October 27, 2010

 

Contacts:

Reno Charette, American Indian Outreach, 657-2144
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269

 

Movie, medicine wheel, dance instruction part of events

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — A series of presentations, a dance workshop and discussion of an ancient American Indian observatory will highlight events in November commemorating Native American Heritage Month at Montana State University Billings.

 

Sponsored by the Office of American Indian Outreach and the Diversity Center at MSU Billings, the events are designed to help raise awareness of the American Indians in the region, honor traditions that are important to the culture and open discussion on American Indian issues.

 

The events are:

  • Wednesday, Nov. 3, 3:30-5 p.m.: A presentation on New Mexico’s Sun Dagger, an ancient astronomical observatory in Chaco Canyon. The presentation will be made by Dr. Jeff Sanders, chair of the Department of Sociology, Political Science, Native American Studies and Environmental Studies. The event — which is free and open to the public — will be held in the Rimrock Café banquet rooms in the MSU Billings Student Union Building. (View/download poster.)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 10, 11:40 a.m.: Construction of medicine wheel to honor veterans. The event will be followed by a showing of the film “Mother Normandy,” a film about a French woman who cared for the graves of fallen American soldiers after D-Day. The medicine wheel will be constructed south of the Liberal Arts Building on the MSU Billings main campus and people are encouraged to place on a rock on the wheel to symbolize prayers and appreciation for service by veterans. (View/download poster.)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 10, 6:30-8 p.m.: American Indian dance demonstration and instruction by Della Big Hair. This event — also free and open to vendors — will be held at the Rimrock Café in the SUB. It is designed to provide some quick instruction on Native American dances and traditions for women and girls of all ages. (View/download poster.)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 17, 6:30-8 p.m.: A discussion on American Indian issues from a federal perspective by Del Laverdure, assistant secretary of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. Open to all faculty, staff, students and the public, the forum will be held in the SUB Lewis and Clark Room.  People are encouraged to attend to talk about various federal issues affecting tribes. (View/download poster.)

For more information on any of these events, contact Reno Charette, director of American Indian Outreach at MSU Billings, at 657-2144.