Honoring Indigenous Peoples at GDS

October and November are months dedicated to honoring and celebrating Indigenous peoples, and this fall our community came together across divisions to learn from and with Native leaders. These experiences aimed to foster genuine understanding and respect for the living traditions that shape our shared humanity.

On Friday, October 24, our Lower School welcomed a Native dancer from Native Pride Productions to the Friday assembly for a dynamic performance that celebrated Native culture and traditions.

Then, on November 7, the DEI Office hosted special guests for the Middle and High School assemblies. At the Middle School, we were honored to welcome Naiche Tayac, Heir Apparent and 30th Hereditary Chief of the Piscataway Indian Nation, along with the Piscataway Indian Nation Singers and Dancers. At the High School, students heard from Naiche and Jennifer Dudley, the Piscataway Indian Nation’s Food Sovereignty Director.

Both assemblies began with a land acknowledgment presented by fifth graders, Josh and Bianca, drawing on their Impact Lab studies focused on local farms, agriculture, and food justice. GDS senior Madeleine Genia ’26 followed with a thoughtful presentation about her heritage and the challenges of food deserts and nutrition scarcity in Indigenous communities.

At the High School assembly, Jennifer Dudley expanded on this theme, offering an insightful discussion on food insecurity and the importance of knowing where our food comes from. She explored how reliance on processed foods in many Native communities connects to the lasting effects of colonization.

Together, these assemblies provided students with meaningful opportunities to learn from Indigenous voices, reflect on local histories, and consider how food, culture, and justice intersect in powerful ways.

Watch video of Indigenous Peoples' assemblies highlights »

Photo gallery of Lower School assembly »

Photo gallery of Middle and High School assemblies »