Our campus recently hosted a powerful educational event honoring Native American Heritage Month, featuring local Indigenous performers who shared deeply meaningful cultural traditions through dance and storytelling.
The event began with an acknowledgment of the connection to Turtle Island, which is the name for North and Central America in some indigenous communities.
"It's the land that gives us our identity," explained Annawon Weedon of Mashpee Wampanoag/Pequot/Narragansett heritage (and past presenter at QCC).
Weedon strongly emphasized that what the audience might perceive as "costumes" are actually intricate, meaningful cultural expressions representing spiritual significance.
Several dancers shared their unique cultural backgrounds and dance traditions:
Nishke Mars showcased a fancy shawl dance coming from Sioux tradition. The dance symbolizes a narrative of emergence and utilizes bright colors and fast movements.
Kendra Eaglestar Lastiyano performed a healing dance from the Anishinaabe people of Ontario. This dance, which originated from a vision for a sick girl, also represents community wellness and collective prayers. The dress's distinctive jingles, originally crafted from rolled tobacco can lids, create their own rhythmic sound.
"Everything we wear took years to acquire and make. We pour our heart and soul into these items and honor the animals and materials from which they are made," said Atsa Zah.
Zah demonstrated what is known as a sneak up dance. What began as a hunting and victory celebration, now represents a contemporary connection to ancestral practices.
A common theme throughout the presentation was that maintaining cultural identity becomes challenging when communities are disrupted and displaced from their ancestral lands. The event also addressed commonly misunderstood narratives about figures like Pocahontas and how important it is to acknowledge and correct these perspectives.
The event concluded with an alligator dance, inviting audience members to participate—a powerful demonstration of cultural sharing and connection.
As one performer noted, sharing these customs is both an honor and a privilege, representing deeply rooted tradition and carried forward with respect and intention.