Award-winning actor Adam Beach visits Toppenish

November is Native American Heritage Month. In central Washington, different events celebrate these communities.

On Friday, Nov. 22, Heritage University will host the award-winning actor Adam Beach in Toppenish His visit is closing out the university’s events recognizing the Native American communities’ contributions.

During the event, Beach will share his childhood experiences on the Dog Creek First Nation Reserve in Manitoba, Canada.

Beach is a member of the Saulteaux First Nation. He is known for his characters in movies like “Smoke Signals” and “Suicide Squad.” Beach was also featured on the TV series “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.”

Julia Polk is the director of Retention in Students Affairs at Heritage University.

“He came from a small reservation. He’s successful now, and you know, just trying to go back to those communities where he can continue to plant the seed for other young generations to want to believe in their dreams,” Polk said.

Beach will meet with Native students, faculty and staff before his public presentation.

Davidson Mance, media relations coordinator at Heritage University, said in addition to work as an actor, Beach is also an advocate for Indigenous people and a motivational speaker.

“He’s going to be doing a lot of talking about himself but sharing the possibilities. Hopefully, they [young people] can see possibilities for themselves as he saw possibilities for himself,” said Mance.

The event will be at the Smith Family Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22.