MSU celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day Oct. 14 and with activities throughout month

Wednesday, October 9, 2019  

Montana State University will commemorate Indigenous Peoples Day 2019 with a series of educational and cultural events throughout October. All events are free and open to the public.

A traditional round dance celebrating all indigenous peoples will be held at noon on Monday, October 14, on the Malone Centennial Mall, south of Montana Hall. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Ballroom A of the Strand Union Building. The Bobcat Singers will be the drum group for the round dance, which has become an annual event at MSU, according to organizers.

“The annual round dance has become a campus tradition that everyone seems to enjoy,” according to Matt Herman, professor in the Department of Native American Studies in the College of Letters and Science.

The round dance will be preceded by a walk held to recognize missing and murdered Native American women and girls in Montana, according to Bree Deputee, a member of the Northern Cheyenne and Crow tribes and president of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls student organization on campus. The group will meet at the site of the new American Indian Hall at 11:30 a.m. and will walk the perimeter of campus, ending the walk at the round dance.

At 6 p.m. on Monday, October 14, Bozeman Mayor Cyndy Andrus will open the Bozeman City Commission meeting with an honor song in recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day.

A free screening of the film “In the Spirit of Atatíc̓e: The true story of the National Bison Range” by local filmmaker Daniel Glick will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 14, in the Rialto Theater. The screening of the 30-minute documentary will be followed by a discussion and question and answer with representatives of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes about the connection between the Confederated Salish, Ql̓ispé and Kootenai peoples’ and the buffalo, as well as the tribes’ ongoing efforts to care for the buffalo amidst disruptions to their communities and cultures.

The film is produced by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Glick. Light refreshments will be served. Doors open at 7 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Greater Montana Foundation, MSU Indigenous Peoples’ Day, MSU’s Department of Native American Studies, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Montana Wilderness Association and The Wilderness Society.

Artist Ben Pease of the Northern Cheyenne and Crow tribes, a former MSU student, will speak at 6 p.m. Thursday, October 24, at the Museum of the Rockies about “Understanding the Intricacies of Identity and the Power of Imagery.”

Pease, 29, has already had his work recognized nationally for its culturally relevant style using historic photographic references while simultaneously touching on current events and issues, combining antique and contemporary items in collages. Pease’s work has been exhibited in shows across the globe.

An installation of his work is included among the works of other artists included in the Native American mural in MSU’s Strand Union Building. Refreshments will be served prior to Pease’s presentation sponsored by Bridgercare. Other sponsors include the Extreme History Project and the Museum of the Rockies.

For more information about MSU’s celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, contact Matt Herman, 406-994-3992, mherman@montana.edu.

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