VIDEO: Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday

President Armacost talks with Keith Malaterre, Indigenous Student Center director, about events that will be open to all

In today’s bonus video, President Andy Armacost talks with Keith Malaterre, director of the Indigenous Student Center at UND. They start by discussing the campus events that are planned for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which is coming up on Monday, Oct. 9.

Among the events on the day are a rededication of the Soaring Eagle Garden on the UND campus at 10 a.m. The rededication will feature Bennett Brien, the North Dakota Native American artist who created the Soaring Eagle sculpture that is the garden’s centerpiece. Then at 1 p.m., in the Memorial Union Large Ballroom, Section D, UND will be hosting a keynote presentation by Jayme Davis, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Standing Rock Sioux tribes.

Davis will speak about the significance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and why it should be celebrated by all.

Armacost and Malaterre then move on to discuss other coming events, some of which will be held in connection with November’s status as Native American Month. Still to come in October, though, will be a screening of “Killers of the Flower Moon”; the new movie by Martin Scorsese centers on a series of Oklahoma murders in the Osage Nation during the 1920s, committed after oil was discovered on tribal land. More details on the screening will be announced.

As Malaterre says in the video, “Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a day to celebrate and acknowledge the many contributions of American Indian people to our country.” He urges people to, on Monday, “reflect on the day; acknowledge the land that you’re on; acknowledge the contributions of American Indians in today’s society; and just tell people about the day itself.”

Armacost joins Malaterre in recognizing the importance of the day, especially the principles of dignity, respect, gratitude and history that the celebration is built upon.