Celebrating Native American Heritage Month across campus

November is Native American Heritage Month and to honor and celebrate this designation, several expert speakers will come to campus to highlight a wide range of topics. Some topics include indigenous laws weaving into today’s land stewardship and unraveling the history of seeds within Native communities. Additionally, a film screening of “Warrior Women” and a reading from the author of “Seed Keeper” will further conversations by sharing more prominent stories.

Admission to all events is free and open to the public. Locations for events are varied, with some virtual opportunities, too. To reserve your seat or learn more, visit each event’s calendar.

Events include: 

Native American Cultural Knowledge Course — virtual/anytime: Immerse yourself in a voluntary, self-paced course designed by Native Americans focused on Native life, history and culture to celebrate this month. The microcourse is open to anyone in the OU community with Espace access, including staff, faculty and students.

Native Seed Stories in Michigan Panel — Thursday, November 2: The Native American Advisory Committee at OU brings you an in-person and streamed discussion, “Native Seed Stories in Michigan: Food Sovereignty From the Ground Up” from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This discussion panel, moderated by Megan Peiser (Choctaw) and Andrea Knutson, features Detroit area food-sovereignty activists and seed keepers. Panelists will share a story of their relationship with a seed-relative that has touched or changed their life, and discuss together the impact of seeds on storytelling, identity, Native futures and more.

Earth Based Reconciliation — Tuesday, November 14: Drawing from her research, Professor Deborah McGregor (Anishinaabe, Whitefish River First Nation) will explore the role indigenous laws and knowledge play in today’s land stewardship from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. virtually. McGregor is faculty at York University Law School in Indigenous Environmental Justice. Drawing from her research, McGregor will explore the role indigenous laws and knowledge play in today’s land stewardship. 

40th Annual WGS Film Festival: “Warrior Women” — Wednesday, November 15: Oakland University's Women and Gender Studies program celebrates 40 years of featuring diverse voices through feature films. Join WGS in viewing “Warrior Women” this year at the Oakland Center in Gold Rooms B and C on November 15 at 4 pm. The film fest is free and open to the public. Light  refreshments will be served.

“Warrior Women” is the story of mothers and daughters fighting for Native rights in the American Indian Movement (AIM). In the 1970s, organizers of AIM fought for Native educational rights, and “Warrior Women” follows the story of Aim Leader Madonna Thunder Hawk, highlighting her activism and her influence in the next generations of activism. The film unveils not only a female perspective of history, but also examines the impact political struggles have on the children who bear witness.

Reading with Diane Wilson (Dakota), author of “The Seed Keeper” — Friday, November 17: “Seed Keeper” author Diane Wilson (Dakota) is sharing her story and inviting conversation with a reading from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Oakland Center’s Banquet Room B. “Seed Keeper” follows a captivating, multi-generational story, highlighting Wilson’s family’s struggle to preserve their way of life, and their sacrifices to protect what matters most.

NOTE: The Native American Advisory Committee (NAAC) thanks the Oakland University Credit Union for their inaugural corporate sponsorship of Native American Heritage Month. Their generosity has helped make these events possible.