The Region 17 PTA and Canyons School District is hosting “A Cultural Heritage Celebration,” on Friday, April 13, from 6-9 p.m. at Jordan High School’s gymnasium.
Focusing on the theme “Creating a Beautiful Mosaic,” the night will feature food, crafts and entertainment. Students from Draper Elementary's dual-immersion Chinese program will perform at the event.
The event is free to families.
What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose.
One of the very proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the "First Americans" and for three years they adopted such a day. In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kan., formally approved a plan concerning American Indian Day. It directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.
The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example, legislators enacted such a day in 1919. Presently, several states have designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continues to be a day we observe without any recognition as a national legal holiday.
In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including "Native American Heritage Month" and "National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month") have been issued each year since 1994.
Five major tribes have inhabited and continue to inhabit Utah.
READING SUGGESTIONS:
K-2: Drumbeat... Heartbeat: A Celebration of the Powwow by Susan Braine
2nd-4th: What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know about Horses? by Richard Van Camp
4th-6th: Native American Animal Stories by Joseph Bruchac
7th-12th: The Shadow Brothers by A.E. Cannon, and Crow and Weasel by Barry Lopez
RECIPE FOR AMERICAN INDIAN FRY BREAD
Prep Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 13 mins
Servings: 8-10
Ingredients
vegetable oil (for frying), 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt , 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon oil, 1 cup warm milk
Directions: Heat oil in skillet until hot over med-high heat, but not smoking. In a large bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients to make dough. Shape into round disks. Fry shaped dough in hot oil until brown and crispy. Spoon chili on top and add cheese, lettuce and tomato for a "Navajo Taco." Or for a sweet treat, top with some butter and honey.
COMMUNITY EVENTS:
Nov. 4-20: “For Colored Girls," Sorensen Unity Center
Nov. 5-6: Diwali-Festival of Lights, Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple
Nov. 11: Navajo Rug Show, Deer Valley
Nov. 12: Day of the Dead, Northern Utah Cultural Celebration Center
Visit nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov to learn more.
We are excited to celebrate a different aspect of diversity each month. October is Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15) is the period when people recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States and to celebrate Hispanic Cultural heritage and Hispanic culture. Hispanic Heritage Week was approved by President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 31-day period. It was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988. "September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El aSalvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico, Chil and Belize celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16, Sept. 18, and Sept. 21, respectively.
READING SUGGESTIONS
Ages 5-7: Abuela by Arthur Dorros, illustrated by Elisa Kleven.
Ages 7-9: My Name Is Maria Isabel by Alma Flor Ada.
Ages 9-12: Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Grades 6-8: The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle
RECIPE
Chicken Rojo
The great thing about this dish is that you can assemble your ingredients while the chicken simmers, so it cuts down on prep time. It only takes 30 minutes cooking time from start to finish.
Prep Time: 5 minutes/ Cook Time: 30 minutes / Total Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
· 3-5 chicken breasts or thighs
· 6 tomatoes, large
· 1/2 an onion, cut into quarters
· 3 tablespoons of oil
· 2 cups chicken broth mixed with 2 cups of water
· 1 teaspoon oregano
· 1/2 teaspoon cumin
· 1 teaspoon garlic, peeled and crushed
· 1/2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
· 1 tablespoon red chile powder or chile paste
· salt to taste
Preparation: Preheat broiler on high. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pan over high heat. Brown the chicken pieces on each side. Cover chicken with chicken broth and bring to a boil. While it's coming to a boil, slice the top off of each tomato and place cut side down on a cookie sheet along with the onions. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of oil over them. Place in broiler and remove when tomato skins become very wrinkled and shriveled. While the tomatoes are broiling, bring the chicken broth to a strong simmer and add in the chile, cumin, oregano, garlic and cocoa. When the tomatoes are ready, remove from broiler and let cool for 1 minute. While the tomatoes cool, turn the chicken. Peel the skin off of each tomato and use a spoon to remove the seeds from the middle. Using your fingers, mash the tomato a little and add into the sauce. Separate the onions and stir into the sauce. Let the sauce reduce while chicken finishes cooking. If the liquid cooks off to fast, add water about a half cup each time, until the chicken reaches 170 degrees or is no longer pink inside.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Through Oct. 20: Celebration of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Salt Lake City Library Main Atrium (The celebration includes weekly films and discussions on topics of Mexican art history, U.S.-Mexico relations, women artists, indigenous cultures and art as healing.)