Date:
4/4/2002
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Colleen Wright
PORTALES – Eastern New Mexico University's annual Native American Awareness Week will be held on Monday, April 8, through Friday, April 12, with an additional activity on Friday, April 19.
The mayor of Portales, Orlando Ortega, has proclaimed April 8-12 as Native American Awareness Week.
Native American Awareness Week has been celebrated since the 1960s. It gives Native American students the opportunity to show their tribe's customs to everyone on campus and in the community. It also teaches the community about these cultures.
MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION – Portales mayor Orlando Ortega signed a proclamation proclaiming April 8-12 as Native American Awareness Week in Portales. Representing ENMU were students (shaking hand) Janet Lomasney and Guarena Adeky. Also learning how the process works was little tyke John Lomasney the 4th – whose father is an outstanding ENMU noon-time basketball player. (photo by Vanessa Ring of Communication Services)
This year Native American Awareness Week will feature Jolyana Begay, Miss Navajo Nation, as the guest speaker at the Banquet and Fashion Show at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, in the Campus Union Building Ballroom.
Events have been scheduled throughout the week. These include display cases in both the Golden Library and the Campus Union Building from April 8-12, with videos at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day.
In addition, on Thursday, April 11, there will be jewelry and tribal booths in the CUB lobby from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and the First Annual Banquet and Fashion Show at 6 p.m. in the CUB Ballroom. Admission is $10 for this event.
On Friday, April 8, there will be a Native American Fair from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The fair will have jewelry, clothing, arts and crafts, and fry bread sales.
On Friday, April 19, at 6 p.m. the Great American Dancers will perform in the Ballroom. Tickets will be $3 for adults, and $1 for ages 4-12.
For more information, contact Guarena Adeky in the Native American Affairs office at 505.562.2470.