Penn State celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – On Monday, Oct. 14th, Penn State’s CPA hosted a feast in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day. Two years after President Joe Biden commemorated Indigenous Peoples' Day, celebrations occurred across the United States.

More and more states and cities are recognizing the holiday. Historically, this day was celebrated in honor of explorer Christopher Columbus. Now, it focuses on the people whose lives and culture were forever changed by colonialism.

I spoke to Amy Dupain Vashaw, the audience and program development director for the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State. She said, “It’s just so important for underrepresented groups to feel recognized, to feel welcome on what is literally their land.”

The feast took place on Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the alumni hall in the hub. The Indigenous Peoples' Student Association and the Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance, in partnership with the Office of Educational Equity, Student Affairs, and the Office of the Provost, have coordinated events in recognition and celebration.

The Joyfull - the feast Supaman edition, is a joyful event where all are welcome to enjoy a meal, performance, and conversation. The event was free for those who registered.

“That uh occurs here is people who don’t know each other do engender a sense of belonging by getting to know somebody from a different background than themselves. I do think, as I said, leveraging the power of the arts, doing something participatory to together in the act of creation does engender a sense of belonging because you get to know people on a sort of a deeper, deeper level,” Vashaw said.

Through collective efforts, IPSA strives to create an inclusive and supportive environment for the empowerment of Indigenous voices and it promotes cultural understanding.

More information about the Penn State Indigenous Community can be found on the Penn State Indigenous Peoples Student Association website or at equity.psu.edu.

Hannah Neurohr is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email hmn5264@psu.edu.