Equity

November 22, 2021

A resolution was approved by the SUNY Niagara Board of Trustees on Tuesday, November 16 recognizing the Friday prior to Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day.  This recognition was made possible through efforts of SUNY Niagara’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee.  Created in 2016, this group serves to actively engage the whole college community in recognizing the importance of belonging among stakeholders for assuring the success of all members of the college community, including students, staff, faculty and administration, in an ever-increasingly global environment.

Native American Heritage Day is traditionally celebrated on the Friday after Thanksgiving, but SUNY Niagara is typically closed that day.  Officials at SUNY Niagara wanted to ensure this important day received appropriate attention from the campus community, maximizing engagement from students and staff, so the recommendation was made to move this special designation to the Friday before Thanksgiving.

This year, the Native American Club is leading efforts during Native American Heritage Month this November to honor Indigenous People through educational events where attendees can learn about Native American history, the Haudenosaunee people and other tribes around the United States. On Friday, November 19, representatives from EDI and the Native American Club encouraged the campus community to wear orange or purple in recognition of Native American culture lost to assimilation.