Native American Heritage Month Celebrated at San Diego Mesa College

San Diego Mesa College will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a performance by installation artist James Luna, a lecture on American Indian identity; a screening of a KPBS Documentary on the Kumeyaay Nation, and a selection of reserved books. All events are free and open to the public.

The activities begin Wed., Nov. 5, with a presentation by James Luna , American Indian Performance and Installation Artist. Luna, one of the leading figures in the field of contemporary Native American art, exhibits his performances and multimedia installations at national and international venues.  Using irony and satire, Luna’s performances often deal with socio-economic issues affecting Indian communities thereby confronting and challenging stereotypes about Native Americans. Presented by the Mesa College Humanities Institute, the presentation will be held 2:30 to 3:45 p.m., in Room SB-105 of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Building.

On Friday, Nov. 14, Jean Keller, lecturer in History, will discuss “Away from Home: Off-Reservation Boarding Schools and the Shaping of American Indian Identity.” Part of the Social Sciences Department’s Occasional Lecture series, the lecture is open to all. It will be held Friday, Nov. 14, from noon to 1 p.m. in LRC, Room 435.

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the college will host a free screening of the KPBS documentary film, “First People – Kumeyaay,” which details the history of the  Kumeyaay Nation. For thousands of years, the Kumeyaay people lived in a vast nation stretching from San Diego’s coast to the desert, a region that some say had the most diverse geography of any other tribe in the United States. Produced by KPBS’ Megan Burke, the documentary "First People - Kumeyaay," shows how San Diego's Native Americans are reclaiming their traditions. The viewing will be held at 2:30 p.m., Social and Behavioral Sciences Building, Room SB-105. A discussion will follow.

Throughout the month of November, the Mesa College Library will have about 30 books on display in the LRC Foyer; the books are available for check-out.

All events celebrate Native American Indian Heritage Month, commonly referred to as Native American Heritage Month, declared by President George H.W. Bush in 1990.