Heritage Month Mailings

Honoring Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month

Dear Campus Community,

November 1st marks the beginning of Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month. As we welcome this important observance, Seattle University is proud to affirm and celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions that shape Native American and Alaska Native Heritage. This month provides an opportunity for focused attention on honoring the contributions, legacies, and resilience of the First Nations, Inuit, and Native American tribes who have inhabited and stewarded this land for thousands of years. Building on our recognition of Indigenous People’s Day last month, let us reflect on the profound influence of Indigenous communities on our nation and confront the ongoing systemic challenges they encounter. Let us also appreciate the vast knowledge and wisdom they hold which enriches our culture, deepens our understanding of the land, and inspires us to pursue justice and reconciliation. We encourage you to deepen your learning, growth, and support of the Indigenous community by exploring the happenings and resources of the Indigenous Peoples Institute, Center for Indian Law and Policy, and our various student-led organizations, including the SU Indigenous Student Association, SU First Nations, Hui O Nani Hawai’i Club, and Native American Law Students Association.

In line with our LIFT SU principles, and in support of our commitment to pursuing inclusive excellence, we recognize that fostering inclusion means amplifying voices from a variety of perspectives. We are especially honored to partner with a student leader this month to share reflections on what Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month means to her. We offer deep gratitude to Branndi Bowechop, ‘26, for sharing her story and perspective, and trust that you will receive her words with openness.

Branndi Bowechop
Psychology Major, class of 2026
Student Athlete - Track and Field
President of Indigenous Student Association
Peer Health Educator with Wellness and Health Promotion

Ɂux̌u·Ɂaƛa·ksa Ɂux̌u·s q̓aq̓a·pakx̌iya· (Hello everyone, My name is Branndi Bowechop)

To me this month is to represent our people, it is a reminder that we are still here. It is important that we acknowledge everything that our ancestors endured and overcame. Without them, we would not be here. As someone who has had the privilege to have grown up immersed in my culture, continuously taught our teachings and history, I have made it a goal of mine to be able to do my best to bring that here to campus. To make it feel more at home, to be able to create a community for us here on campus, to have people to connect with and support one another. I hope that our community on campus can become more educated on Native American culture and learn to put aside systemic stereotypes.

Resources and Renewal to Inclusion
To show support throughout Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month, we invite you to visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website to find inspiring Zoom backgrounds, and a range of other educational resources.

As we continue to reflect and honor Native American and Alaska Native Heritage throughout November and beyond, let us celebrate the significant and inspiring achievements, traditions, and wisdom of Indigenous peoples both in our nation and globally. We must also reaffirm our shared commitment to combating the persistent injustices faced by Native American and Alaska Native peoples and strive to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone.

Sincerely,

Eduardo M. Peñalver, President

Natasha Martin, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion

Honoring Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month

Dear Campus Community,

Yesterday, September 15th, marked the first day of Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, which runs through October 15th. This month offers a chance to honor and celebrate the innumerable contributions that Hispanic and Latin American individuals and communities have made to the history and culture of the United States. We recognize that the term “Hispanic and Latin American community” encompasses a vast range of individual and distinct peoples, groups, and cultures, and we extend our recognition and respect to each community for their unique stories.

The Hispanic and Latin American community’s contributions to the prosperity of our nation and society offer examples of excellence and perseverance. Therefore, especially during this time in our nation’s history, it is crucial that we seek deeper understanding as we acknowledge and lift up the contributions and the rich cultural heritage of this community. To our students, faculty, and staff who identify as part of the Hispanic and Latin American community – we see you, and we recognize and celebrate the richness you add to the Seattle University community.

In line with our LIFT SU principles, and in support of our commitment to pursuing inclusive excellence, we recognize that fostering inclusion means amplifying voices from a variety of perspectives. We have invited two of our colleagues to share their reflections on what Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month means to them. We offer deep gratitude to Rose Kaser, Assistant Director, Flex JD Program; and Sonia Barrios Tinoco, PhD., Associate Professor and Chair, Modern Languages and Cultures, for sharing their stories and perspectives, and trust that you will receive their words with openness.

Rose Kaser, MFA
Assistant Director, Flex JD Program, School of Law

What Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month Represents to Me

I am an immigrant who has spent the last 20 years in the United States. Growing up in Mexico, my experiences were not deﬁned by close-knit family gatherings or vibrant traditions, but by everyday moments that connected me to my heritage and the broader human experience.

For me, Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month is about recognizing and celebrating our shared experiences. It is a reminder that, at a fundamental level, we all seek connection, community, to feel seen and valued, and the opportunity to lead happy and fulﬁlling lives.

Being part of both Mexican and American cultures has been a unique and rewarding experience. This duality has given me the opportunity to see the world through multiple lenses and to appreciate the richness that comes from blending different ways of life. This month is a time to honor this unique perspective, celebrating not just my own heritage, but the interconnectedness of all the cultures that have inﬂuenced my journey.

More than just a celebration of traditions, Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month is a chance to embrace inclusivity and the value of learning from each other. Living between two cultures has taught me that each individual story adds to our personal and collective narrative, and it’s our universal human experience that unites us.

Reﬂecting on my journey as an immigrant, I have learned to embrace new ways of life while staying true to my roots. Navigating and appreciating two cultures has allowed me to craft my own story within both. To me, this month is a celebration of belonging—a powerful reminder that, no matter where we come from, our connections are stronger than our differences, and we all belong together.

Sonia Barrios Tinoco, PhD
Associate Professor and Chair, Modern Languages and Cultures

I am originally from Venezuela and, as I grew up, I do not recall having month-long celebrations like this one back home. My elders along with my teenage parents started to progressively migrate from Colombia to my country during the late sixties, in search of a society in which they could find job opportunities that would allow them to improve living conditions for their children and themselves. They had to make the grueling decision of leaving it all behind, and going to another land with nothing but uncertainties and hopes for a better future. Thanks to their actions, the values they instilled in me and their example, I had a beautiful upbringing in Venezuela. After receiving a scholarship from UC Berkeley, I graduated in 2009 from my doctoral program and realized that I had no country to go back to. Venezuela had fallen -and still is- under a dictatorial regime. I started to transit a painful path my family had walked before me. To make a living and have a good quality of life, I had to sadly look elsewhere, make my life elsewhere. I come from an immigrant family and became an immigrant myself. I profoundly thank this country for having adopted me and giving me freedom and so many invaluable opportunities. A country in which Hispanic Heritage month as well as many other celebrations are held every year to cherish the contributions and beauty of different cultures. Nevertheless, it is my firm belief that the more we respectfully and with curiosity approach each other to get to know one another, the more empathy there will be amongst us, and the desire to seek the wellbeing of all will be our common and highest goal. In that line of thought then, I would like to invite us all to go beyond the labels and come back to the most simple and basic, yet, perhaps, most difficult. I would like for us to see each other in the eyes and recognize the human being, the living being in front of us, so that we can all appreciate, and learn from each other every day.

Resources and Renewal to Inclusion
To show support throughout Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, we invite you to visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website to find inspiring Zoom backgrounds, and a range of other educational resources.

As we continue through Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, let us take this opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the many contributions and sacrifices made by this vibrant and diverse community. Let us also renew our dedication to combating racism, xenophobia, and violence directed at those of Hispanic and Latin American heritage, and strive to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone.

Sincerely,

Eduardo M. Peñalver, President

Natasha Martin, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion