Dear DPS Community,
In November, we recognize National Native American Heritage Month. It is a dedicated time to honor the vibrant cultures and creations of our Native American peoples. While acknowledging the painful and complex histories of tribal nations, we also celebrate the tremendous accomplishments and contributions of Native peoples, who continue to be leaders and a source of inspiration.
Here in DPS, we are actively strengthening our commitment to our Native American students and families. I am proud to update you all that in the first year of the opening of the Native American Student Center, many wonderful events are happening regularly. From meetings of our American Indian Parent/Guardian Advisory Committee, family nights, scholarship information events, even a powwow and college fair, DPS Native families have enjoyed a place to call their own.
Additionally, a collaborative educator toolkit ensures 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.
As always, 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 honor the deep, enduring relationship that the Arapaho (Hinono'ei), Cheyenne (Tsitsistas), Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Ute (Nuuchu), and citizens of all Tribal Nations maintain with the waters, plants, and living beings that call this place home. We pledge our respect for those enduring Indigenous connections to the place we now call Colorado.
Let this acknowledgement be a call to action for us all to find ways to increase the representation of Native people, issues, policies and impacts, 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