Minot State and Dakota College at Bottineau release Land Acknowledgement Statement
MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University and Dakota College at Bottineau have finalized a Land Acknowledgement Statement, recognizing the MSU and DCB campuses reside on lands of Indigenous Peoples.
The statement was developed by a committee comprised of Minot State and DCB faculty and staff, along with students at each institution, tribal elders, and regional stakeholders.
Minot State and Dakota College at Bottineau President Dr. Steven Shirley believes this is an important step to continue building authentic relationships with Indigenous People.
“We are proud of the deep and rich history our campuses have in serving all citizens of North Dakota. Native American students have long come to MSU and DCB to further their educational goals, and we have been proud to call them alumni of both institutions. Important programming and cultural activities have become significant aspects of campus life, such as MSU’s annual Spring Honor Dance and Powwow as well as our Community Garden based on Indigenous gardening traditions. This Land Acknowledgement Statement is yet another important step reinforcing our commitment and ensuring mutual understanding, collaboration, and partnerships with our Native American friends,” Shirley said.
While the statement recognizes the history of Native Peoples in northwest North Dakota, the spirit of the document emphasizes the continued presence of Native Americans at both institutions, the region, and across both the United States and Canada. This initiative continues to fulfill the mission of MSU’s Diversity Council as well as the Native American Cultural Center.
Annette Mennem, director of the Native American Cultural Center at Minot State and chair of the Land Acknowledgement Statement committee, believes the statement will be a living document, inclusive beyond the walls of each institution, and read at events and gatherings.
“Tribal nations are still here, thriving, contributing to society in so many ways, and graduating tribal members from campuses like ours,” said Mennem, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa/Ojibwe. “Our Native American student population is, and has been, an important part of the overall student body. This land acknowledgement represents them and the many generations of ancestors who broke the path for them to be here today.”
MSU’s Native American Cultural Center is one of the ways the University has worked to coordinate and correspond with area tribal councils, offices, and colleges to support MSU students. Mennem and the Center have worked to create campus and community events to promote public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of Native American people and their culture.
Along with the Native American Cultural Center, MSU features a Native American studies curriculum including a minor and a concentration. Minot State has an active Native American Cultural Awareness Club and features an annual Spring Honor Dance and Powwow — set to host its 32nd year in 2022 — and is home to an extensive collection of important cultural creations of the Indigenous People of the Upper Great Plains at the Northwest Arts Center.
Along with Mennem, the Land Acknowledgement Statement Committee included:
Faculty and Staff
- Joseph Jastrzembski, professor of history and Native American studies coordinator, Minot State
- Kathryn Hintz, professor, teacher advisement/field placement, Minot State
- Kayla O’Toole, director of distance education, Dakota College at Bottineau
Cultural Experts
- Dan Henry, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa member
- Evelyn Klimpel, Three Affiliated-Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation member
- Alisha Deegan, Knife River Indian Village superintendent
- Erik Holland, curator of education, State Historical Society of North Dakota
Land Acknowledgement Statement
Minot State University gratefully acknowledges the Native Peoples on whose ancestral lands we sit. We praise the Anishinaabe and Assiniboine Peoples, as well as the other sovereign nations of the northern plains whose lands encompass North Dakota today: the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, the Spirit Lake Nation, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate.
Minot State University is proud that Native men and women have chosen to attend our University and enrich it with their knowledge and achievements.
In the spirit of collaboration, we reach out to our University and regional community with programs and activities that demonstrate our commitment to the First Peoples of the northern plains.
First Nations of the State of North Dakota
- The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation
- The Spirit Lake Nation
- The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
- The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
- The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Nation
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
| Published: 03/31/22 |
