Today's Middle School assembly focused on celebrating Native American Heritage Month (November), and was led by Middle School Spanish teacher Angélica Guerrero, her Grade 7 Spanish classes, and Middle School science teacher Amy Tong. Both teachers identify as indigenous; Angélica is from the Muisca (Myska) culture in Colombia, and Amy is from the Polynesian culture in Hawai'i. 

After acknowledging the cultures who are native to this area, the students retold an origin story from the Myska culture, called Turtle Island. The students then discussed some reasons for why we should celebrate native cultures and people.

Next, the audience was asked to consider what water means to them, and what space it holds in their lives. Both Amy and Angélica shared personal stories about water from their own cultures and experiences. Angélica asked her students on stage, and then the audience members, to share a word for water in any language they knew, and it was wonderful to hear over twenty-five different languages. The audience was also asked to change their perspective about water; instead of thinking of it as a resource, could we consider it as a sacred entity, the way most indigenous cultures do?

The students then shared a song from the Myska culture, called "Swa cho," with the audience. As Angélica explained, "the song is about greeting the new day, and taking time to 'check in' and dialogue with important parts of our world: Father Sun, Mother Ravine, lake, mountain, forest, etc. But we also need to check in with our homes and hearts (understood as heart and mind together, because we don't separate those entities). It was taught to me and then to my students by Cesar Sanchez, my Myskkubun (Muisca) teacher from the Muisca (Myska) culture in Colombia, who visited our class over Zoom last week." The students led the singing the first time, and the second time the audience was invited to participate as well.

The assembly ended with this question: How are you bringing with you what you learned as you spend this break from school, whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving or not? Several students explained that they would use the time to honor indigenous people and learn more about the native people from their own countries. 

Thank you to Amy, Angélica, and the Grade 7 Spanish students for this wonderful assembly and for sharing your cultures with us!