Indigenous Peoples' Day Summit

This year for Indigenous Peoples' Day, the American Indian Success (AIS) program is excited to host a summit that will include celebration and learning.

Agenda:

The day will start out in T cafeteria.

• 9–9:15 a.m | Welcoming Ceremony | T Cafeteria
• featuring Red Tree Singers Drum Group
  ^ Join on Zoom
• 9:20–10:10 a.m. | Indigenous 101 | T Cafeteria
  Keynote Speaker Heather Keeler
  ^ Join on Zoom

10:15–11:10 a.m. | Breakout Sessions

• Powwows: Prayers in Motion | T.1400
  (Led by Heather Keeler)
  ^ Join on Zoom
• Care Takers in Higher Education | T.2901
  Strengthening families, strengthening futures. 
  (led by Natasha LaRose and Melissa Buffalo)
  ^ Join on Zoom
• Exploring Native American Representation | L.3100
   through Children’s Literature 
  (Led by Aubrey Hendrixson and Jenny Sippel)
  ^ Join on Zoom

11:15 a.m.–12:10 p.m. | Breakout Sessions

• Powwows: Prayers in Motion | T.1400
  (Led by Heather Keeler)
  ^ Join on Zoom
• Care Takers in Higher Education | T.2901
  Strengthening families, strengthening futures. 
  (led by Natasha LaRose and Melissa Buffalo)
  ^ Join on Zoom
• Exploring Native American Representation | L.3100
  through Children’s Literature (Led by Aubrey Hendrixson and Jenny Sippel)
  ^ Join on Zoom

12:10–1 p.m. | Lunch | T.1400

• Lunch with keynote speaker Heather Keeler will be provided for students.

Breakout Session 1:

Powwows: Prayers in Motion (Led by Heather Keeler)

The Jingle Dress dancers journey to Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Join Heather Keeler as she builds on her keynote speech and shares an inspiring story about Jingle Dress dancers, emphasizing their importance in celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Breakout Session 2: 

Care Takers in Higher Education: Strengthening families, strengthening futures. (led by Natasha LaRose and Melissa Buffalo)

Natasha and Melissa will share unique challenges and aspirations that American Indian families encounter regarding higher education. Drawing from personal experiences they will discuss the cultural, financial, and systemic barriers that can impact students' paths to college. 

They will also highlight the importance of community support, the role of cultural identity in educational choices, and the strategies parents employ to encourage and empower their children to pursue higher education.

Breakout Session 3:

Exploring Native American Representation through Children’s Literature (Led by Aubrey Hendrixson and Jenny Sippel)

In this collaborative and interactive session, Darlene St. Clair's (Iyekiyapiwin de miye ye, Multicultural Resource Center Director and Associate Professor at St. Cloud State University) curriculum* will be introduced, including the handout “Examining Materials About Indigenous Peoples” and the lesson “Examining Children’s Books.”  

Participants will utilize Darlene’s evaluation criteria to (re)examine Native American children’s literature to explore representation of Native American identity, culture, language, and history within the published literary realm. 

This exercise allows for a celebration of representation as well as identification of opportunities where this representation falls short of its great potential. Recently acquired library materials focused on Native Studies will be on display and some participants will walk away with a new children’s book in hand. (*shared with permission)

Breakout Session Speakers

• Heather Keeler
  Keynote Speaker, see BIO below.
• Natasha LaRose
  Natasha is the Major Gifts Officer for the American Indian College Fund. Natasha is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy’s Reservation and is also of Lakota and Dakota descent.
• Melissa Buffalo
  Melissa is the Chief Executive Officer for the American Indian Cancer Foundation. Ms. Buffalo is an enrolled member of the Meskwaki Nation in Iowa, and Dakota from the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Sioux Tribes.
• Jenny Sippel
  Jenny is a Librarian and faculty at Minneapolis College
• Aubrey Hendrixson
  Aubrey is the American Indian Success Program Coordinator at Minneapolis College

Heather Keeler Bio

Heather Keeler, an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe with lineage to Eastern Shoshone, has dedicated her life to advocating deeply and honestly for Indigenous communities. With 25 years of experience in healthcare and education, she has worked to reduce disparities and increase representation, specifically focusing on areas of healthcare, education, and community engagement. 

Elected to the House of Representatives in 2020, she is the first Indigenous Queer woman elected from Greater Minnesota. Heather remains committed to empowering Native students and building a strong future for them by launching Two Feathers Consulting with the purpose of educating and inspiring all to build trusting relationships with Tribal Communities and Indigenous people.