Indigenous People's Day at Southwest

Monday, October 12 is designated as Indigenous Peoples Day in Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

At Southwest High School, Aaron Erdrich (Sissteon-Wahpeton Dakota and Turtle Mountain Ojibwe) will play the flute at the front entrance as students and teachers enter the building in the morning 7:25 - 8-05.  Please stop by to listen and enjoy the music.  

There will be a table set up with artifacts, books and information about this day and the people we honor.  Students will be at the table. 

Indigenous People's Day events include sunrise ceremony at Lake Calhoun (Bde Maka Ska)

by Joe Kimball | 10/09/15

While much of the country celebrates Columbus Day on Monday, many events will be held in the Twin Cities commemorating Indigenous People's Day.

The Minneapolis City Council renamed the holiday last year; St. Paul has it both ways: the city council voted to recognize Indigenous People's Day but also to continue recognizing Columbus Day as the state and federal holiday.

The two cities joined many others around the country, including Seattle and Portland, in making the change. The movement honors Native American culture; it is also a counter-celebration to Columbus Day and protest of the European conquest of North America (which had been "discovered" centuries earlier by native peoples).

A Facebook page lists many Twin Cities events on Monday, including a sunrise ceremony at Bde Maka Ska, also known as Lake Calhoun. It's at 7:15 a.m., at 3700 Thomas Av. S., Minneapolis.

Some other events:

·        Red Shawl Round Dance, 9 a.m., followed by brunch and panel discussion, American Indian Center, 1530 E. Franklin Av., Minneapolis

·        St. Paul Indigenous Peoples Day, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Crowne Plaza, 11 Kellogg Blvd. E., St. Paul

·        The Indigenous People’s Day Hip Hop Show, 5-8:30 p.m. Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Av., Minneapolis

Reprint from MINN POST

Thank you,

Bill Smith, Principal

Southwest High School