While Oct. 12 marked the federal holiday of Columbus Day, given explorer Christopher Columbus’ ties to colonization, racism and enslavement, many cities and states across the nation chose to observe Indigenous Peoples in virtual celebrations.
And colleges were part of the effort to honor the history of Native Americans.
“Colonizers not only steal land through unthinkable violence, but they erase and appropriate local cultures, and transform native peoples into refugees, third class citizens, prisoners and cheap labor in their own homelands,” said Dr. Kim Jensen, director of the Community College of Baltimore County’s (CCBC) Community Book Connection. “Colonizers repress all forms of resistance, even non-violent cultural resistance. To add insult to injury, settler colonial societies justify these abuses by inventing harmful myths of racial and religious superiority.”
CCBC’s event on Monday used storytelling, music and art to bring awareness to Native American culture.
During the celebration, Dr. Dennis E. Seymour, dean emeritus at CCBC and a member of the Eastern Band Cherokee, explained and highlighted different types of Native American regalia, drumming and dancing.
“What we wear is regalia, not a costume,” he said. “If you are dressing up for Halloween, you are wearing a costume. We only dress up in who we are and what we are, so we are not in costume.”
While explaining and playing the different types of drums, his goddaughter demonstrated the shawl dance.
