November is Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly referred to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.
The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.
We have curated a list of speakers that we represent to host and learn from their story. We can customize their sessions and create something that is authentic and unique to experience.
Speakers fee ranges $3,500-$7,000
Elijah Kalā McShane
He is a kanaka oiwi o Hawai’i (native descendant of the Hawaiian Islands and direct descendant of both Hawai’i/Maui & O’ahu chiefly lineages. Elijah, also known as Kahu Kalā, is the co-founder (with his wife Jazmin Yong) of Awakened Aloha, an organization focused on “inspiring a world where aloha is the heartbeat of humanity.” Awakened Aloha’s work bridges ancient wisdom and ancestral connection to modern wellness through the mauli ola (healing arts), la’au lapa’au (plant medicine), aloha education, and community development. His work has inspired hearts in the educational, political, and spiritual sectors of modern Hawai’i to dream a future that promotes harmony for all people beginning with Hawai’i and her children. As an ambassador of aloha and messenger of lokahi, Elijah shares a universal message that lays at the foundation of all people and cultures, “aloha ‘aina, aloha akua, aloha kanaka” (a deep honor and reverence for the land, the spirits, and the people). May this message of truth reach all dimensions of existence and call forth unity from the depths of po (depth/origins) to the peaks of the lewa lani (highest heavenly realms). E ola mau.
Speaking Topics:
- *”Ancestral Connection for Modern Wellness”
* Opening Prayer & Introduction
* Foundational Spiritual Principles
* Ancestral Understanding of Energetic Connection
* Structure & Philosophy of Total Human Potential & Wellness
Hi’ilani Shibata
A lifelong learner, Hiʻilani Shibata has spent the last 25 years in the field of education, both formal and informal. Born and raised in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, she moved to the island of Oʻahu to attend the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. While finishing her last year in college she was also teaching ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi at Kailua
Intermediate school part time and realized that formal education was not her calling. She then joined the education department of the Bishop Museum where she blossomed in informal education in which sharing the Hawaiian culture through the kūpuna was the mission and she was able to travel all over Hawaiʻi and the United States to share the aloha of our kanaka ʻoiwi.
Hiʻilani dedicated 12 years of her life as the Education Operations Manager at the Bishop Museum and ended that chapter of her life to start a family. Today she still does contract work as a Hawaiian Culture trainer and consultant, she is a full time kumu at a Hawaiian focused charter school, Ka Waihona o ka Na’auao, and with her small ʻohana, mālama ʻāina in multiple spaces on O’ahu. She is the co-founder of Ka Mahina Project where people connect with the Hawaiian Lunar phases and the mahina to find and maintain health spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
Topics
- * Aloha – the foundation of Hawaiian Culture and its relation to the world.
* Mālama ʻĀina – to care for the land in which cares for our selves. Our relationship with our natural environment is integral to the health and vitality of ourselves.
* Mahina – the moon, itʻs 30 identified Hawaiian lunar phases, itʻs relationship to our overall health as it guides our actions and emotions through the influence of the moon on fluids on the earth.
*ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi – Hawaiian Language, introduction, pronunciation, and specific words and phrases, their meaning and metaphoric emphasis.
* ʻĀina Mōmona – the abundant land, the understanding of abundance and wealth through the connection to our natural world.
* Hawaiian Healing practices – The various specialities of our Hawaiian people – lomilomi (massage), lāʻau lapaʻau (plant medicines), Hoʻoponopono ( family conflict resolution process).
* Waiwai – definition of wealth from a Hawaiian perspective focuses on the health of the land and ocean first then how we as stewards cultivate and interact with our natural environment.
* Pīkai & Kapukai – traditional practices of cleansing physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Francis Vigil
Mr. Francis Vigil is from the Pueblo of Zia in New Mexico. He is also Pueblo of Jemez and Jicarilla Apache, which are all Native American tribes in New Mexico. Currently, Mr. Vigil serves as the Tribal Education Specialist for the National Indian Education Association. Mr. Vigil’s areas of concentration are in Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Education, Community-based Education, and Indigenous Methods, Methodology, and Pedagogy. He utilizes those areas to intersect with his social justice work, which includes diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Previously, Mr. Vigil served as the Educational Specialist for Culture, History, and Language for the Bureau of Indian Education under the U.S. Department of Interior. In addition, Mr. Vigil has served as a high school science teacher and as an educational administrator at the school, school district, state, and federal levels. In addition to serving on the Parents as Teachers Board of Directors, Mr. Vigil also serves as a Commissioner for the State of New Mexico’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission, and he currently serves on Google’s Equity Board. He recently served as the President of the New Mexico Tribal Language Consortium. Mr. Vigil continues to provide educational consultation services to various educational entities at the local, state, and national levels. Most importantly, he is honored to continue to serve and work with numerous tribes and tribal communities across the United States.
Mr. Vigil holds a B.S. in Microbiology from New Mexico State University, a M.A. in Secondary Education from University of New Mexico, and is continuing his work on a PhD in Social Justice with a focus on educator identity and social emotional learning in Native American education systems.
Mr. Vigil is a husband, and he is a proud “girl dad’ to four beautiful daughters, Aliyah, Maya, Bria, and Soniya. He is also a grandpa to three awesome grandchildren, Layla, Logan, and Evelyn.
Session:
Title: Intentional Conversations as Intentional Practice
Consider this scenario: You are being introduced to a group of new people. You are asked to introduce yourself. Take a second and ask yourself, “what would I say?” Many times, we default to a canned response, and we provide our name, title, degree, and maybe pronouns. This is all pertinent information, and it is a peek into our lives.
In our fast-paced world, we don’t make time, or take time, to provide the opportunity for people to take a deeper dive to open doors for people to share “who they are”. In this day and age where professional entities are engaging in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, we don’t intentionally open the door for that to happen.
In this session, we will explore the simple act of “opening the door” for intentional conversation to occur. Through intentional conversations, we move beyond “institutionalized introductory statements, and we begin intentional conversations that build relationships and understandings of others, their experiences, their stories, and their understandings.
Nino Reyes
Nino Reyes is a member of the Northern Ute and Laguna Pueblo Indian Nations. He was born the youngest of 11 children, among the Ute People in North Eastern Utah near Ft. Duchesne, Utah where he had spent the majority of his adolescent life. Nino is also a cultural presenter, educating and entertaining audiences of all ages. He has overcome his battle of alcohol and drug use and been on his road of sobriety since 1985 and has taught Native Culture and Philosophies with seminars on cultural aspects of living, substance abuse/prevention, musical healing. He has used his cultural background as a foundation for his teaching of indigenous craft, dance, stories, and music conducting workshops in the areas of flute playing, and influencing people of both indigenous and non-indigenous cultures.
Topics/Sessions:
- * Learning to play the native flute
* Storytelling workshop with flute performance
Additional Support/Our Work:
(Price varies depending on the number of events designed throughout the month)
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– Develop theme
– Consulting work
– Design Communication deliverables (Invite, Backdrop)
– Script Copyright (This includes the events script)
We always want to include the option for us to support you in producing the entire experience, from helping you come up with the theme name, the intention of the month, and all of the design and logistics deliverables. With us, you’ll enjoy every minute of celebrating your heritage!
If you are ready to start, email us to contact@notainclusion.com or visit notainclusion.com