Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

Indigenous Life Celebrations in honor of Native American Heritage Month

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KRQE) – Albuquerque public school students held a celebration in honor of Native American Heritage Month. The Indigenous Life Celebration event was a day of interactive workshops promoting leadership development, Native American language and culture, and learning about topics most important to Indigenous youth.

Tehya Barber is a senior at Eldorado High School and one of the students who organized the event. “This event is designed to celebrate indigenous life and all of our indigenous people have a purpose and role in our lives. The purpose of this event is really to help people shine, educate them and provide support services, ”said Barber.

Janeen Pacheco, a freshman at Albuquerque High School, said the event took about two months to plan. “We just wanted to make it known that there are certain subjects and certain artists and just a little bit of everything that comes from indigenous communities that people might not know about,” said Pacheco.

The event was open to the public and attracted around 50 guests and salespeople. “Everyone is welcome at future events supported by APS Indian Education or our APS Native American Leadership Council. And you are very welcome to support or volunteer. You’re always welcome, ”said Barber.

In the Cottonwood Mall. Food Is Free Albuquerque, in partnership with the Rio Grande Food Project and Libros for Kids, hosted its book promotion and gift wrapping event to offer Christmas reading gifts in conjunction with a grocery box promotion.

Erin Garrison of Food is Free said the community is being encouraged to donate new or previously loved books and help wrap them so that children in the community can take home a wrapped gift for Christmas. “We also have a children’s gift station where people can bring the kids and give their friends and family gifts for the holidays,” Garrison said.

She said last year the organization collected about 400 books to give away for Christmas. This year they have already collected 600 books. They accept donations until November.

Donations can be made every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the FIFABQ Community Space in the Cottonwood Mall. Books can also be purchased from your Amazon wish list and will be sent directly to FIFABQ.

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