Happy American Indian Heritage Month and National Men's Health Awareness Month!
Did you know:
Native Americans lived in South Carolina 14K years before the first Europeans arrived. Also, there is an era known as “The Woodland Period” circa 2000 B.C. where we see the introduction of fired clay pottery (notably, this practice was brought to the Piedmont of South Carolina much later). The earliest pottery made in North America is called Stallings and was first made in South Carolina. It is recognized by the inclusion of Spanish Moss as "temper" to help hold the hand-molded clay together.
Upon the arrival of French settlers to the Carolina coast, Native Americans told them the Spanish Moss plant was called Itla-okla, which meant “tree hair.” Like many of the traditions Native Americans shared with the foreign settlers, not only was Spanish Moss used by American Native women to make dresses in the past, but as recent as the 1900’s, it was used in blankets, rope, mattress fillings, and padding for early model car seats.
With that, let’s celebrate in “November and Forever:”
- 1: American Indian Heritage Month
- 1: November is National Men's Health Awareness Month
- 9: World Freedom Day (United Nations)
- 11: Veterans Day (USA)
- 16: World Day of Tolerance (United Nation)
- 24: Thanksgiving (USA) and National Day of Mourning (USA)
How do we approach these and other League milestones with a DEI lens?
We must be intentional in how a program, a process, or a product is perceived by various communities, voices, and perspectives, and what, if any, barriers may prevent it from being equitable or inclusive of everyone.
What are ways to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of the Native and ALL Americans during November and Forever?
- Advocate for voting rights
- Organize a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Event
- Become an Ally, Mentor, Sponsor, or Advocate
Resources:
- South Carolina's Federally Recognized Native American Indian Entities
- Native Americans: Catawba, Cherokee, and Yemassee
