Native American Heritage Day (November 26) |
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Last Friday was Native American Heritage Day. On October 30, 2009, former President Barack Obama issued a proclamation designating the month of November as National Native American Heritage Month and the day following Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day.
However, in recent years, many Indigenous peoples have criticized the choice for Native American Heritage Day to fall on the Friday following Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday. In response to this, Brian Perry, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, says:
"Why not the day before Thanksgiving? The day after Thanksgiving is one of the most irrelevant days of the year. Most people are off work, families travel, and there is very little in the news cycle. What is the day after Thanksgiving known as in America? Black Friday—not Native American Heritage Day. It is a day when the American consumer plots out the best bargains at the best retailers at the best times to contribute to the American GDP. Not a word or mention in the mainstream media about Native American Heritage Day, just videos of adults fist fighting at 4:00 in the morning in stores over the last trendy toy in stock for this year's season of giving" (Click here to read more).
Since 1970, Native Americans across the United States have also recognized the fourth Thursday of November, also the day of Thanksgiving, as the National Day of Mourning, or a reminder of the brutal acts perpetrated on the Native Americans by European settlers and the U.S. government: massacres, land stealing, and relentless attacks on their cultures and livelihoods.
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Spotlight: Native American Heritage Month |
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Native American Heritage Month |
November is Native American Heritage Month! This month, we celebrate and honor the heritage, history, art, traditions, and contributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives (click here to watch a video containing six stories celebrating Native American history and culture). We at the School of Social Work acknowledge that the University of Michigan was formed and has grown through connections with the land stewarded by the Anishinaabeg—the Three Fires People who are the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi—along with their neighbors: the Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee, and Wyandot nations.
See below events to celebrate Native American Heritage Month, hosted by the U-M Native American Studies Department in collaboration with MESA (Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs) and NASA (Native American Student Association):
Date: TODAY, November 29 from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Brief Description: Join us for an engaging dialogue and panel with amazing guests and speakers that have been a part of significant efforts to honor the Burt Lake Band and work on projects surrounding sustainability, language revitalization, and representation of Native Identities. Through this event, we hope to not only hold the university accountable to the acknowledgement of the history and land, but to raise awareness on climate justice, language revitalization, and the landback movement as a whole.
Date: Tuesday, November 30 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Brief Description: Please join us at the closing ceremony for Native American Heritage Month where we will celebrate the amazing indigenous speakers that presented and held dialogues on conversations that are necessary to the community. There will be a Native food menu for those that are registered!
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Date: Friday, December 3 from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Brief Description: International Coffee Hour is a great place for international and U.S. students, scholars, faculty, staff and partners to socialize with each other and meet new people from around the world. Coffee and snacks will be provided! This is an informal event, so you can come and go at any time you like. The December coffee hour is co-sponsored by Wolverine Wellness. A therapy dog will be stopping by, as well! We highly encourage both international and U.S. students to attend!
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Date: Thursday, December 9 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT
Brief Description: The Office of the Provost - Global Engagement Team and the International Center are hosting a panel to provide student travelers considerations for international travel as they navigate new and changing country conditions as well as U-M requirements for international travel. Questions can be submitted in advance through the registration form.
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Date: Thursday, December 9 from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
Brief Description: This panel discussion brings together a group of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who are leading efforts across multiple sectors to address climate change. They will share their expertise on climate change within their sector, thoughts on how their Peace Corps experience contributed to how they approach their work, and ideas for partnering with communities at home and abroad to address current and future challenges.
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Global Independent Study Information Session
Weren't able to make it to the Global Independent Study Information Session? No worries! Below you will find the recording and PowerPoint slides from the Office of Global Activities' recent Global Independent Study Information Session (recorded November 10).
If you are interested in pursuing a Global Independent Study, please contact our office at ssw.oga@umich.edu or view the OGA Appointments calendar to set up an individual advising appointment with someone from our office. |
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The Africentric Therapist: A Case Study on Working with Young Adult Children of African immigrants
In this virtual event, Change Kwesele Malama, Ph.D, LLMSW shared some of her research gathered from interviews with young adult children of African immigrants, exploring ideas of mental health and the home; cultural and historical considerations in mental health practice for African immigrant communities; and the importance of (more) support for an Africentric worldview in academic and mental health practice.
Below you will find a recording of the presentation for the Africentric Therapist (recorded November 22).
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Professional Opportunities |
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Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 1, 2022 (Rolling admission)
Brief Description: The Ottawa Internship Program is designed to provide a first-hand learning experience in Canadian government through placement with a Member of Parliament or Senator in the capital of Canada. Students will work in a parliamentarian's office for a period of five weeks. This program is open to graduate and undergraduate students from all majors and all colleges at U-M.
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Deadline: Thursday, December 30 at 5:00 PM EDT
Brief Description: Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded for one academic year of full-time, intensive language study of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer or Burmese at the advanced level in approved language programs in East or Southeast Asia. Applicants must be American citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
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Deadline: Saturday, January 15
Brief Description: The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship provides tuition and stipend to students studying designated foreign languages in combination with area studies or international aspects of professional studies.
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Deadline: Tuesday, February 15 by 11:59 PM EDT
Brief Description: The LACS Tinker Field Research Grants support master’s, doctoral, and professional school students conducting preliminary or pre-dissertation fieldwork in Latin America. Research projects must be conducted in the Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking countries of Latin America and trips must last a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of four months. Awards, up to $2,500, are made based on the quality of the proposal and the academic progress of the applicant. Funds cover international airfare, in-country transportation, and some field-related expenses.
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Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: The International Center offers a grant opportunity to help student organizations and University departments recognize the diversity of the U-M international student population through special events and programming. Organizations and departments should apply at least 14 days in advance of their event (the earlier, the better). Grants amounts will vary based on the submitted budget and the availability of funds.
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Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: Subject to availability of funding, awards will be made to faculty, students, and staff presenting Africa-focused papers or serving as chairs or discussants for Africa-focused sessions at regional, national, or international conferences. Priority is given to applicants who have not received prior ASC funding and to projects focused on Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: The U.S. Department of Education provides a variety of grant opportunities. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines vary.
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Email ssw.oga@umich.edu if you have any questions.
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