Multicultural Center

National Hispanic Heritage Month occurs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history and culture of the United States. We host a variety of events throughout Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate our Hispanic American students, staff and community.

Thursday, Oct. 15 National Hispanic Heritage Month event: Museum of Latin American Art Virtual Tour

Flyer image description: Join the Multicultural Center to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month Museum of Latin American Art Virtual Tour. This FREE event will include an interactive guided tour of the Oaxacalifornia exhibit with a question and answer section at the end. Learn more at: molaa.org/oaxacalifornia. Thursday, Oct. 15, noon-1 p.m. RSVP by emailing mcambassadors@clackamas.edu. Limited spots available. For accommodations, contact the Disability Resource Center at 503-593-6357 or drc@clackamas.edu.

Each year on Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day is celebrated throughout the LGBTQIA+ community to promote a safe world for LGBTQIA+ individuals to live truthfully and openly. Here at CCC, we celebrate National Coming Out Day with our students and staff in the week leading up to Oct. 11 to help students navigate coming out to their family and friends, as well as provide a space to share coming out stories to help educate the Clackamas community.

If you are interested in coming out to your community, or you are an ally seeking to support an LGBTQIA+ individual in your life, here are some helpful resources:

• LGBTQ+ Coming Out Resources for Students of Color
• LGBTQ+ Coming Out Handbook
• More helpful coming out resources from the Human Rights Campaign

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated each year from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. At CCC, we celebrate this holiday by displaying an ofrenda (Spanish: “offering”) altar with traditional decorations, food, drinks and music. 

Native American Heritage Month occurs nationwide every November. We host a variety of events throughout the month of November to celebrate our Native American students and local tribal nations, including the Clackamas, Multnomah, Watlala, Tualatin, Kathlamet, Tumwater, Chinook, Kalapuya and Molalla peoples.

Each year during the week of the Thanksgiving holiday in November, we provide a traditional thanksgiving celebration to engage with our international students and learn about the history and traditions surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday. Traditional thanksgiving food is provided, and we also learn about celebrations that take place in other cultures around the world.

Save the date! Upcoming virtual event to celebrate Lunar New Year will be on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, from 7-8 p.m.

Lunar New Year is a festival typically celebrated in some Asian countries that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon of the lunar calendar. Since the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the dates of this holiday vary slightly each year, but it generally begins between January and February.

Black History Month is an annual celebration occurring every February in the United States. Black History Month is a time for celebration and recognition of the achievements and central role of Black folks in U.S. history. At CCC, we host events with our Black Student Union in February to celebrate the history, culture and successes of our Black students, staff and community.

Save the date! Virtual International Week will be from Feb. 15-18, 2021.

International Week at CCC occurs during winter term. This week-long event showcases cultures from a variety of countries around the world with guest speakers, food and music.

The Aztec Empire

Grupo Ritual Azteca Huitzilopochtli

Huitzilopochtli (pronounced wee-chee-zo-polsh-tlee), is a word from the Nahuatl language, which is the original dialect fo the Aztec people and is still spoken by many people in Mexico today. Grupo Ritual Azteca Huitzilopochtli strives to teach indigenous Aztec culture and traditions through dance, music and the arts. They relive the ancient practices of the indigenous people of Anahuac, and embrace both their indigenous and Christian ancestors in their traditions of music and dance.

The Aztec People

The Aztecs were a Mesmoamerican people of central Mexico in the 14th, 15th and 16th century. They were a civilization with a rich mythology and cultural heritage. Their capital was Tenochtitlan on the shore of Lake Texcoco - the site of modern-day Mexico City.

Aztec Traditions

In Aztec customs and religious beliefs, gods, nature and humans were interconnected. the Aztecs constructed several great religious buildings and showed a lot of skill in their architecture, intricate stonework and astronomy. Singing and dancing were also important features of Aztec religious customs and traditions.

Aztec Food

The most important staple of the Aztec diet was Maize (corn), a crop that was so important to Aztec society that it played a central part in their mythology.

Indonesia

264 million people

As of 2017, Indonesia's population was recorded at 264 million people. Making it the 4th most populus country in the world.

Jakarta, the country's capital and largest city has a population of over 10 million, and the official language of Indonesia is Bahasa Indonesian.

Indonesia is the largest island country in the world.

The country consist of more than 17,000 islands with the most populus being, Java (with more than half of the country's population living on the island). With an area of 1,904,569 square kilometres the country is slightly smaller than the size of Mexico or five times the size of Germany.

Over 580 languages and dialects are spoken throughout the country

With 86% of the population being Muslim, Indonesia is the world's largest Islamic country. (However, it is still a secular state/country).

Borobudur Template is the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world.

A ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist template in Magelang Regency, in central Java, Indonesia, is the world's largest Buddhist template. Consisting of nine stacked platforms, six squares and three circles, topped by a central dome.

Indonesian Performing Arts of Oregon (IPAO)

A cultural-based organization serving to promote Indonesian culture through music and dance. IPAO has also won several awards, such as the Best Parade in Beaverton International Celebration. They have performed in various cultural events such as the International Celebration (Beaverton, OR), Jade International Market (Portland, OR) and many more.

Italy

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis | "Life is Short"

The Rose is the National Flower of Italy

Italy is officially known as the Italian Republic

Italy is a country located in Europe, and is a member of the European Union.

• As of 2018, Italy has a population of 60.48 million.
• It is the third most populous country in the European Union.
• The Euro is the national currency of the Italian Republic.

Each color of the flag represents a different meaning

• Red represents charity.
• White represents faith.
• Green represents hope.

The Vatican is a city state that is located in Rome

• The Vatican City is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Although located in Rome, it is considered an independent sovereign state.
• The Vatican covers an area of 110 acres and has a population of 1,000 peple, making it the smallest country in the world.

The Colosseum

• The Colosseum is located in Rome and was built between the years 72 and 80 A.D.
• The Colosseum has more than 80 entrances and was able to hold more than 50,000 spectators.

Interesting Facts

• The University of Rome is one of the oldest universities in the world, and was founded in 1303 A.D. by the Catholic Church.
• Milan is the industrial center of Italy, and is considered the fashion capital of the world.

Oceania and The Pacific Islands

Oceania

Oceania is a geographic region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Spanning the eastern and western hemispheres, Oceania has a land area of 8,525,989 square kilometers and a population of 42 million.

Hawaii

Hawaii is the only island state in the United States of America.

• The word Hawaii comes from the Polynesian word Hawaiki", whic means "place of gods" or "the homelands".
• Hawaii was granted statehood in 1959 and is the 50th state of the United States of America.
• Hhawaii has a population of 1.4 million people and its capital of Honalulu is also the most populated city as well.
• the Hawaiian monk seal is the state animal of Hawaii and the Pineapple is the state fruit.

Australia

Australia is the smallest continent and is the sixth-largest country by total area.

• Australia has a total population of 26 million people, with its population being heavily urbanized on the eastern coast.
• Australia's capital is Canberra and it's largest city is Sydney.
• the Great Barrier Reef is the bigest coral reef in the world, and can be seen from space.
• It is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and covers over 900 islands.
• Australia's national animal is the kangaroo.

New Zealand

The population of New Zealand was estimated to be 4.5 million at the start of 2013.

• The official language of New Zealand is English and Maroi (a language that is spoken by the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand).
• Rugby is the most popular and most televised sport in New Zealand.
• The Capital city of New Zealand is Wellington while the largest city is Auckland.
• The Kiwi bird is the national animal of New Zealand.

The Countries and Cultures of the Islands of Polynesia

Polynesia is located in the Pacific Ocean, and covers the triangular region that includes Hawaii, New Zealand, and the Easter Islands in the east central pacific.

The Polynesian continent covers over 800,000 miles and have over 40 different languages spoken, the most prominent being Tahitan, Samoan, Tongan, Maori and Hawaiian.

Polynesia includes six independent countries New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Samoa. Polynesia also includes Hawaii and The Easter Islands that are part of other countries.

The Polynesian Islands have over a population of three million people spread across the islands and an overall population of six million people.

Most of the Polynesian Islands are volcanic, and were formed through eruptions. Some of the islands are no longer active, but some still are and have regular eruptions and lava flow.

Famous volcanoes include Kilauea, Mauna Loa and Manua Kea.

The Maori are an indeginous people form New Zealand. The name Maori translates to "normal" or "natural". The name was used to distinguish people from spirits and dieties.

The Maori people use a greeting known as "Hong". This greeting involves two people pressing their foreheads and noses briefly together, closing their eyes and breathing deeply. This greeting symbolizes sharing the "breath of life" where souls are meeting.

Leis are a series of objects strung along together to be worn. The most familiar leis being consisted of flowers.

A lei is created by somoene to give to another for an emotional reason. Often made as a sign of affection, traditionalists give a lei by bowing slightly and raising it above the heart, allowing the recipient to take it. The leis once given should be returned to the place where they were gathered, if not posible they should be restored to the earth by hanging in a tree, burying or burning.

Dance is an integral aspect of Polynesian culture and life

• Hula, a dance that originated from Hawaii is credited with preserving the culture of Hawaii Natives.
• Fire Knife Dance, is a raditional dance that was performed by warriors before battles. This dance involves the twirling of a knife, and originates from Samoa.

For more information, contact mcambassadors@clackamas.edu.

Save the date! Upcoming virtual event to celebrate Women’s History Month will be on Monday, March 8, 2021.

Women’s History Month is an annual celebration in March that highlights the contributions of women to society. We host events during the month of March on campus to celebrate the community of women that work and study at CCC.

Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month is celebrated nationally in the month of May. This month-long celebration highlights the rich history and culture of Asian, Desi, and Pacific Islander communities. At CCC, we host a variety of events throughout May with our APIDA student club that showcase APIDA cuisine, music and cultural traditions.

June is Pride Month across the globe, which is a celebration providing awareness, education and pride surrounding the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual community. Pride month traditionally includes parades, poetry readings, rainbow swag and educational panels featuring local members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Ramadan is a month-long holiday observed by Muslims worldwide. Since the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the dates of this holiday vary each year, but it generally falls during spring term. We provide education for our community about this important Muslim holiday, as well as offer a quiet room for prayer and reflection for our Muslim students and staff.