- November is Native American Heritage Month, and events in Utah aim to highlight Native culture and contributions.
- Chauma Kee-Jansen, of American Indian Services in Lehi, thinks Native American history should be more incorporated into mainstream U.S. education.
- Proclamations and events this month, not all specifically tied to heritage month, aim to celebrate Utah’s Native American communities.
LEHI — Chauma Kee-Jansen, who heads Lehi-based American Indian Services, thinks Native American culture and history merit more attention in U.S. history books and classes.
“Native American culture should be talked about all the time. It should be integrated into U.S. history, not just a special class that you can take in college that talks about specific Native American history,” she said. “I think Native American history is U.S. history, and it should be integrated more within it.”
Meantime, she says Native American Heritage Month, at least, helps spotlight the culture and its contributions to the broader community. “I think it’s a time to celebrate that we are still here, and we’re still contributing to society and our communities,” said Kee-Jansen, who has Diné and Assiniboine Sioux blood…