Native American Heritage Month is celebrated every November. Anita Dey, the Director of the Zahnow Library, reminds SVSU Cardinals of the local relevance, “Native American culture is pertinent to us because we are on Ojibwe and other tribes’ land.”
Dey believes that inclusivity is essential to their work at the library. Listing endeavors for National Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, and many others, the director clarifies, “We try to fit as many cultural celebrations as we can; it’s important for people to understand history.”
Emphasizing the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and regarding the term’s controversy, Dey remarked, “We need to stand up, sometimes, and say, ‘This is a good thing.’” The director reflects that, in their efforts, the Zahnow librarians seek to help students. Dey wants the library, “…to feel safe, where students can be who they are, agreeing and disagreeing with each other in good spirit.”
Many specialists are available at the Zahnow Library, whether for research related to Indigenous history, or other areas of knowledge.
William Adame focuses on DEI, among other fields, and is familiar with metadata and cataloguing. One may also contact him to research the particulars of social work, like substance use issues affecting Native Americans. Furthermore, regarding healthcare and Indigenous peoples’ experiences with it, Michelle Strasz is well-versed in nursing.
Zahnow librarians also welcome student collaboration for cultural exhibits. In their 2015 display for Native American Heritage Month, art and regalia from three local Native Americans were presented in the Roberta R. Allen Reading Room. Among these was a ceremonial dress with small bells. On top of that, the library hosted a reception with drums, chants, and recitation of Indigenous history and lore. Dey recalled her favorite part of the experience was, “…a ceremony performed as artifacts were unwrapped and placed in cabinets honoring their Native spirits.”
This commitment to multiculturalism is shown by the Land Acknowledgement Statement on the Zahnow Library homepage. Recognizing SVSU’s location as the ancestral homeland of various Indigenous groups, the website states, “As we pledge to serve as responsible stewards of the land, we endeavor for this history to inform our teaching, scholarship, and our commitment to the community.”
Several books are included in this month’s library feature. An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States offers the perspectives of Native Americans resisting colonialism. For regional history, Contested Territories: Native Americans and Non-Natives in the Lower Great Lakes, 1700-1850 details shifts in lifestyle due to political and economic proceedings. Black Hawk’s Autobiography chronicles the Sauk leader’s existence on the nineteenth century frontier. Many more await your access in the library.
