Events at SDSU in honor of Native American Heritage Month

San Diego State University, along with campus organizations, is honoring Native American Heritage Month with over a dozen events and ceremonies throughout November to celebrate the culture, traditions, and achievements of SDSU’s Native American community.

Guided by this year’s theme, Native American Legacies: Stories of Strength and Survival, the month’s events emphasize the strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples. As noted in a joint statement from SDSU’s Native Resource Center and the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, "Native peoples are not only survivors of historical injustices but leaders in shaping the future."

"This year’s theme emphasizes the enduring resilience of Indigenous peoples," they said in their joint email to SDSU. "Over centuries, Native communities have faced policies designed to erase their identities and forcibly assimilate them."

This resilience has been demonstrated in areas such as environmental stewardship, governance, and cultural preservation, "and pass down invaluable legacies of survival, strength and sovereignty to Indigenous youth."

Over the past year, SDSU has strengthened its commitment to Native American and Indigenous students, honoring its status as Kumeyaay land. Campus organizations hosted events like the Indigenous Talking Circles, Indigenous Authors Book Club, and a Week of Action for Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

In the spring, the Elymash Yuuchaap Indigenous Scholars and Leaders program celebrated its 10-year anniversary; the program offers recipients full tuition grants.

A key highlight this fall is the SDSU Living Land Acknowledgement project, an immersive augmented reality experience led by Kumeyaay artist Johnny Bear Contreras. The sculptures contain a QR code that reveals an extended-reality lesson tied to Kumeyaay culture and history.

“I'm hoping that as an individual scans the QR code and listens to the story, that they will be able to see how this piece embraces the stories and the traditions, as we often say, the customs and traditions of the Kumeyaay, the Ipai people,” said Contreras.

Native Heritage Month will take center court on Nov. 12 during SDSU’s Nike 7 Native Night basketball game, a partnership with Nike N7 dating back to 2014. The Aztecs will wear special turquoise uniforms symbolizing solidarity with Native communities as they face Occidental College at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m. for special ceremonies honoring Native American heritage.

SDSU’s celebration of Native heritage extends beyond November. In March 2025, the 5th Annual Native & Indigenous Research and Arts Symposium (NIRAS) will spotlight research and art by Native scholars. In April, the campus will host the 53rd Annual SDSU Pow Wow, continuing a longstanding tradition of honoring Native communities.

EVENTS CALENDAR

Friday, Nov. 1: Heading the Call – North American Indigenous Political Theory and Building An Indigenous Moral Philosophy | 2-2:50 p.m. | Ellen Ochoa Pavilion 23
Discussion with Dr. Desmond Hassing centering on the traditions, values, and governance models of Indigenous communities offering pathways for decolonization and reconnection to ancestral wisdom.
 

Friday, Nov. 1: Fire Ceremony | 3:30-6 p.m. | Scripps Cottage
Celebrate resilience, community, and renewal through intertribal songs, dance, and traditions. 
 

Thursday, Nov. 7: Honoring Native Foodways: A Cooking Demo of Three Sisters Stew at SDSU Imperial Valley | Time 1- 2:30 p.m. | Imperial Valley
 

Friday, Nov. 8: Native Faculty Celebration | 3-4:45 p.m. | College of Arts & Letters Patio, 6th floor
Commemorate the professional achievements of our Indigenous faculty in a day of recognition and community.
 

Tuesday, Nov. 12: Voices of Resilience – Native Grad Journeys in Higher Education a Student Panel |1- 2 p.m. | Native Resource Center, Ellen Ochoa Pavilion 115
Connect and learn from current Indigenous students in graduate school as they share their unique experiences and insights on navigating higher education. 
 

Tuesday, Nov. 12: Nike N7: Native American Night at SDSU Men’s Basketball | 7 p.m. | Viejas Arena
 

Wednesday, Nov. 13: Video Games and Indigenous Representation | 4-5 p.m. | Love Library 430

Friday, Nov. 15: Laughing Spirits: A night of laughter and cultural celebration | 5 p.m. | Ellen Ochoa Pavilion 220
Sit back and prepare to laugh as Indigenous comedians share their stories and humor. 
 

Saturday, Nov. 16: Steps of the Ancestors – A Kumeyaay Hike for Honoring and Health | 9 a.m. | Mission Trails Campground, 2 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119  
Experience traditional Kumeyaay lands and nature through an informational hike around Mission Trails. 
 

Monday, Nov. 18: Talking Circle | 2-3:30 p.m. | Native Resource Center, Ellen Ochoa Pavilion 115
Engage in meaningful conversations surrounding stories of displacement in a traditional Talking Circle.
 

Tuesday, Nov. 19: SITVR Destigmatizing Disabilities | 2-3:30 p.m. | Native Resource Center, Ellen Ochoa Pavilion 115 
Sycuan Inter-Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation (SITVR) will present opportunities for students who have disabilities through SITVR and the Department of Rehabilitation.
 

Wednesday, Nov. 20: Heartbeat of Creation: A Workshop on Pow Wow Drum Traditions for Native Men | 5 p.m. | Native Resource Center, Ellen Ochoa Pavilion 115 
Engage in an immersive workshop to learn the traditions of the powwow drum, gaining hands-on experience in rhythm and song while fostering a deep appreciation for Indigenous cultural heritage. 
 

Thursday, Nov. 21: Unrecognized in California – Book Club with Dr. Chilcote | 3-4:30 p.m. | Native Resource Center, Ellen Ochoa Pavilion 115
Dive into “Unrecognized in California: Federal Acknowledgement and the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, to discuss federal recognition, sovereignty, community identity, and self-determination issues with Dr. Chilcote. 
 

Friday, Nov. 22: NRC Turns 5: Resilient Roots, honoring five years of growing towards the future | 3-4:30 p.m. | Native Resource Center, Ellen Ochoa Pavilion 115
Celebrate five impactful years of the Native Resource Center, honoring our journey of empowering Indigenous students and strengthening community connections. 
 

Monday, Nov. 25: Beehive Collective – Mesoamerica Resiste | 10:30-1:30 p.m. | Center for Inclusive Excellence, PSFA 100
The Beehive Design Collective transforms complex global stories into visually stunning, educational, and organizing tools for social and environmental justice. Come experience their most current masterpiece and gain insight into their creative process.