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By Jonah Grinkewitz

Old Dominion University’s Office of Intercultural Relations has organized events throughout November to celebrate and spark conversations around Native American heritage and culture.

There will be a kickoff event from 12-1 p.m. on Nov. 4 in the Mane Hubb in Webb Student Center with cultural enrichment education and giveaways. 

On Nov. 12, the ���������� community is invited to taste and learn about traditional Native American foods with an event in Broderick Dining Commons from 12-2 p.m. Students, faculty and staff with meal plans can swipe in and those without can purchase a meal to join the experience. Monarchs are also encouraged to wear their moccasins this day if they own a pair. 

���ٱ�’s Applied Linguistics program is hosting a screening of the documentary film “First Language: The Race to Save Cherokee” at 8 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the Batten Arts & Letters Building’s Yetiv Auditorium. The Emmy Award-winning film follows a Cherokee community trying to revive and preserve their language and culture. Kole Matheson, a member of the Cherokee nation who is learning the language, will introduce the film.

“As linguists we know what is lost when a language is lost: cultural knowledge, a sense of identity and a connection to ancestors and history,” said Staci Defibaugh, an associate professor of English at ���������� who helped organize the screening. “Language preservation is one way for community members to preserve for themselves those aspects of identity and culture, and we think that alone is valuable.”

On Nov. 14, there will be a dream catcher workshop from 6-8 p.m. in the North Cafe of Webb Student Center with materials and instructions provided. 

To close out the month, the Office of Intercultural Relations will host a “Red Shawl Day” event from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the South Mall of Webb Student Center to raise awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women. The ���������� community is encouraged to wear red to stand in solidarity and bring attention to this ongoing crisis. 

To learn more, visit the Office of Intercultural Relations’ website or call (757) 683-4406.