At the end of September, Merritt College had the honor of hosting the Native American Health Center’s Golden Anniversary Powwow. Founded in San Francisco’s Mission District in 1972, and now located in East Oakland, NAHC’s mission is to “provide comprehensive services to improve the health and wellbeing of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and residents of the surrounding communities with respect to cultural and linguistic differences.”

It was our privilege that NAHC chose Merritt to hold this solemn yet celebratory event. There were many community members of all races that came to support the Powwow, and Merritt’s Intertribal Student Union was represented as well (in fact, the three past presidents were in attendance). To quote Outreach Specialist Maria Spencer, who helped bring the experience to Merritt, “the campus came alive, and the energy and prayers provided throughout the day were much needed for our community to heal. Keep in mind that these are direct decedents from the relocation era that survived the transition from the reservation. We must never forget that this government wanted to kill American Indians and force them into assimilation, so it was a powerful day at Merritt because they did not succeed—Native Americans kept their language, culture, and traditions and it showed at the Powwow.”