Vanguard University

Dear Vanguard Community, 

We are in the midst of Native American Heritage Month—a time to honor and celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and enduring contributions of Native American peoples. This month invites us to deepen our understanding of the experiences and resilience of Native Americans, past and present. 

A Brief History of the Celebration 
The observance of Native American Heritage Month began in October 1976, when Jerry C. Elliott-High Eagle, a member of the Osage-Cherokee Nation and a NASA physicist, initiated the first Native American Indian and Alaska Native week of awareness and recognition. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush officially designated November as National Native American Heritage Month, a proclamation reaffirmed in 2013 by President Barack Obama. This month serves as a national opportunity to celebrate Native American culture, recognize their contributions, and reflect on the complex history of Indigenous peoples in North America. 

Learn and Engage 
I encourage us to use this month to educate ourselves, honor our Native American community members, and engage with the living cultures and traditions that continue to thrive among us. A helpful and accessible entry point into this history—including guidance on respectful terminology and cultural practices—has been curated by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. 

Close to Vanguard University are the historic lands of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation, which is headquartered in San Juan Capistrano. Dr. Hittenberger from the School of Education and I had the honor of attending the opening of the recreation of their Putuidem Village, and it is a site worth visiting. See here for photos.

VU Events and Activities 
In addition, throughout November, various departments across Vanguard University have organized events to celebrate and educate. We encourage you to participate as you are able. All are truly welcome! 

• Library Display Case: Nov 1-30 | O. Cope Budge Library 
• Residence Life Poster Series: Nov 1-30 | The Towers & Catalina Lobbies 
• Native American Honor Chapel: Nov 20 9:30 AM | Seymour Sanctuary 
• Lunch & Learn with Dr. Richard Rodman: Nov 20 12:00 PM | Great Commission Hall 

Why We Celebrate 
We send out communications like this because we see celebrating the ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage of our student body and institution as being in harmony with our Christian faith, our Pentecostal heritage, and our university mission. We seek to model a Kingdom ethic that embraces, honors, and includes every member of our community. This, we affirm, is a key part of what it means to love one another as Jesus our Lord has loved us (John 15:12). 

Let this month be a time of learning, reflection, and meaningful connection as we honor Native American heritage together. 

Warmest regards,

RENEA BRATHWAITE, PhD
Dean of the School of Theology & Ministry

Chief Community Care Officer