2016's RHOA Event Adds New Elements as it Gains Popularity
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DURANGO- This year, Fort Lewis College's Real History of the Americas event is Indigenous People's Day themed in honor of the new holiday that has replaced Columbus Day. In order to foster a more diverse group of participants, the event's committee has created a new component they are calling Allies for Change. Oh, and there may be some big names headlining the event.
A Breakdown of the Event
Real History of the Americas (RHOA) was created by FLC students in 2008 (you can read the mission statement here). It is run by a committee which is headed by three staff advisors and two student co-chairs.
A staff advisor and El Centro club coordinator, Shirena Long, explained that funding for the event is a collaborative effort of groups and organizations on campus. There is no presidential line item or club for RHOA. El Centro has a line item in their annual budget, which is usually only $500 to $1,000.
Groups that Contribute to RHOA:
Buffalo Council
Feminist Voice
Prism
Sociology Club
International Programs Club
Diversity Programming
Native American Center
Long said RHOA is not treated the same by the college as other events like Student Union Productions or Homecoming. She said the event is not even on the radar of most staff and faculty; however, she said that is changing.
“One of the things FLC suffers from is an observatory [perspective]. We observe diversity much more than we participate in it,” Long said.
Allies for Change
Ruthie Edd is one of the RHOA committee's co-chairs. She said, "Typically we have more people of color attending the event, but when professors encourage their students to come we get more diversity in the FLC demographic."
According to Edd, Allies for Change is an effort to engage students who are not already represented by the RHOA committee. “We are making active efforts for this year’s event because we don’t want to alienate anyone by emphasizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” she said.
RHOA has come under fire in previous years for discriminating against whites. Edd said, “Over the years we have noticed more people of color attending the event, but we want to embrace our white population on campus and in Durango.”
A Sneak Peak at 2016's Event
Both Long and Edd have made it clear that this year's event is still in its prelimary phase of planning and therefore everything is subject to change.
That being said, the headliners currently under consideration are political hip-hop agent Immortal Technique and emerging musical collective Nahko and Medicine for the People.
Past artists that have performed at RHOA include Adrian Molina, Hakim Bellamy, Quese IMC, Supaman, Sister Outsider Poetry, and most recently, Las Cafeteras.
For 2016, Long said the committee has contacted Colorado legislator Joe Salazar(D). Salazar is responsible for creating the bill that, if passed, will formally change Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day at a state level.
Additionally, Edd said that regional Native American tribal leaders have been contacted to attend the event. However, she said none have been asked to formally speak because their presence is, in itself, an indication of support.
Nahko and Medicine for the People- "Warrior People"
