Concordia College Celebrates American Indian Heritage Month

Schedule of events

Friday, Nov. 5 The public is invited to attend the annual "Indian Taco Day" and "Silent Auction" fund-raiser at the NDSU Alumni Center. Advance tickets for the meal will be available at the American Indian Programs Office, Room 220 Comstock Theater. The meal will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the conclusion of the "Silent Auction" at 1:30 p.m. A variety of items will be sold, including jewelry, wild rice, compact discs, dream catchers, birch bark baskets, and movies and documentaries on VHS format. Proceeds from the auction will go toward the Woodlands and High Plains Powwow, to be held at Concordia College in February 2005. For more information about this event, call the AIP Office at 299-4171.

Monday, Nov. 8 Bill Miller, American Indian singer/songwriter, will speak on native spirituality during chapel at 9:50 a.m. A Mohican Indian from northern Wisconsin, Bill Miller has long been one of the most admired figures in the Native American music arena and beyond. He will present a live concert at the Knutson Center Centrum from 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. As an award-winning recording artist, performer, songwriter, activist and painter, he blends the Native American and western folk/blues traditions into something wholly new.

Wednesday, Nov. 10 A series of presentations will take place in Frida Nilsen Lounge, Fjelstad Hall beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Audrey Thayer, coordinator with the Greater Minnesota Racial Justice Project in Bemidji, will speak at 10:30 a.m. The title of her presentation is "Racial Profiling of American Indians in Minnesota." Audrey is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe Indians. She has been a political, social justice, and environmental activist for over 30 years. She will give information and insights that will be of interest to students, faculty, staff, administrators, and the public.

Steven Abbott, Native American Coordinator in the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, University of Michigan, will speak at 11:50 a.m. The title of his presentation will be "Affirmative Action in Higher Education." Steven currently serves as the Coordinator of Native American Student Services in the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. His responsibilities include being an advisor to students and student organizations, advocating on behalf of the Native American community, programming, and community education on both Native American and general diversity issues. Drawing upon his work experience he will provide a balanced view of the University of Michigan's court case and also on diversity.

John McCarthy, Executive Director of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, will speak at 1:20 p.m. The title of his topic will be "Tribal Gaming in Minnesota". McCarthy has been involved with the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA) since its inception. In 1986, MIGA was officially organized. The association's first task was to assist tribal governments in negotiating compacts with the State of Minnesota. In 1988 MIGA, teamed in concert with tribal leadership, negotiated the first tribal/state compacts in the United States. McCarthy played a key role in coordinating this effort for successful negotiations, which opened the door for tribal gaming opportunities. McCarthy has over 30 years experience working with tribal governments. His insights, anecdotes, and ideas will be of interest to students, faculty and the public.

Clyde Estey, American Indian basket maker from Nay-tah-waush, Minnesota, will give a presentation at 2:40 p.m. The title of his talk will be "American Indian Basketry: Keeping Native Traditions Alive." A respected artist, Mr. Estey demonstrates how to make native baskets using a variety of natural materials, including red-willow and birch bark. By practicing his age-old craft, Mr. Estey remains one of the few contemporary American Indian artists who keep a Woodlands Indian tradition alive.

Thursday, Nov. 11 Anne Waters, American Indian philosopher, poet, and lawyer, will speak at 7:00 p.m. in the Knutson Center Centrum. The title of her presentation will be "Sustainability and Future Generations". Anne Waters, J.D., Ph.D., is of Seminole, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Jewish descent. She holds four graduate degrees, and is a philosopher, poet, and lawyer. She is the founder and past president of the American Indian Philosophy Association. Anne is currently a Research Associate at the State University of New York, Binghamton, and is also teaching at the University of New Mexico in Philosophy and American Indian Studies. This is event is sponsored by American Indian Programs, the CREDO program, Lilly Foundation and the Principia Program.

Friday, Nov. 12 Jon Eagle, American Indian social worker, will speak during Community Time at 9:20 a.m. in the Knutson Center Centrum. The title of his topic will be "Natives and the Dominant Society: A Struggle for Equality and Opportunity". Eagle serves as prevention coordinator for the Standing Rock Regional Prevention Services on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. A member of the Hunkpapa band of the Lakota Nation, Eagle has 14 years of experience working with children, families, and communities, and has dedicated his life to serving American Indian people. Eagle is a member of the National Advisory Committee for the Cultural Competence Initiative and the National Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health, National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health at the Georgetown University Child Development Center