November 11, 2022 
Red, white, and blue striped-ribbon pins and a yellow poster for people to sign for the veterans sat on top of a table at the entrance of Durango High School. (Photo by Crystal Ashike/KSUT Tribal Radio
)
Durango School District 9-R Native American Heritage events with Veterans, Authors, and Science
By Crystal Ashike
Over a hundred people came to the Veterans Celebration and Native Comedy Show for Native American Heritage Month.
The event occurred inside the Durango High School's cafeteria on Wednesday evening, where veterans ate Indian tacos and enjoyed a good laugh from Navajo comedians James and Ernie.
It is part of the Durango School District 9-R diversity program initiated to work through the Durango High School Native American Club, Native American Parental Advisory committee, Native American Education program, and Native American cultural liaisons.
The overall picture is to bring awareness about the diversity of Native American culture and inclusion to Native American students attending the district's schools.
Jennifer Fernandez, Park Elementary Native American cultural liaison, stated she was striving for representation for all Indigenous student tribes in the school.
Fernandez works with Orlando Griego, program manager for Durango School District 9-R, to develop a safe, welcoming, and cultural learning environment to support Indigenous students and families.
So, for Native American Heritage Month, Native American Education Program, committee, club and liaisons worked on three events for the month of November, including the Veterans Celebration and Indian taco sale.
At the beginning of the month, Literacy Night was the first event with authors Joseph Bruchac and Jim Kristofic at Escalante Middle School.
Next Tuesday, November 15, Science Night exploring science through four tribes, will be at the Powerhouse- Science Center and the last Durango School District Native American Heritage Month celebration event.
Copyright 2022 by KSUT Tribal Radio
