Culture month events begin today

La Casa, the IU Latino Cultural Center, will begin National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations today with a variety of local and campus events.\nIntroduced in 1974, NHHM lasts until Oct. 15. The unique month marks the time when many Latin American countries gained their independence from colonial rule.\nThe month celebrates Latin culture, heritage, achievements and the diversity among Latinos.\n"We've been one of the main sources in compiling the events," said Lillian Casillas, director of La Casa. "It's an opportunity for Latinos to come celebrate and learn about the Hispanic culture. We are a very diverse culture."\nThe celebration starts at 4 p.m. today with a reception at La Casa, located across from Dunn Meadow on Seventh Street.\n"Vive el Flammenco," sponsored by Mather's Museum of World Cultures and La Casa, will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at the museum. A lecture describing the origin of the Spanish dance Balla! Balla! will be given by IU-Southeast's Peter Galvin, followed by a performance of the dance. Spanish appetizers will be served.\n La Casa is trying to reflect the diversity among Latinos through the year's programs.\n"Lots of these programs reflect La Casa's mission to educate on the diversity of Latinos, while celebrating Latino scholarship and academic achievement," said Jessica Hernandez, programming director at La Casa. \nOn Sept. 27, Stanford Professor Roshni Rustomji-Kerns is coming to lecture on the "presence and influence of Asia within the narrative of Mexico. Co-sponsored by La Casa and the Asian Culture Center, Kerns will tell the story of an Indian woman captured by Portuguese pirates and taken to Mexico. The story demonstrates the great diversity among Hispanics.\n"Not every Latino is Mexican and Catholic," Hernandez said. "Latinos can be Puerto Rican and Protestant."\nOct. 8 is Indigenous People's Day. Daniel Soto from Amnesty International will be presenting new reports of Indigenous rights of Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador and other countries. All who are interested are invited to La Casa at 7 p.m.\nOther upcoming campus events include Mexico's Ballet Folklorico, a dance performance at 8 p.m. Oct. 11 in the IU Auditorium, and Dia de la Raza Celebration Oct. 12. \nLatinos Unidos of IU, Gamma Phi Omega and various other organizations are sponsoring various events locally to celebrate NHHM.