October 27th, 2015 Last Updated on: October 31st, 2016
November is Native American Heritage Month.
In honor of that, November 8-15 stand together as Native people across the world by wearing your moccasins.
Wear them all day – to work, school, and out for dinner!
And remember to take a photo of you and your friends, co-workers, and family with the Mocs On!
Use these hashtags:
- #RockURMocs
- #RYM2015
2015 is the 5th year of Rock Your Mocs which is a worldwide Native American & Indigenous Peoples movement held annually during November which is also National Native American Heritage Month in the U.S. A.. It’s easy to participate by wearing moccasins to school, to work or wherever your day takes you. Or if a person doesn’t own mocs, can’t wear mocs, or perhaps their Tribe didn’t wear mocs, they may wear a Turquoise Awareness Ribbon instead. Even easier, the event takes place where you are, where you’re going and where you live. Rock Your Mocs if a fun way to unify Native American, Aboriginal, First Nations, Alaskan Native, Indigenous Peoples globally through internet social media, participants post their photos for everyone to enjoy, sharing their stories and creating a giant “online photo album” by using hastags.
Around the world, people have taken the initiative to organize
– Moccasin making workshops
– Round dances
– Community “Fun” walk/run’s
– Group photos
– Native American and Indigenous cultural awareness events
– Connecting youth and elder events
– Museums have created moccasin or Rock Your Mocs exhibitions
RYM was founded by Jessica “Jaylyn” Atsye of Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico U.S.A. and she has partnered with Emergence Productions, a Native American owned Event Production Company, who together are working hard to expand this cultural empowerment initiative worldwide! Atsye hopes RYM Day “will continue to reach even further worldwide and inspire cultural pride for Native Americans wherever they may be, as well as anyone who would just like to participate in a fun way of celebrating Indigenous & Native American Peoples and U.S.A.‘s National Native American Heritage Month.”
Dates: During November 8th- 15th
Why a week?
The dates have increased to a week, only because this creates more opportunity days. We are trying to accommodate schools, people who work Monday – Friday, and for people organizing events. (November 15th, the original date, tends to fall on a weekend)
Do we have to wear our Mocs the whole week?
Nope, choose a day or days or the whole week if you like.
Is there a main day?
The original day will always be November 15th
Where is RYM?
Where ever you may be! Wherever your day take you!
Why: We, as Indigenous people, wear our moccasins, standing together worldwide, while recognizing our Tribal individuality. Honoring our ancestors & indigenous peoples worldwide and celebrate National Native American Heritage Month.
How to join in: Wear your moccasins or a Turquoise Awareness Ribbon or organize an event
Internet: Using Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram etc.) post your photos, group photos, stories on the Rock Your Mocs Facebook page
Use one or all the hashtags:
#RYM2015 #ROCKYOURMOCS #ROCKURMOCS
#NationalNativeAmericanHeritageDay #Moccasins #TurquoiseRibbon
Have fun and be creative!
TRY: A rap, a hand drum song, dance out on your rez, dance, sing, juggle in a creative or unique place.
Walk in your mocs in the city, ride a horse, family photo, sibling photo, pets who wear mocs, group photo. Video idea: tell the story behind you moccasin, did you make them, were they given to you?
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