MSUM Celebrates American Indian Heritage Month
Minnesota State University Moorhead will celebrate American Indian Heritage Month through November with a variety of talks, music, demonstrations and crafts that are free and open to the public.
Tuesday, Nov. 3
An opening pipe ceremony takes place at noon on the mall in front of the library. Earl Hoagland, White Earth Nation Spiritual Advisor, will lead a traditional pipe ceremony to welcome in November American Indian Heritage Month on the MSUM campus.
Wednesday, Nov. 4
A talk on “First Nations Day: Indian Homelands, Tribal Citizenship and the U.S. Constitution,” takes place at 2 p.m. in the Comstock Memorial Union (CMU) room 205 and again at 6 p.m. in the Comstock Memorial Union room 216. American Indian education leader Phil Baird (Sicangu Lakota) will focus his multi-media presentation on the fundamental political cornerstones of Indian Country, clarifying why Indian Nations are gathering for an historic meeting with President Barack Obama on Thursday, Nov. 5 in Washington, D.C. His discussion will also touch on the origins of the UND Fighting Sioux debate as one of several key contemporary issues facing American Indians today.
Phil Baird is the vice president of Academic, Career & Technical Education at the United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) in Bismarck, N.D., serves as governor-appointed member of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, and is an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.
Thursday, Nov. 5
Join the American Indian Student Association (AISA) for a night of bingo, fun, and food at 7 p.m. in the CMU ballroom.
Tuesday, Nov. 10
Native craft demonstrations take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Comstock Memorial Union main lounge. Traditional and contemporary native artists will demonstrate various art and craft forms including black ash basketry, birch bark basketry, beadwork, and sweet grass basketry.
Wednesday, Nov. 11
Learn how to design and create a beaded item using the peyote stitch (also known as the gourd stitch), which is an off-loom beading technique. This class will be taught by Rhonda Shinnaberry at 1:30 p.m. in the CMU room 216. All materials will be provided; class is limited to 20 participants. Email Jody Steile to pre-register, steilejo@mnstate.edu, or call 218-477-4272.
Thursday, Nov. 12
Dr. Erik Gooding, MSUM professor of Anthropology and Earth Science, will deliver a lecture on “We Are All Related: Kinship and Social Organization in Native North America” at 9 a.m. in Science Lab 104.
Tuesday, Nov. 17
Naamijig (Ojibwe word meaning, “The ones who dance”) is a family of Native American powwow dancers from the White Earth Nation who make their own regalia and live a traditional, chemical-free life. Naamijig will exhibit different types of regalia and dance styles at 2 p.m. in the CMU ballroom.
Thursday, Nov. 19
Bryan Akipa, an award-winning traditional Native American flute player, will perform from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the CMU main lounge. He was recently awarded “Best Male Artist” by the Native American Music Awards for “Songs from the Black Hills.” Come and meditate to the penetrating and tranquil sounds of the traditional Native American flute. CDs will be available for purchase.
All events are free and open to the public, and refreshments are provided at most events.
American Indian Heritage Month is sponsored by MSUM American Indian Student Association (AISA), Cultural Diversity, American Indian Student Activities, White Earth Program, STOCAR, Student Diversity Committee, and Multicultural Affairs.
For more information or questions, contact Keith Clark, AISA President, clarkkei@mnstate.edu or Jody Steile, AISA Advisor, steilejo@mnstate.edu, 477-4272