Aurora Public Schools Community,
This November, please join me in celebrating National Native American Heritage Month. My hope is that we show up in our spaces to remember and dignify the memory and ancestral lines of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Ute, Apache, Comanche, Kiowa, Lakota, Pueblo and Shoshone Nations who were the original inhabitants of the state of Colorado.
Throughout the month, I also ask that we all take time to honor the important contributions of Native people and find ways to learn about the tribes in our state and country and the challenges that Native people have faced historically and today.
There are some great resources for teachers on the Native American Heritage Month website and through the Native Knowledge 360 Education Initiative. In addition, the Aurora Public Library has shared booklists for adults, teens and kids to celebrate the stories of Indigenous cultures and elevate the voices of Native American authors. Many of the collections are available to borrow instantly for free as eBooks with an Aurora Public Library card.
You may also consider visiting the Denver Art Museum's Indigenous Arts of North America, which cover art from prehistoric times to the present. The collection includes over 18,000 objects representing the heritage of cultures and tribes throughout the United States and Canada. It has been recognized as one of the best of its kind in the country.
I am excited to hear about the many lessons, conversations and experiences that our students, staff and families will share this month. As we deepen our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Aurora Public Schools, I am proud to serve such a dynamic community that honors and celebrates our stories, cultures and traditions.
"Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children" – Sitting Bull
-Superintendent Rico Munn