Native American Heritage Month

November marks Native American Heritage Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the vibrant tapestry of indigenous cultures. During this month, we not only acknowledge the profound and positive contributions of Native people to our nation but also reflect on the historical injustices endured by Native communities, who persist in their pursuit of recognition, equality, and peace.

It is crucial to recognize that parts of the North Clackamas School District reside on the ancestral lands of the Kalapuya, Chinook, Molalla, and the Clackamas, the indigenous inhabitants of this region. According to Kalapuya tradition, these lands have been their home since immemorial. Despite enduring war, displacement, genocide, and oppression, indigenous people continue to thrive in this area and we pay humble tribute to the ancestors of these indigenous communities, the original caretakers and guardians of this land.

Native American Heritage Month is an opportunity to spotlight and honor the rich diversity of Native American, Alaska Native, and Indigenous cultures, a crucial part of fostering enduring connections with our Native students and staff that extends far beyond just this month and throughout the entire year. Check our Facebook page throughout the month as we highlight some of the Native Americans who have made incredible contributions through, education, art, politics, and more. 

 

The North Clackamas School District Native Land Acknowledgement:

We acknowledge the land on which we sit and which we call the North Clackamas School District rests on the traditional and indigenous lands and village sites of the Native peoples of the Kalapuya, Chinook, Molalla, and the Clackamas. We take this opportunity to offer gratitude for the ability to learn, work, and be a community on this land, and we offer thanks to the original caretakers of this region. We recognize the historic policies of colonization, genocide, relocation, and assimilation that affected Indigenous and Native families both past and present and that will affect those in the future, and honor the resilience and revitalization of our Indigenous and Native communities. We pay our respects to the Elders, both past and present, who have been the stewards of this land throughout the generations.