PCC To Hold First Major National Day Of Mourning Observance

Pasadena City College will hold its largest-ever National Day of Mourning observance on Monday, Nov. 25, marking a significant step in recognizing Indigenous perspectives on Thanksgiving. The event, organized by Pasadena City College’s Indigenous People’s Advocacy Collective, will feature educational presentations, cultural elements, and trauma healing workshops focused on historical accuracy and acknowledging past trauma while promoting understanding.

“This is definitely a day of trauma and definitely a day of historical significance to native and indigenous folks,” said Jordyn Orozco, a professional expert in enrollment services at Pasadena City College and member of the collective. “While Thanksgiving is celebrated by some, that actual day of Thanksgiving the 28th, which is the National Day of Mourning, is a day of remembrance and a day of sort of a way to honor those that have passed and to acknowledge that history was rewritten to erase the trauma that this community has faced.”

The National Day of Mourning was established in 1970 by the United American Indians of New England after Wampanoag leader Wamsutta Frank James was prevented from delivering a speech about Native American injustices at a Thanksgiving celebration. The observance has since evolved to include both in-person and virtual components since the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching wider audiences while maintaining its mission of education and awareness.

The free event, scheduled from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., will include an opening blessing by a local tribal student, followed by a formal presentation on the historical significance of the National Day of Mourning. An interactive trauma healing workshop by “the Bratty Bruta” focusing on releasing stored trauma energy will also be featured.

Local tribes, including the Gabrielino Tongva and Gabrielino Shoshone, have contributed to the planning of the observance. While some prominent community leaders were unavailable due to prior commitments, local tribal members and students will participate. The collective organizing the event comprises 12 to 15 members, including students, staff, faculty, and community members.

“As far as this scope, at least in my knowledge, I’ve only been working here for about 12 years and I was a student before that. I haven’t really seen anything of this magnitude happen,” Orozco noted.

The observance is part of broader Native American Heritage Month activities at Pasadena City College, focusing on informing the campus about alternative perspectives on Thanksgiving while honoring indigenous experiences. Traditionally, the day includes speeches by Native American leaders, moments of silence, and protest marches in Plymouth, Mass.

“We need to remind ourselves to be mindful of other communities that have gone through genocide, that have gone through the erasure of culture, the erasure of them as a person and their identity, and that we need to honor that when we are, we think about things like this day and things like Columbus Day,” Orozco added.

The event is open to all community members with no registration required. The organizers plan to document the event and may share photos for public communication, with the unprecedented scale suggesting it could become an annual tradition at Pasadena City College. For more information, call (626) 585-7123 or visit here.