BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon Community College will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a diverse lineup of free community events in Bend and Madras throughout the month of November. That includes a poetry reading by former Oregon Poet Laureate Elizabeth Woody (Nov. 4). , a rap performance with the Blue Flames and a flute concert with Grammy Award winner James Greeley (both November 7th), and a comedy show with Gilbert Brown (November 17th).
For more information, visit cocc.edu/multiculture.
A poetry reading by Elizabeth Woody, who was named Oregon’s first Native American Poet Laureate in 2016, will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Pinckney Performing Arts Center on COCC’s Bend campus. It will also include audience Q&A. An artist, writer, and educator, Woody is a member of the Warm She Springs Tribal Confederacy and the Navajo, Wasco, and Yakama Tribes.
Hip-hop and rap artist Blue Flames will perform at Hitchcock Auditorium on the Bend campus on Tuesday, Nov. 7 from 1 to 2 p.m. This artist is a member of the Tribal Federation of Warm His Springs and won Best His Music Video at the Tokyo Film Festival. Then, on Nov. 7 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Grammy Award-winning flautist James Greeley will take to the stage at Hitchcock’s Auditorium to perform his flute performance. Greeley is a member of the Confederated Springs Tribe and is of Hopi descent.
Comedian Gilbert Brown will be appearing at COCC’s Madras campus on Friday, November 17th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Brown, also known as the “Naughty Lesbian Dog,” is a member of the Modoc, Klamath, Paiute, and Warm Springs tribes. . His style of comedic storytelling includes stories of rodeos and reservation life.
“As Native peoples, we honor our ancestors in many ways on a daily basis, but Native American Heritage Month is a time to honor our Native American heritage by honoring those who fought for our way of life.” This is a great opportunity to introduce the world to a celebration of strength and resilience,” said Jeremiah Rector, COCC Native American Programs Coordinator.
“That honor is demonstrated by talented people who blend their talents with culture to tell fascinating stories: poets, musicians, comedians, beadsmiths, and educators, to name just a few. . These stories are meant to encourage and educate future generations to continue on that path.”
For more information about these events, please contact Native American Program Coordinator Jeremiah Rector at 541-318-3782 or jrector@cocc.edu.
If you require accommodations or transportation prior to a University event due to a physical or mobility disability, please contact Caitlyn Gardner at 541-383-7237. For accommodations due to other disabilities, such as hearing loss, please contact Disability Services at 541-383-7583.
