We want to respectfully honor the Susquehannock Confederation who governed, lived, farmed, and hunted on the land we now call Howard County. Their nations conceded into land treaties in 1652 and 1661 after English colonizers ended their generational governance and stewardship of the land Howard County is built upon. This practice of land acknowledgement is to honor and respect the indigenous inhabitants both from the past and the present.

As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, you have an opportunity to learn about Native Nations – who are still present and part of modern American life. You can read books by indigenous voices, including novelist Louise Erdrich, past US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, and scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer. You can pick up a list of more indigenous stories at any library branch.

HCLS has a two special events, as well as a variety of classes for all ages: Visit bit.ly/NAHM-24 for the full list. We hope to see you!

Sixth Annual NAHM Celebration

Sat, Nov 2 | 12 – 4 pm
Color Burst Park, Merriweather District, Columbia
A fun event for the entire family, the celebration includes live performances, arts and crafts, authentic vendors, and delicious Navajo tacos!
Featuring:
Author Traci Sorell
Brett Walking Eagle, seen on The Voice
Sponsored by: Downtown Columbia Partnership
In partnership with Nave Be Diné, Howard County Executive, Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity, Howard Hughes Corporation, Columbia Association, and Columbia Community Care.

Author Works with Chef Sean Sherman

For teens and adults.
Online. Register to receive a link.
Wed, Nov 20 | 7 – 8 pm

Chef Sean Sherman, a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, discusses his award-winning cookbook The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen. His focus is on the revitalization and evolution of Indigenous food systems throughout North America. Through his activism and advocacy, Sean is helping to reclaim and celebrate the rich culinary heritage of Indigenous communities around the world.

Sherman was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He has dedicated his career to supporting and promoting Indigenous food systems and Native food sovereignty. His goal is to make Indigenous foods more accessible to as many communities as possible through the nonprofit North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS) and its Indigenous Food Lab, a professional Indigenous kitchen and training center. Working to address the economic and health crises affecting Native communities by re-establishing Native foodways, NATIFS imagines a new North American food system that generates wealth and improves health in Native communities through food-related enterprises.

In 2017, Sean published his first book with author Beth Dooley, The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen, which received the James Beard Award for Best American Cookbook in 2018. He is also the recipient of the 2019 Leadership Award from the James Beard Foundation. In 2021, Sean opened Minnesota’s first full service Indigenous restaurant, Owamni by The Sioux Chef, which received the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in America for 2022. Most recently, Chef Sean Sherman was honored as TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023 and in 2023 was named recipient of the ninth annual Julia Child Award for culinary activism and innovation.