Native American Heritage Month events to be held at Northern Michigan University, Michigan Tech; rides to Marquette available

HOUGHTON -- November is Native American Heritage Month, and both Northern Michigan University and Michigan Tech University are hosting events. Michigan
Tech's Center for Diversity and Inclusion is offering transportation to Marquette for the NMU events. If you need a ride, please RSVP by Wednesday, Nov. 6 (see below).

Northern Michigan University’s Native American Students Association is hosting the 13th Annual First Nations Food Taster from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, at NMU’s D.J. Jacobetti Center. Rides to Marquette will be provided by Michigan Tech's Center for Diversity and Inclusion. If you would like a ride, RSVP to Karen Wade (kawade@mtu.edu) by Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Michigan Tech's Center for Diversity and Inclusion will host a film, presentation, and luncheon featuring April Lindala, Director of the Center for Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University. She will present "Tragic Hands Reaching for Tragic Foods: Positioning Native Women to Cook Fry-Bread and Forget" from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, in MUB Ballroom A1 on the Michigan Tech campus. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Karen Wade (kawade@mtu.edu) by Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Michigan Tech's American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) will host a film screening of The Canary Effect at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, in Fisher 135. This film is a 2006 documentary that tells the history of the indigenous people of North America and illuminates the devastating effect that U.S. policies have had on them. There will be free admission and concessions.

For more info about Native American Heritage Month events, visit http://diversitycenter.mtu.edu/NAHM.pdf.

AISES to host conference, powwow at Michigan Tech Apr. 13, 14

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech's chapter of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) will host the 2012 AISES Region V Conference, Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14.

Region V encompasses the states of Iowa, Illinois, Upper Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario.

The conference --"A Traditional Path Into The Future"-- is geared towards making native students aware of the benefits of pursuing education in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math), while maintaining their traditional values. It begins at 9 a.m., Friday, April 13, in the Memorial Union Ballroom.

Featured speakers and performers include Anton Trever, professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University; traditional speakers Bethany and Bob Moody; and Joseph FireCrow, winner of the 2010 Native American Music Award.

The conference concludes with a powwow from noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 14, in the SDC Wood Gym. The powwow will include a flute presentation at 1 p.m., hoop dance at 2 p.m., two-step contest at 3 p.m. and feast at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Spirit of Harvest Speakers' Forum, Powwow to be Oct. 21-22 at Michigan Tech

Lowery Begay performs a hoop dance with 15 hoops during the 2007 Spirit of the Harvest Speakers' Forum in the Rozsa Center. The Four Thunders Drum accompanies, at left. Begay, an inspirational speaker and renowned Navajo hoop dancer, returns to Michigan Tech this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22, for the Spirit of the Harvest Speakers' Forum and Powwow. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech's American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and the Native American Student Association will host two events this weekend. On Friday, Oct. 21, a Speakers' Forum will take place from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. in the Douglass Houghton Hall Ballroom on the Michigan Tech campus. The Spirit of the Harvest Powwow will follow on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Student Development Complex (SDC) MultiPurpose Room. Grand Entry starts at 1 p.m. and at 7 p.m.

All events are free and open to the public.

The Speakers' Forum on Friday will include an opening ceremony with a drum group, information about Michigan Tech, a tour of campus laboratories, and, at 1 p.m. in Douglass Houghton Hall, a presentation by Lowery Begay, motivational speaker and Navajo hoop dancer.

Special Presentations during the Powwow include the following:

Hoop Dance by Lowery Begay -- 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Honor Song for Army SPC Robert L. Voakes, Jr. -- 3 p.m.
Pink Shawl Presentation -- 4:30 p.m.
Feast for Dancers/Drummers 5:30 p.m.

The Powwow ends at 8 p.m.

Click here to learn more about Native American programs at Michigan Tech.

Click here to see more photos of Lowery Begay's 2007 performance at Michigan Tech.