UNC Asheville Hosts Two-Part Program on American Indian Cultural
Heritage, Health Challenges;
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Navajo Nation Featured at November
20 Event
UNC Asheville will host a two-part program highlighting the cultural
heritage and health challenges of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
and the Navajo Nation from 2:30-8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, in
UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union. Events are free and open to
the public.
The cultural portion of the program kicks off with a performance by the
Cherokee Central High School Dancers and a presentation of traditional
Cherokee language from 2:30-4 p.m. in Highsmith University Union room
159. Seven young dancers and two singers will perform.
Two concurrent sessions on traditional American Indian handicrafts will
take place from 4:15-5:45 p.m. in Highsmith University Union rooms
221-224. Cherokee stonecarver and woodcarver Freeman Owle and Navajo
weaver Sarah Natani will demonstrate their work, share personal stories
and answer audience questions.
A
reception will follow from 6-6:30 p.m. in Highsmith University Union
room 159.
The health challenges portion of the program will feature a frank
discussion on how diabetes is affecting many American Indian
communities. Lisa Wheeler, director of the Cherokee Diabetes Program,
and Navajo elder Leo Natani, a prominent American Indian health
advocate, will speak from 6:30-8 p.m. in Highsmith University Union room
159. Their talk will conclude with a screening of a short documentary
about diabetes, which features Natani.
The event is sponsored by UNC Asheville’s Health and Wellness Promotions
Department, Pre-Health Professions Program, Hippocrates student
organization and the Office of Cultural and Special Events.
For more information, call Barry Fox, UNC Asheville Health and Wellness
Promotions lecturer, at 828/251-6118.
Media Contacts:
- Barry Fox, UNC
Asheville Health and Wellness Promotions lecturer, 828/251-6118
- Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director,
828/251-6526
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