The Upper School’s INSPIRE club, led by Cam Gennardo ’26, Hayley Cohen ’27, Maia Haber ’26, and Evelyn Chow ’27, recently hosted an open discussion dedicated to Native American Heritage Month. Student leaders presented on the history of the observance, the diaspora it represents, and why it’s honored in November, acknowledging an alternative view of Thanksgiving that speaks to the violence against and displacement of Indigenous Peoples. The group also shared information and a video about a guerilla art project at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in which artists affiliated with the nonprofit media lab Amplifier used augmented reality to “remake” existing classic European works. On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Oct. 12, visitors to the Met could see (and hear) the show’s altered masterpieces using their smartphone or iPad. “The hope was to reclaim traditional American art through the Indigenous lens,” explained Hayley. Dr. Ari Easley-Houser, US History Teacher, then spoke about her own ancestry, which she learned (through oral tradition) includes Cherokee and Creek lineage, and how mixed identities such as hers can add levels of complexity to the conversation. “There’s a false idea of what a Native person looks like,” she remarked. Hayley noted that INSPIRE is looking forward to facilitating more opportunities like this that are “continuing to build a community centered on awareness, respect, and inspiration.”