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Roots of Resilience: Native American History and Culture

Native American Heritage Month (November) is a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples across the United States. At the UCC Library, we honor this month by highlighting Native voices that share stories of identity, resilience, and connection to the land.

Featured Titles:
 

Explore fiction, poetry, and nonfiction by Indigenous authors. Our physical collection feature inspiring works such as:

• ‪Native American ethnobotany by Daniel E. Moerman

• ‪You don't have to say you love me : a memoir By Sherman Alexie

• ‪The only good Indians : a novel by Stephen Graham Jones

Explore eBooks and our databases to learn Indigenous history, literature and activism:

Diversity Studies (Gale OneFile):  

• Seven Myths of Native American History

• The People Have Never Stopped Dancing: Native American Modern Dance Histories

Some eBooks include:‪

•  American Indian Sovereignty: The Struggle for Religious, Cultural and Tribal Independence‬‎ by Mark Hazlett II, 

• ‪Assembled for Use : Indigenous Compilation and the Archives of Early Native American Literatures‬‎ by Kelley Wisecup.

Jstor:

•  Native American Traditional and Alternative Medicine by Susan L. Johnston, 

• Song and Dance: Native American Religions and American History by Lawrence E. Sullivan.

Watch and Learn on Films On Demand:

• Native America (Season 2): Before meeting the Old World, the New World thrived with its own richness now, expeditions and recreations reveal how their clash forever changed history.

• Famous Americans: Native Americans: This program explores the rise of early American civilizations, the impact of European arrival, and the enduring legacy and challenges of Native American cultures.

We invite the UCC community to discover, read, and reflect this month. By engaging with these stories, we honor the creativity, strength, and enduring contributions of Native communities, past, present, and future.

From Cover to Cultura

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) is a time to recognize the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities in the U.S. At the UCC Library, we are proud to support this celebration by offering resources that highlight the depth and diversity of Latinx voices.

Featured Titles:

Explore fiction, poetry, and memoirs by influential writers. Our physical and digital collections also feature scholarly and contemporary titles such as:

• The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros

•  One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel García Márquez

• Nuestra América 30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who Have Shaped the United States by Sabrina Vourvoulias

• ‪The Latino Student's Guide to STEM Careers‬‎ ‬‎By Laura I. Rendón and Vijay Kanagala

Watch and Learn on Kanopy

• Latino Americans: A landmark documentary series chronicling over 500 years of Latinx history in the U.S.

• Dolores: A compelling portrait of civil rights leader Dolores Huerta

Dig Deeper with Databases:

Leverage the library’s academic databases such as Gale Diversity Studies, and ERIC to explore Latinx history in Film, social movements, and key figures in depth. These platforms provide access to peer-reviewed articles, historical documents, and multimedia resources.

We also encourage participation in local events, exhibits, and programs that celebrate Latinx culture, through music, cuisine, art, and storytelling, to build greater understanding and connection beyond the classroom.

 Celebrate the Legacy of Colegio César Chávez 

As we honor Latin contributions to education and civil rights this August, the story of Colegio César Chávez stands out as a bold example of what student led, culturally grounded learning can achieve. Founded in 1973 in Mount Angel, Oregon, it was the first and only fully accredited, independent Chicano run college in the U.S. Rooted in the values of the Chicano Movement, the college prioritized bilingual education, community empowerment, and a model where students and faculty learned as equals. 

The college was named after César Chávez, the renowned labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) alongside Dolores Huerta. Born in 1927, Chávez dedicated his life to nonviolent activism, organizing farmworkers across the country to demand better wages, working conditions, and dignity. He believed deeply in education as a tool for liberation, making the naming of the college a fitting tribute to his vision of justice and collective empowerment.

One of its most innovative initiatives was the College Without Walls program, which allowed students to engage in self-directed, community-based learning outside the boundaries of a traditional campus. This approach affirmed that education could happen anywhere in neighborhoods, homes, workplaces, and grassroots organizations keeping students connected to their communities while pursuing academic and personal growth.

Though the college closed in 1983, its impact lives on in today’s movements for equity in education.

Now, that legacy is being celebrated through the exhibit Colegio César Chávez: The Legacy Lives On / El legado sigue vivo, on view at the Umpqua Community College Library through the end of August. More than just a history lesson, the exhibit is an invitation to imagine education rooted in culture, community, and self-determination, a vision as urgent today as it was in 1973. You can request to view items from the College grounds, and pictures that have been digitized here.

eBooks – Our collection includes a wide range of titles about César Chávez and his life including several insightful eBooks such as: César Chávez: Friend to Farm Workers, a children's book by Jeri Cipriano. This resource is a great way to teach children about César Chávez and his contributions.  The Political Spirituality of César Chávez: Crossing Religious Borders, by Luis D. Leon examines how Chávez drew from Catholicism, indigenous beliefs, and other spiritual traditions. The book reveals how this blend of faith shaped his approach to activism and social justice. The Words of César Chávez edited by Richard J. Jensen and John C. Hammerback, presents a collection of Chávez’s major speeches and writings, revealing the rhetorical power and strategies of a master communicator while offering valuable insight into the history of the farm workers' movement he led from the early 1960s until his death in 1993. To Serve the People : My Life Organizing with César Chávez and the Poor, By Leroy Chatfield with Jorge Mariscal, is a book about Leroy Chatfield and his experiences in activism and working with César Chávez. From the Jaws of Victory : The Triumph and Tragedy of César Chávez and the Farm Worker Movement by Matt Garcia is a comprehensive account of the rise and fall of the United Farm Workers, revealing how the union's groundbreaking grape boycott propelled its success while internal conflicts and César Chávez’s leadership challenges contributed to its decline.

At the UCC Library, we’re proud to support educational journeys that center equity, heritage, and history. As we honor the legacy of César Chávez and the groundbreaking work of Colegio César Chávez.

Let’s continue learning from the past and shaping a future where every student has the power to thrive. Stop on in and see the exhibit.

Celebrate Disability Pride Month & Helen Keller’s Legacy

Explore These Resources:

• The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
• The Complete Guide to Creating a Special Needs Life Plan: A Comprehensive Approach Integrating Life , Resource, Financial and Legal Planning To Ensure A Brighter Future For a Person With A Disability by Hal Wright

Explore African American History and Culture

Umpqua Community College and the Sue Shaffer Learning Commons and Library are closed on June 19th.

 June 19th marks Juneteenth, a significant day in American history commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On this day in 1865, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom. Juneteenth is a time to honor the strength, resilience, and contributions of African Americans, while also acknowledging the ongoing work toward racial equity and justice. The library invites you to engage with a variety of resources that celebrate Black voices and deepen understanding of this powerful legacy.

Our digital and physical collections highlight the richness of Black history, art, and activism. From personal narratives and historical accounts to cultural studies and documentaries, we invite you to explore the journey of Black Americans. The UCC Library is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all individuals can learn and grow. Whether you're researching African American history or exploring social justice topics, we offer:

• Gale OneFile: U.S. History – Access scholarly resources on pivotal moments like the Civil War, behind the scenes of the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Civil Rights Movement. Don’t miss this article on the Juneteenth Monument.

• Kanopy – Stream powerful films that tell Black stories, such as this collection from the University of Southern California Cinematic Arts. There is also this series called Roots, which is about one family's journey through slavery and wants to preserve their legacy.

• Books and eBooks: Featuring fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from Black authors and thinkers, including works like The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson and the book The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander. Poetry includes The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes. 

• Films on Demand – Watch educational documentaries such as Slavery and the Making of America, which traces the history of slavery and its enduring impact.

• ERIC – Explore research on African American education, equity in schools, and inclusive curriculum development.

Understanding history is key to creating a more just future. The library supports this through tools that promote critical thinking and dialogue around systemic racism, cultural identity, and activism.

Pride Month – Honoring LGBTQIA+ History, Voices, and Futures

June is Pride Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the history, resilience, and ongoing contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community. Pride is not only a celebration of identity and love, but also a reminder of the continued fight for equality, inclusion, and visibility. The UCC Library invites you to explore a range of resources that support education, advocacy, and understanding.

Explore LGBTQIA+ History and Culture

Our digital and physical collections include books, eBooks, documentaries, and academic articles that cover LGBTQIA+ topics in history, literature, sociology, health, and education. Discover influential works by queer authors, explore landmark moments like the Stonewall Uprising, or learn about global LGBTQIA+ movements through:

• Gale OneFile: Diversity Studies: Access scholarly content focused on cultural and social issues, including gender identity and sexual orientation. Check out this article on Campus LGBTQ+ around the nation.

• Kanopy: Stream documentaries and feature films that highlight LGBTQIA+ stories, art, and activism. To Be Takei offers a heartfelt and humorous look at George Takei’s life, celebrating his journey as a trailblazing LGBTQ+ icon, actor, and activist.

Supportive Spaces for Learning and Dialogue

The UCC Library is committed to fostering a safe, welcoming space for all. Whether you’re researching LGBTQIA+ issues for academic purposes or exploring personal identity, we offer:

• Inclusive Book Displays: Featuring fiction and nonfiction celebrating queer voices. Such as All Boy's Aren't Blue a Memoir/Manifesto

• Private Study Areas: Respectful and quiet spaces for reflection, reading, or writing.

Educational Tools for Advocacy and Awareness

Education plays a powerful role in promoting equity. The library supports this with resources to deepen your understanding of gender, sexuality, intersectionality, and social justice, including:

• Films on Demand: View educational content created by and for LGBTQIA+ audiences, like Drawn This Way, about artists and cartoonists.

• ERIC: Access research on LGBTQIA+ representation in Choirs and other musical mediums.

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A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month—a time to honor and celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of AANHPI communities to the fabric of American life. From culinary delights to influential music and movies, such as Flower Drum Song, on Kanopy. AANHPI individuals have shaped our world in countless ways.

Did you know that instruments like the slide guitar and ukulele, rooted in Hawaiian culture, have influenced genres such as blues music? You can find videos on Or that AANHPI innovators contributed to the development of everyday technology like USBs and made vital advances in medicine, including the development of birth control for women?

You can also explore powerful personal stories like George Takei’s They Called Us Enemy, a graphic memoir that recounts his childhood experience in Japanese American internment camps during World War II.

Explore more about these incredible contributions through Gale OneFile: U.S. History and our library’s curated collection. Stop by to discover, learn, and celebrate!

About the Observance

Each year, on 24 March, the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims is observed.

The purpose of the Day is to:

• Honor the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice;
• Pay tribute to those who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all;
• Recognize, in particular, the important work and values of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, of El Salvador, who was assassinated on 24 March 1980, after denouncing violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable populations and defending the principles of protecting lives, promoting human dignity and opposition to all forms of violence.

For more on this topic from the United Nations, click here.

Want to dig even deeper? Explore articles related to human rights in our library databases. Not sure where to start? Try doing a topic search in our Discovery Service using the main search box on the library home page.

Women's Rights are Human Rights

Continue the celebration of amazing women and learn more about challenges faced, struggles won, and ceilings shattered in award-winning films available through Kanopy. 

March is Women's History Month!

National Women's History Month "is an American observance held during the month of March to recognize and celebrate women's contributions to culture, history, and society. It grew from International Women's Day , a global celebration of women's achievements celebrated each year on March 8, and the Women's History Week celebration, which was first held in Sonoma County, California, in 1978. In 1987, US Congress officially established the month of March as Women's National History Month (Harmon, 2025)". 

Learn more about Women's History Month by exploring the library databases on women such as Shirley Chisholm, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Marie Curie and so many more amazing women.

Watch Films with Kanopy

Check out some of the award-winning films available through Kanopy and learn more about amazing women throughout history.

Malcolm X: Murder In New York

On February 21st in 1965, human rights activist, Malcolm X was assassinated.

We use this day to honor his legacy and as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality.

Learn more about Malcolm X's work from documentaries such as Malcolm X: Murder In New York via one of our streaming media databases, Kanopy.

Fun fact: Kanopy is available to be streamed on all your digital devices, see this document for instructions and guidelines on how to do this. Don't forget to log in using your UCC ID# for access.