Dear Team DPS,
November is National Native American Heritage Month, a dedicated time to honor the vibrant cultures and innovations of our Native American peoples. While acknowledging the painful and complex histories of tribal nations, we also celebrate the tremendous accomplishments of Native peoples, who continue to be leaders and a source of inspiration for everyone.
Here in DPS, we are actively strengthening our commitment to our Native American students and families. I am proud to announce our new Native American Student Center — a place for belonging, cultural events and support. We are also launching an American Indian Parent/Guardian Advisory Committee to engage Native students and families and a collaborative educator toolkit so that all DPS students can learn about the contributions of Native people throughout the year. These initiatives build upon existing offerings like our Lakota language, Native American Leadership and Indigenous Literature classes. The message is clear: Native students belong at DPS, and their knowledge and perspectives benefit our entire community.
It is important that we ground ourselves in the DPS Land Acknowledgement.
The DPS community acknowledges our Indigenous relatives who have lived in and cared for this ancient Land from time immemorial. We acknowledge the close relationship that Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute and Natives of other tribal Nations continue to have with the waters, plants and all moving things that call this Land home. We pledge our respect for those enduring Indigenous connections to the place we now call Colorado. - Dr. Tink Tinker
Let this acknowledgement be a call to action for us all to find ways to increase the representation of Native people, issues, policies and contributions, both historically and today.
To our students and employees from Tribal Nations, thank you for enriching the DPS community with your presence and unique perspectives each day. Stay tuned to the DPS social media pages and Our DPS Weekly for National Native American History Month stories.
In collaboration,
Dr. Alex Marrero
Superintendent