AWC celebrates Native American Heritage Month

The college's Indigenous Student Association hosts public event - News 11's Cody Lee reports

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - It’s Native American Heritage month and to celebrate Arizona Western College (AWC) is holding a public event to bring awareness to the indigenous culture.

The community is invited to participate in Native American traditions which include dancing and creating art.

Faron Owl is a Quechan Tribe councilmember.

“That sharing of stories and other information about native Americans just to get out there and get more people involved in what's what's in our community,” Owl said.

Since the 1960s, AWC’s indigenous student association has been shining a light on Native American tribes in Yuma County.

“It's open for everybody. For a while there, they had over 150 members, but during the years, it's gone down and gone up. And the pandemic also was a big effect on membership. So right now, this coming year, they're restarting to a sense and they're going to provide a good program,” he added.

The event recognizes the history of the Quechan and Cocopah tribes.

“It's a great time to come out and just learn a little bit about what's local, the local tribes, maybe the customs and more importantly maybe of the language and but maybe stories that you can hear that our creation story is really important to us. But it's just the significance of what we're here for,” Owl explained.

The president of the club, Dana Chino, tells News 11 the event is free of charge and open to anyone wanting to come out as they celebrate this sacred culture.

The Indigenous Student Association is looking to expand the club, so if you’re interested, you just have to be an AWC student taking at least one class.

Chino says it’s a good time to learn more about different indigenous cultures.

The Native American Heritage Month celebration at AWC kicks off at 11 A.M. and runs till 2 P.M. on Monday, November 22nd.