This story will be updated throughout the month.

November is Native American Heritage Month, dedicated to honoring the cultures, traditions and histories of North American Indigenous peoples. During the month and beyond, MSU recognizes the sovereignty and governance of Michigan's tribes.

Michigan is home to more than 240,000 Indigenous peoples. The state’s recognized tribes are Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians, Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians and Swan Creek Black River Confederated Ojibwa Tribes of Michigan. The 12 federally recognized tribes are Bay Mills Indian Community, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, Hannahville Indian Community, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. 

During this month of recognition, numerous events are happening in and around East Lansing (Nkwejong). This article was originally posted by the American Indian and Indigenous Studies program on aiis.msu.edu.

All events are in Eastern Time.

Events

Tuesday - Wednesday, Nov. 1 - 2 

5 p.m. – Kiq’ijel Kaminaqiib’ (traditional Maya, Nahua and Purépecha Día de los Muertos) 

Located at the Kellow Center Patio, The Indigenous Latinx Student Organization (ILSO) is hosting a traditional Maya, Nahua amd Purépecha Día de los Muertos.

Saturday, Nov. 5

5 p.m. – Ghost Supper and Fall Feast

Indigenous Youth Empowerment Program, the North American Indigenous Student Organization and Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center are collaborating to host a feast for loved ones and ancestors in the spiritual world. The event will be held in the Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center (5153 Marsh Rd, Okemos) and people are encouraged to bring a feast bundle if possible. For more information visit the Facebook event page.

Tuesday, Nov. 8

6 p.m. ET (Zoom) – Representation Matters: Native American Health in Michigan

Lecture featuring Frank E. Animikwam, citizen of the Waganakising, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and family medical physician. Animikwam received his medical degree from the MSU College of Human Medicine and is a member of the Association of American Indian Physicians, the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Access the College of Human Medicine event recording on Vimeo.

Friday, Nov. 11

11 a.m. ET (Zoom) – Emily Sorroche, “Beyond Land Acknowledgements” Amplify STEM: Celebrating Native American/Indigenous Heritage Month 

Emily Sorroche is the associate director of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources' Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She will share how and why it is important to move beyond land acknowledgements in DEI efforts in a Zoom webinar. Register to learn more about the event at natsci.msu.edu.  

Friday, Nov. 11

3 p.m. ET (Zoom) – Nishant Upadhyay, “Colonial Relationalities and the Diasporic Hindu Right” Asian Pacific American Studies Fall Lecture

Nishant Upadhyay, an assistant professor at University of Colorado-Boulder, will address Indigenous issues in their Asian Pacific American Studies lecture in the International Center, Room 303. The event is co-sponsored by the American Indian and Indigenous Studies program, the Center for Gender in Global Context and the Asian Studies Center. Register for the webinar. For graduate students interested in a one-on-one meeting with Upadhyay, email Sitari Thobani at thobanis@msu.edu. 

Friday, Nov. 11 - March 15, 2023

Exhibition: Native Stars: Indigenous Quilts of Honor and Caring

Native Stars: Indigenous Quilts of Honor and Caring is now on view at the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The exhibition draws from 17 Indigenous quilts housed within the collection of the MSU Museum. Native Stars opened on November 11 and is on display through March 15, 2023. For information about the exhibit visit museum.msu.edu.

Monday, Nov. 14

6 p.m. – Auntie Chats

MSU's North American Indigenous Student Organization, or NAISO, is holding student-centered conversations with several MSU aunties, taking place in Shaw Hall, Room 5J (terrace level).

Thursday - Friday, Nov. 17 - 18

19th Annual Indigenous Law Conference

The MSU College of Law Indigenous Law and Policy Center and Tribal In-House Counsel Association are hosting the 19th Annual Indigenous Law Conference, featuring keynote speaker Peter Ortego, long-standing general counsel for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. For in-person or virtual attendance visit indigenouslawconference.com. 

Friday, Nov. 18

3 p.m. – Elise Paschen and Gordon Henry: Celebratory Reading and Conversation for Gordon Henry’s new book "Spirit Matters"

Author Gordon Henry will be reading from his latest book, "Spirit Matters," and will be joined in conversation with author Elise Paschen to discuss Indigenous and Native American (White Earth Anishinaabeg Nation; Osage Nation) poetics, language politics and navigating institutions as poets, scholars, editors and community workers. The event will take place in the Wells Hall Atrium, 2nd floor, B-Wing. 

Friday, Nov. 18

4 p.m. – Ribbon Workshop

Hosted by NASIO and led by Judy Robinson, attendees of this event will participate in a ribbon skirt, shirt and pants workshop in Shaw Hall, Room 5J (terrace level). Materials will be provided while supplies last. RSVP to the event by emailing gliniec6@msu.edu.

Sunday, Nov. 20

6 p.m. – Transgender Day of Remembrance

Indigenous speakers Jamie John (Odawa) and Petrona Xemi Tapepechul (Nahua), invited by NAISO and ILSO, are the co-hosts of The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center (GSCC) event. Located in Erickson Hall, Room 103, the event will remember and honor the transgender, nonbinary, and/or two-spirit people murdered over the past year.

Tuesday, Nov. 22

7 p.m. – Beading/Crafting Circle

At this event, participants are invited to bring their own beadwork and crafts to work on together as a community. Hosted by NAISO, the event will take place in Shaw Hall, Room 5J (terrace level). 

Wednesday, Nov. 30

5 p.m. – Beaded Moccasin Workshop

NASIO invites people to attend a separate-sole beaded moccasin workshop led by Michaela Allen, located in Shaw Hall, Room 5J (terrace level). Materials will be provided while supplies last. RSVP to gliniec6@msu.edu. 

Wednesday, Nov. 30

To support American Indian and Indigenous Studies programming at MSU and within the local community, visit givingto.msu.edu.