101, Parnassus Campus

RSVP

Webinar: Restoring Wholeness: Pathways to Healing for California American Indians

Monday, November 18, 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Zoom

RSVP

Calli: The Art of Xicanx Peoples - UCSF Around the Bay

Thursday, November 21, 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street

NAHM Virtual Backgrounds

Community Recognitions

Shivany Condor Montes

Shivany Condor Montes is a second-year medical student at UCSF with a profound dedication to uplifting Indigenous stories and highlighting the unique health challenges in Indigenous communities. She grew up in San Pedro de Cajas, a small town nestled in the Peruvian Andes, before immigrating to the United States with her family at age 10. With newfound educational opportunities, she immersed herself in exploring fields that shed light on the resilience of her community amid complex social and structural injustices both in the U.S. and globally.

Through studies in political science and education, Shivany discovered her passion for public health and medicine. She earned dual B.A. degrees in Molecular Cell Biology and Public Health, along with an MPH from UC Berkeley. Her journey, shaped by her personal immigration experience and dedication to community advocacy, drives her to amplify Indigenous voices and foster a deeper understanding of the distinctive health needs of Indigenous communities, which she does through stewarding the Native Health Elective at UCSF.

Elective description: The Native Health Elective at UCSF offers a transformative learning experience for those eager to deepen their understanding of Native American and Alaska Native health. This elective illuminates the unique health challenges these communities face, extending beyond clinical issues to address the broader social, cultural, and historical factors impacting Indigenous health. Each session brings insights from inspiring guest speakers and community leaders who share their experiences, knowledge, and practical approaches to collaboration.

How it started: This elective was started in 2019 because Native Health was not addressed in the UCSF’s Bridges MD curriculum, even though UCSF is located on Ramaytush Ohlone land. This elective was created to fill that gap, providing students with essential knowledge on Indigenous health and cultural context to better serve this vital patient population. The Bay Area, rich in Native history and activism, is home to one of the largest Urban Indian populations in the country, making it all the more important for students to understand the factors influencing Native health and the ongoing efforts to enhance care for this underserved community. Luckily, NH is now included in the BRIDGES curriculum through the Justice & Advocacy in Medicine block, and we work with the faculty ensure voices can be uplifted to larger audiences through this block.

Others helping organize: Madison Thompson (MS2, Delaware Tribe of Indians), Dr. Tasce Bongiovanni (Diné), Dixie Blumenshine (MS3, Oglala Lakota) and Tracy Gracia (Assistant Director, LGBTQ+ Resource Center)

Read, Listen, Watch

Children’s and young adult’s books: