Performance in front of City Council precedes Native American proclamation, weekend events

The rich Native American cultures passed down from generation to generation are being celebrated this month in Highland Park, thanks to the efforts of a resident of Hopi descent.

Ashbey Beasley said she wanted the community to share in a celebration of Native American history and culture and supported a Highland Park City Council proclamation of November as Native American Heritage Month.

The council approved the proclamation unanimously at its Nov. 24 meeting, just one of several events scheduled for this week.

“I really wanted to see our culture celebrated. I didn’t get to see that growing up in the ‘80s,” said Beasley, mother of an Indian Trail Elementary School student, who also helped coordinate Native American assemblies held Nov. 20 at the school.

“The land that our schools rest on were indigenous homes for centuries,” said District 112 Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld, who said the assembly fit in well with the district’s multicultural approach to education.

Beasley said her initial efforts to work with a parent-teacher organization were rebuffed, when the group wanted to postpone the assembly to next spring. Lubelfeld, a former history teacher who embraces cultural diversity, said District 112 agreed to foot the bill for the assembly — a cost of approximately $1,500, Beasley said, for presenters that included Native American dancers.

Beasley wanted to dovetail with national Native American Heritage Month, which was officially declared in 1990 as the month of November.

“As soon as Ashbey reached out to me, I said, ‘This is amazing. Please allow District 112 to support the cost of this. I think it’s a wonderful event,’” Lubelfeld said in a phone interview Nov. 25.

He said when he thinks of Thanksgiving, he thinks of the conflict between the cultures. The Thanksgiving feast many families will enjoy this week was a symbol of peace in a turbulent time in U.S. history.

“Thanksgiving really is an American holiday, where we can highlight our similarities and our differences … and the messy nature of being a free people. I’m aware of the duality of the sacrifice of our forebearers,” Lubelfeld said.

The district embraces the “No Place for Hate” message, he said.

“In our district, we have 33 home languages. We’re proud of our deep cultural diversity,” he said. “We’re proud of the American dream and the melting pot. We’re generally better together.”

While Beasley said her Hopi ancestors are from a village called Sipaulovi on Second Mesa, a flattop hill near Flagstaff, Arizona, the proclamation Mayor Nancy Rotering read at the Nov. 24 City Council meeting described the land Highland Park sits on as belonging to the Potawatomi tribe previously.

Other tribes, such as Cahokia, Kaskaskia and Peoria, also made Illinois their home. The state’s name stems from Illiniwek, a confederation of these tribes, according to the proclamation.

“Native communities have passed down rich cultures, knowledge, traditions and ways of life; but throughout our history, Native peoples’ cultures, identities and governments were not always seen as part of this Nation but as a threat to it,” Rotering said in reading the proclamation.

“Native people were pressured to assimilate, banned from practicing their traditions and sacred ceremonies and forced from their homes and ancestral homelands. This violence and devastation cost countless lives, tore families apart, and caused lasting damage to tribal communities and institutions,” she said.

“Despite centuries of violence and oppression, Native peoples remain resilient and proud. Today, Native Americans are essential to the fabric of the United States,” Rotering continued. “Their contributions to science, humanities, arts, public service, and more have brought prosperity to all of us. Their diverse cultures and communities continue to thrive and lead us forward.”

Leading the way on the Native American Heritage Month celebration is Beasley, who worked with local merchants on several events and arranged for a Native American musician to perform before the council.

In saying thank you to the City Council, or “asquali” in Hopi, Beasley said, “This month is more than a celebration in recognition of our survival, our sovereignty and continued presence of the lands our ancestors protected for thousands and thousands of years.

“Too often Native voices, especially the voices of Native women, have been pushed to the margins of the very stories that began with us. Today through this proclamation, we affirm our histories matter, our cultures matter and our futures matter.”

In gratitude to the Highland Park community, she introduced a Native American musician who performed an honor song involving vocals and drumming before the City Council.

After the song drew applause, Rotering thanked Beasley “for bringing so much beauty and brightness and importance to the community.”

Around the community

Other events taking place this week included a book launch of “We Survived the Night” by author Julian Noisecat on Nov. 25 at Secret World Books, 1774 2nd St.

At noon on Saturday, Nov. 29, Secret World Books is hosting a story hour with Beasley reading Native stories, such as “Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story” by author Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal; “The Lost Kachina” by author Heather Irbinskas and illustrators Robert Albert and Brian Anthis; and “We are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know,” by author Traci Sorell and illustrator Frane Lessac.

From noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, a Native Market featuring fresh fry bread and other products from Native American vendors is set for noon to 4 p.m. at Wayfarer Theaters lobby, 1850 2nd St.

And at 4 p.m. Sunday, a screening of Native film, “Hey Viktor,” directed by Cody Lightning is scheduled to be shown in the Wayfarer Theaters. The film, a sequel to “Smoke Signals,” is billed as a comedy. It received four first-place awards from the Alberta Film & Television Awards in best screenwriter, best male performance, best editor and best overall sound categories. Tickets, which can be purchased online, are $10.

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