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San Jose State Postpones Native American Heritage Month Events, Citing Legal Compliance
San Jose State University has postponed at least three Native American Heritage Month events, including the annual 'Running in Prayer' walk, citing concerns over state and federal law. Students and tribal community members are pushing back, calling the decision arbitrary and disheartening amid a tense political climate.
San Jose State University has postponed at least three events planned for Native American Heritage Month, citing concerns about compliance with state and federal law and California State University policy. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from students and Native American community members who say the timing is wrong and the process lacks transparency.
The affected events include the annual Native American walk known as "Running in Prayer," an exhibit on the fifth floor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, and a related reception. The postponements come as people across the country observe Native American Heritage Month in November.
In a statement provided after declining an on-camera interview, the university said the proposed timing of the events did not allow enough time to ensure compliance with federal and state law and CSU policy. The statement added that the university is committed to honoring Tribal Nations, respecting their sovereignty and cultural protocols, and taking next steps thoughtfully once required consultation processes are completed.
The library's fifth floor houses a section dedicated to Native American history, a space students described as central to understanding the region's roots.
"They're the base of it, all here," said Nadia Ramirez, a senior. "They were the first people here. They're the originators of this land."
Student Lucas Ngai said the exhibit helps visitors understand the culture of the people who are here and of this land.
Kathy Chavez Napoli, a Spartan alum and member of the Mountain Maidu Tribe out of Susanville, also serves on a committee that oversees Native American collections and exhibits across California State University campuses. She said she was stunned by the decision and questioned which policies the university is trying to enforce.
"The first question I would have is show me the policies that you are trying to enforce so we as tribal members, so we can see them and let us interpret them," Chavez Napoli said.
She called for tribal members to be included in the decision-making process. "Invite us to sit at the table and talk," she said. "Don't make arbitrary decisions. That's what it feels like, an arbitrary decision."
Ramirez said the postponements are disheartening given the current political climate, in which many stories are being suppressed or silenced.
Despite the university's decision, the Native American student group on campus is still moving forward with its celebrations.