From the Desk of Diversity
Northwestern's Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter
Anniversary Edition
- Indigenous People's Day - An Invitation
- One Year Anniversary
- Did You Know?
- University Community Member Spotlight
- Links to Explore
- World Food and Hunger Awareness Week
- Topics in Diversity
- Upcoming Events
- Get Involved
- Learning & Training Opportunities
- Apply for a Scholarship
Indigenous People's Day - An Invitation
Indigenous People's Day is often viewed as a holiday that serves to negate the Columbus Day experience in the form of a counter-holiday. The Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion Club (J.E.D.I.) will be forming a group to view the documentary, The Doctrine of Discovery. Our purpose is not to raise cause for counter-movement but to respectfully honor the experience of the millions of indigenous people whose legacies were impacted by the arrival of Europeans in the pre-Columbian western hemisphere. Our group will meet for the viewing at 6:30, and we plan a later, follow-up discussion among ourselves to explore the impact of the film on our awareness. Please consider joining us if you are able.
The following information was taken directly from the St. Paul Interfaith Network (SPIN)
Cherokee United Church
371 W. Baker St. (St. Paul’s West Side)
Monday, Oct. 13, 7–9:15 p.m.
On Indigenous People’s Day, we will host a public screening of the documentary film Doctrine of Discovery, presented by filmmaker Sheldon Wolfchild of the Lower Sioux Indian Community. The film will be followed by small group dialogues. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. (Film is appropriate for junior high school aged youth and up.)
2014 SPIN Fall Series (Four series, actually):
“Disavowing the Doctrine of Discovery”
A dialogue around the complex and often painful relationship between Native American peoples and those who have come after them. Historical and theological perspectives on the tragic treatment of Native peoples by our state, nation and religious institutions, focused on the “Doctrine of Discovery”—the papal edicts European monarchs used as legal and religious justification to seize “discovered” lands and convert or kill “heathen” inhabitants. The doctrine’s legacy is still alive today through the generational trauma of indigenous peoples and in cultural racism that devalues Native peoples’ languages, cultures and religions.
For dates and more information: Fall 2014 Interfaith Dialogue Series
Submitted by Mike Romanski, J.E.D.I Club President, mromanski@nwhealth.edu
One Year Anniversary
This month marks From the Desk of Diversity's Anniversary. Last year, I started off From the Desk of Diversity with a short history of Columbus Day. Here is an excerpt from our first edition:
Columbus Day originally started as a national movement to honor Italian Americans. It has fallen out of favor because of Christopher Columbus’ (or Cristoforo Colombo’s) reputation. This has encouraged discussion about the importance of this holiday and why we celebrate it with a day off from work and school.
Some people would like to change name of this holiday to honor Native Americans/American Indians. The Pew Research Center has put together a short fact sheet on these changes and I sum up the information here for you.
Hawaii named the day Discoverers Day. South Dakota named the day Native Americans Day. California is in the process of changing Columbus Day to Native American Day. This is a change from when Native American Day is normally honored in California, which is on the fourth Friday in September. Tennessee changed the date of this holiday to the day after Thanksgiving. Only 23 states and the District of Columbia have made it an official paid holiday and Minnesota is not one of them.
More detail on the movement to honor Native Americans/American Indians can be found at the US Department Of The Interior: Indian Affairs page. You may also reply to this email for more information.
An update to this information: Northwestern has changed the Calendar of Events to reflect what Minneapolis calls this day, which is Indigenous People's Day. Changing the holiday name is more than just being politically correct. It means that we hear, respect, and remember American Indian history, culture, and heritage. Today will mark the first Indigenous People's Day celebration in Minneapolis. More about the name change and celebration can be found here.
Fast forwarding to today: That email I sent on that second Monday in October 2013 quickly morphed into a monthly newsletter by January 2014, and is now read by the entire Northwestern community and all over the world. We have an editing team, guest writers, and a spectacular audience. From the Desk of Diversity is the voice of cultural competence, social justice, and diversity-activity at Northwestern. Thank you for keeping us going and growing on our journey.
Submitted by Alejandra Dashe, Ph.D. adashe@nwhealth.edu
Did You Know?
We have an anonymous, open-door food shelf to assist in keeping our community vibrant and healthy in as many facets of life as we can impact. There are cabinets in the Student Organization room that are clearly labeled. An inventory of last week's items showed baby food, canned and boxed goods, dish soap, and a few items for a quick meal while at school.
If you are able to make a donation of any sort, please just let yourself in, and place your donated items in the cabinets.
The NWHSU Student Senate also maintains a Community Relief Fund for emergencies that impact the folks in our community. This includes students, faculty, and staff. For more information on accessing or donating to the NWHSU Community Relief Fund please feel free to email Tanner Kutzler, Senate President, or Beau Foshee, Senate Treasurer.
University Community Member Spotlight
She recently spearheaded a week of activities for World Hunger Awareness Week. This project was more than a half year in the making, and she managed to make it all happen without utilizing one of her club affiliations to support the planned activities. Michelle reached out to numerous NWHSU community members and was able to coordinate faculty speakers, a potluck (pictured below), a food drive, and some opportunities to be of service. The ROCK Bible Study facilitated a night at Feed My Starving Children to support her efforts in doing good works. Their night of service was able to contribute to the packaging of 14,472 meals that will be sent to Thailand!
Michelle is also a Diversity Leadership Scholar. Her impact on the student experience at the university is commendable, and we thank her for sharing her ability to lead from the front with us.
Submitted by Beau Foshee, wfoshee@nwhealth.edu
Topics in Diversity: A Call to Action for Representation
The intersections of my identity and my interests are reflected in the work that I have done while in school.
The university has plenty of room for every person to be represented in every way that makes sense for their own intersections of identity and their plans for the future. The scope of diversity natured organizations is not exhaustive. Help us change that. We believe that everyone should be able to see a place for themselves in the university system.
Actions for Representation:
- Attend weekly meetings with Dr. Cassirrer to represent your future outcomes
- Have a chat with Dr. Dashe to find your niche or carve it out
- Join or start a club (I would be delighted to show you how to get it started)
- Be a trailblazer, leave your mark - this clearly makes it easier for the next person who comes along
Submitted by Beau Foshee, wfoshee@nwhealth.edu
Upcoming Events
Doctrine of Discovery
Cherokee United Church
371 W. Baker St. (St. Paul’s West Side)
Monday, Oct. 13, 7–9:15 p.m.
On Indigenous People’s Day, we will host a public screening of the documentary film Doctrine of Discovery, presented by filmmaker Sheldon Wolfchild of the Lower Sioux Indian Community. The film will be followed by small group dialogues. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. (Film is appropriate for junior high school aged youth and up.)
Monday, Oct 13, 2014, 06:30 PM
Cherokee Park United Church, West Baker Street, Saint Paul, MN, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
AOM Week
- Oct 20: Qi Gong Presentation, Dr. Mei Wang, Room 28 at noon
- Oct 21: Mandarin Class demonstration, Emily Fair, Room 28 at noon
- Oct 22: La Clínica de la Mariposa Presentation, 2014 La Clínica Interns, Room 28 at noon
- Oct 23: CAOM Student Club sponsored lunch, Room L6 at 11am
- Oct 23: Information, education, Korean Hand Therapy, Foyer at 11am
- Oct 23: Martial Arts and self defense, Doug Blanchard T4, Room 15 at noon
- Oct 24: T’ai Chi demonstration, Dayne Thomas of Institute of Taoist Arts, Gym, 11am
- Oct 24: Free community style acupuncture, auricular (ear) acupuncture, and Korean Hand Therapy, herb information and sampling, Gym at noon - 4pm
Monday, Oct 20, 2014, 12:00 AM
Northwestern Health Sciences University, West 84th Street, Bloomington, MN, United States
Safe at Northwestern Training: Ally I
Ally I training provides you with the terms, tools, and strategies to be an ally to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, intersex, and ally or asexual, or anything else. Everyone is welcome.
Thursday, November 13, 2014 11am-2pm in L1
Provided by the Minnesota GLBTA Campus Alliance
Thursday, Nov 13, 2014, 11:00 AM
L1
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Safe at Northwestern: LGBTQIA Clinical Cultural Competency
LGBTQIA stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, intersex, and ally or asexual.
Join us to learn about vocabulary, healthcare initiatives, and tools to provide the best care for our LGBTQIA patients. Everyone is welcome.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at noon in L2
Provided by Rainbow Health Initiative
Tuesday, Nov 18, 2014, 12:00 PM
L2
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Get Involved with Diversity & Inclusion
- Take training! See "Learning and Training Opportunities" below. Most trainings are free or low cost and can get you CEUs.
- Take the Dignity & Respect pledge.
- Join one of our cultural clubs.
- Want to write for From the Desk of Diversity? Book Club book suggestion? Engaging diversity activity idea? Contact Dr. Dashe or Beau Foshee.
Learning & Training Opportunities
- A Physician's Practical Guide to Culturally Competent Care
- Health Resources and Services Administration: Effective Communication Tools for Healthcare Professionals 100
- Immigrant Mental Health Conference Series on August 19, September 16, October 21
- Immigrant and Refugee Health Online Course by the U of M Medical School Department of Global Health (and other opportunities)
- YWCA of Minneapolis Racial Justice Workshops & Events
- Rainbow Health Initiative Trainings & Presentations
- Minnesota AIDS Project
Office of Diversity & Inclusion
Email: diversity@nwhealth.edu
Website: http://nwhealth.edu/diversity/
Location: Northwestern Health Sciences, West 84th Street, Bloomington, MN, United States
Phone: 952-888-4777 235
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Northwestern-Diversity-Inclusion/678001138890536
Twitter: @NWHSU_Diversity
Senior Editor
Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Assistant Professor, College of Undergraduate Health Sciences
Email: adashe@nwhealth.edu
Website: http://www.nwhealth.edu/undergraduate-studies/faculty-directory/estrindashealejandra/
Editor
Student, College of Chiropractic
Email: wfoshee@nwhealth.edu
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/beau-foshee/a/58b/493