Winona State University will celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which takes place Monday, Oct. 14, with several events during the month of October.
The university, which resides on Dakota homelands, recognizes and celebrates the cultures and histories of the Indigenous nations of this region.
All events are free and open to the public.
Land, Plants, and Community | Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. at the Indigenous Learning Garden
Nicky Buck, a Bdewakantuwan Dakota, focuses her work on plant medicines, food sovereignty, and environmental protection. Buck’s talk will examine the relationship of plants and community and will highlight the importance of the Indigenous Learning Garden.
Dr. Mary Jo Klinker, professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Winona State, was awarded a Winona State Foundation grant to support this lecture and the work of the university-wide Indigenous Learning, Programming, and Relations Committee. This event is a collaboration with community partner Art of the Rural.
Oral History, Native Voices, and Decolonizing Museums | Oct. 10 at 3 p.m. in Krueger Library 107
Zoe Vandeberg, a WSU junior majoring in Sociology, will share her experience as a Minnesota Historical Society Native American Undergraduate Museum Fellow. Working as an oral history intern at the Minnesota Historical Society over the summer, she produced an oral history project with former Native American Artist in Residence Jessica Gokey to learn about her journey as a traditional Ojibwe floral beadwork artist.
Authors, Storytellers & Advocates | Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. in Kryzsko Ballroom
Twins Sarah Eagle Heart and Emma Eagle Heart-White are members of the Oglala Lakota Nation and grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, where they learned Native American storytelling traditions.
As authors of “Warrior-Princesses Strike Back: How Lakota Twins Fights Oppression and Heal Through Connectedness,” they share their powerful journey of growing up on the reservation and overcoming enormous odds. At this event, they will discuss their memoir, focusing on how Indigenous activist strategies can be a crucial roadmap for contemporary truth and healing. A book signing will take place after this event.
Traditional Lacrosse Workshop | Oct. 18 at 3 p.m. at Phelps Lawn
The Turtle Island Student Organization (TISO) will host a traditional lacrosse workshop. Participants will learn about the history, cultural significance, and techniques of lacrosse from an Indigenous perspective. This workshop aims to provide a deeper understanding of the sport’s roots in Indigenous communities.
For more information, contact Winona State Marketing and Communications at 507-457-5024.
