Check out the schedule of events for Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is coming up on October 9th, and there will be two days of programming at Spurlock Museum, as well as some events at Native American House and Illinois Street Residence Hall.

Here are a few highlights:

Sunday, October 8th, 4 to 6 p.m., Spurlock Museum

Ken Burns’ American Buffalo: A Conversation about Indigenous Environmental History at UIUC
Moderator: Professor Emeritus Frederick E. Hoxie, Department of History
Panelists: Rosalyn LaPier (Blackfeet Tribe of Montana/Métis), Robert Morrissey, and Sam Froiland

A “screener” from PBS highlights the Ken Burns documentary, The American Buffalo. Following the screener, we will have a panel and Q and A with Professor Rosalyn LaPier, Professor Robert Morrissey, and Sam Froiland. A reception will follow.

Monday, October 9th

10:45 to 11:45 a.m., Spurlock Museum

Becoming an Indigenous-Promoting Institution: A Conversation with Native American House Ambassadors and Native Alumni 

Moderator: Dr. Danita Brown Young, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Panelists: David Eby (Choctaw), Yanaba Schroeder (Navajo), Cydnee Weber (Pamunkey/Cherokee), and Dr. Shannon Epplett (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians)

Indigenous-promoting institutions of higher education center sovereignty and self-determination to holistically strengthen Indigenous academic identity development. This approach, at best, transforms the ecology of campus environments for all students and, at worst, stops at land acknowledgments. In this session, the moderator engages the panelists on the challenges and possibilities of the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in supporting the higher education goals of Native students.

5:30 p.m.

Gather: A Documentary + Panel
ISR Room 50 A/B (Illinois Street Residence Halls)
1010 W. Illinois St., Urbana

Moderator: Dr. Shannon Epplett (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians)
Panelists: David Eby (Choctaw), Yanaba Schroeder (Navajo), and Cydnee Weber (Pamunkey/Cherokee)

“GATHER” is the story of the rebuilding of Native food systems. This feature film is an intimate portrait tracing the intentional destruction of Native American foodways, renaissance, and resilience—screening followed by a panel discussion.

FInd the full slate of programming at the Native American House website.