Ryleigh John, Vice President of the Indigenous Student Association is featured in this write-up
November 14, 2023 albany.edu | Photos by Johans Severino
ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 14, 2023) — National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated every November in the United States. The commemoration officially began in 1990 when Congress passed a joint resolution designating the month as a time to celebrate and educate people on the history, culture and contributions of Indigenous peoples in America.
Johans Severino, a senior communication major and intern in the Office of Communications and Marketing, recently photographed members of the Indigenous Student Association at UAlbany’s Parker Pond and spoke to them about what this month means to them.
The University Council passed a resolution in May renaming the roughly five-acre area in the southeast corner of the Uptown Campus after the Parker family, which included three siblings from the same Tonawanda Seneca family who were among the first nine Indigenous students to enroll at the University around 1850.
Ryleigh John – Class of 2025. Vice President, Indigenous Student Association
“National Native American Heritage Month is important to celebrate because our cultures are not accurately portrayed in history or media. This month gives Indigenous people the platform to share and celebrate our cultures the true way. One way for someone to become more educated on our heritage is to listen to Indigenous Peoples voices. Read sources by Native authors, go to cultural events and support Native issues. I want people that are not of Indigenous heritage to know that our cultures are rich and continue to grow. We were not left in the past like history makes it seem.”
Ryleigh is the Daughter of Kerry and Mindy John of Ohi:yo’.
