Native American Heritage Month Reflection
As we honor November’s designation as Native American Heritage Month, Curtis Townsend, MHA, RN, CEN, director of Critical Care Services at HMCL, shares his insights on the month.
“I am of Creek Indian descent. The Creeks were a number of tribes that were native to Georgia and parts of Alabama. We called ourselves Muskogee or Okmulgee, but the U.S. government called all the tribes living along creeks in the area simply “Creeks.” We were relocated by the government to Oklahoma and our capital is Muskogee, OK.
“Recognizing Native American Heritage Month helps us all understand the peoples that lived here and appreciate a culture that is slowly dying as our elders pass on. Our language, Muskcogee, is the only language my grandmother, Mimi, spoke until she was 13 when the U.S. government forced her to speak English on the reservation where she grew up. She was a proud Creek and shared her stories and culture with us.
“We attended pow wows and stomp dances where we ate fry bread and told stories. Pow wows like the Green Corn and Muskogee Stomp dances were opportunities for us to learn more about our Creek heritage and share our culture with other tribes and peoples.
“I attended pow wows from other tribes as well, including Sundance (the Lakota Sioux), also known as the Ghost Dance, in South Dakota with my father and grandmother, as well as pow wows with our Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee and Seminole friends. My grandmother was honored often by other tribes as an elder and was invited to travel annually for several years to Nice, France to share her stories and our Muskogee culture.”
Traders Village Hosts Pow Wow
Several hundred Native Americans representing dozens of tribes across the U.S. will be on hand for the 32nd Annual Texas Championship Pow Wow November 12-13 at Traders Village-Houston. The celebration of culture, heritage, food and arts and crafts features dancers in full regalia demonstrating amazing precision and showmanship competing for prizes and awards in 18 dance categories. Admission is free.
Women in Academic Medicine & Surgery Discussion
Join the Houston Methodist Women’s Empowerment Alliance (WEA) employee resource group (ERG) for the virtual Women in Academic Medicine and Surgery panel discussion on Wednesday, November 16 from noon to 1 p.m. Presented by Houston Methodist physicians Drs. Lara Colton, Ashley Drews and Karen Woods, the discussion provides an opportunity to learn from these influential physician leaders who will each share their personal experiences and discuss the journey and challenges that led to her current role. Click here to register.
”Let’s Talk” Examines DEI Issues
The Office of DEI is facilitating roundtable discussions on anti-racism and anti-bias in its “Let’s Talk” series. The sessions will be open to all Houston Methodist employees and leaders and were developed from feedback the Office of DEI received in focus groups held with staff systemwide this year. The 60-minute sessions give participants the opportunity to share personal experiences and learn from colleagues in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Look for future emails confirming the date, time and location of the sessions on your campus. For information, contact Theofficeofdei@houstonmethodist.org.
Celebrating Veterans Day
The Veterans Alliance ERG and the Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM) present a Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, November 11 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Walter Tower’s Bush Atrium. Participate in-person or virtually in the ceremony that honors our Houston Methodist employees and all who have served in the Armed Forces. For more information, contact Veteransalliance@houstonmethodist.org.
ERG Symposium Video Available
Click here to view a video from the first annual ERG Symposium, held on October 7. The event featured booths with information on the eight Houston Methodist ERGs, remarks by Houston Methodist President and CEO Dr. Marc Boom and guest speakers.
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