ETSU’s Multicultural Center hosted their Native American Festival this past Friday, Sept. 20.

“The Native American festival included some storytelling, dances, drumming, singing, also some artifacts, some demonstrating as well, and engaging with different natives as well too,” shared Nathnael Tadessee, assistant director of Multicultural Center & Student Access and Success.

Through the festival, the Multicultural Center and the Native American Student Organization wanted to honor the indigenous people who are in this area. They also focused on allowing students to connect and learn about the different groups we have on campus.

“We had at least three different representations there, even though they mostly came from Cherokee, North Carolina,” mentioned Tadesse.

Representatives from Cherokee, North Carolina, and Kingsport, Tennessee, came to represent their own indigenous groups, including the Navajo. These groups got to share more about their heritage, through dances and demonstrations of how they pray and honor life.

Photo of a vendor at the Native American Festival. (Jairo Tomas/East Tennessean)

“Another event is coming up in November, the Indigenous Heritage Month celebration, that involves a couple of departments and classes, as well storytelling lecturing and maybe a drum session. This event is more detailed, to enhance and connect with what we are learning in the classroom,” stated Tadesse.

For the rest of the semester, the Multicultural Center has many different events that students can also be a part of.  On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Multicultural Center is inviting students to come with them for a day trip to Cumberland, Tennessee, to celebrate the Mountain Fiesta, in celebration of Latin Heritage Month.

Throughout the rest of the week, there is a Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit students have the option to go to that will include an authentic WW11 P-51 vintage airplane. The exhibit will be open from 1 to 4 p.m., Sept. 25-27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 28, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday Sept. 29. If any students are interested in participating in these celebrations or events, students can find the Native American Student Organization through BucHub.

The Multicultural Center is hosting events all semester round. Be sure to check out what events they are hosting and the information following. If you missed the Native American Festival this year, be sure to join in on the fun next year.

For more information, please contact the ETSU Multicultural Center at etsumc@etsu.edu or call (423) 439-4844.

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