Responding to today's Columbus Day holiday before it began, Native Americans at Dartmouth last night sponsored an event that celebrated the survival of Native culture and emphasized "peaceful coexistence" between people of different backgrounds.
The event, called "501 Years of Survival: A Celebration of Native Cultures," included food, music and poetry from several North American tribes.
Sharilyn Roanhorse '95, the vice president of NAD, read a statement from the group that asked students and administrators to push for an atmosphere of equality at the College and to consider the implications of celebrating the Columbus Day holiday.
Roanhorse asked that Native American culture be given the same level of respect as Western culture.
Columbus Day honors the explorer Christopher Columbus, who landed in the Caribbean in 1492 and is often credited for discovering the American continents.
Roanhorse said the event was scheduled on the day before the federal holiday to take pride in the survival of Native cultures, not to glorify Columbus.
Today NAD is sponsoring a table next to the Hinman Boxes to distribute the organization's statement on today's federal holiday and buttons that say "Genocide is no cause for celebration" and "1492 1993, 501 years of tourists."
Last Columbus Day marked the quincentennial anniversary of Columbus' arrival. NAD sponsored a four-day event, featuring a teach-in titled "Rethinking Columbus."
Lloyd Lee '94, the current president of NAD, said, "Last year we gave an angry statement to the community. This year we wanted to say something about the inclusion of the community because that is what Native life is an acceptance of all people."
Lee called for people to be understanding so "we can all live together in ... peaceful coexistence."
