Indianz.Com > News > MSU News: Event celebrates Native American Heritage Month
MSU Round Dance
Students, faculty, and community members gather for a round dance during a celebration of Indigenous People’s Day, Monday, October 8, 2018, on the Montana State University campus mall in Bozeman, Montana, after an announcement of the building of the Native American Hall with the help of a $12 million pledge from the Kendeda Fund combined with contributions from donors.
MSU Photo by Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez
Montana State to kick off Native American Heritage Month with Indigenous storytelling and horse-painting event
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
MSU News Service
montana.edu/news

BOZEMAN — To mark the start of Native American Heritage Month, Montana State University will host an Indigenous storytelling event focused on the role horse painting has historically played for Native American tribes.

The event is free and open to the public and will take place on the Malone Centennial Mall between Montana Hall, Wilson Hall and Hamilton Hall at noon on Wednesday, November 1. Hot beverages will be provided.

MSU Native American Heritage Month
Horse Culture, Traditional Story Telling with Painting and Parade: November 1, 2023. Image: American Indian Council of MSU

The event will include demonstrations and a parade of painted horses dressed in traditional regalia. Members of the Apsáalooke (Crow), Pikuni (Blackfeet) and Aaniih (Gros Ventre) tribes will give a presentation on the centuries-old practice of painting horses to communicate, pray and symbolize success in battle. Attendees are welcome to walk in the parade down Malone Centennial Mall.

“This celebration was inspired by student leaders from the American Indian Council, MSU Collegiate 4-H and Collegiate FFA,” said Nick Ross-Dick, program manager for MSU’s American Indian and Alaska Native Student Success Services.

“In celebrating Native American Heritage Month along with Celebrate Agriculture week by showcasing this aspect of tribal cultures and the prominence and significance of our horse relatives, we hope to inspire student leaders and the MSU community at large to continue to honor the many ways Indigenous and agriculture communities can collaborate,” said Ross-Dick.

Sponsors include MSU’s Department of Native American Studies and College of Agriculture. More information can be found at montana.edu/aic.

MSU’s annual Celebrate Agriculture Weekend will take place November 3-4. A full agenda for the event can be found at ag.montana.edu/celebrateag.

MSU News Service shares stories about Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, and the accomplishments of its students, faculty, alumni and staff. Follow on Facebook and Twitter.
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