Whole Campus Book Club for Belonging: Diverse Indigenous Perspectives

Books for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022

• The Fall 2021 book is There There by Tommy Orange (fiction)
• The Spring 2022 book is An Indigenous People’s History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz (nonfiction).

We acknowledge that we read the book on land that was once populated by thriving Indigenous communities, such as the Paiute, Shoshone, and Washoe. As participation in diversity experiences and collaborations balance the mainstream curriculum narrative on campus, we open our academics to Indigenous perspectives and voices.

As the academic year unfolds, we participate in collaborative events to understand Indigenous experiences present and past, exploring environmental education, multiple narrative voices, storytelling, and oral history traditions, statistical analysis, research methodologies, holistic mental-physical health practices, trust-building from betrayal, political engagement, urban vs. rural identities, local vs. regional vs. global identities, artifacts as identity, insider vs. outsider understandings, and community rituals, such as pow wows, totem-making, textiles, ceramics, baskets, meals, roundhouse ceremonies, and earth assemblages. 

More Information

The 2021–22 theme for "Whole Campus Book Club for Belonging: Diverse Indigenous Perspectives” addresses the questions:

1. How do we hear and understand diverse Indigenous voices?
2. How do we nurture belonging from intergenerational traumas, and support cultural integrity that exists apart from imposed trauma?

We are a cross-section of faculty, staff, and students from across our campuses. During the year, we study and participate in activities to understand and connect diverse Indigenous perspectives to established courses. One goal is to expand TMCC curriculum by learning how to heal from trauma, as well as how to nurture resources to thrive apart from trauma. The two books were selected collaboratively by campus participants. Some participants read short excerpts and others read the entire book. All are welcome in any of our activities whether or not you have read the books.

While supplies last, copies of both books are available for loan in the DISCO in the Student Center.

This event is sponsored by the TMCC Foundation and the Equity, Inclusion and Sustainability Office.

See Also: FREE Learning Community Celebrates Indigenous Perspectives