Montana State University celebrates Native American Heritage Day

A day to reflect, remember and respect. Montana State University celebrated American Indian Heritage Day on Friday, launching a two-day event featuring speakers, panelists, a movie and more.

On September 24, dozens of community members, students and children gathered in front of the American Indian Hall, waiting to begin “The Children’s Prayer Walk”. Montana State University’s American Indian Heritage Day focuses on the thousands of children who have died, and possibly left in unmarked graves, in residential schools and residential schools.

“It’s a space and a time where we can raise awareness. We hope that students and non-students, faculty members… this helps start this conversation and be together in this space, ”said Nicholas Ross-Dick.

Ross-Dick is the program leader for Native American and Alaska Native Students Success at MSU.

“The prayer walk is a celebration in honor of the thousands of young children who have been taken from their communities, families and homes,” continues Ross-Dick, “The heart of the walk is blessed and it is appropriate and there will be a minute of silence.

MSU has seen record enrollments, overall, but the number of American Indian students is at an all-time high of around 800. A monumental achievement, accompanying monumental events on campus.

A film about the return and recovery of the remains of North American residential schools, speakers on the mental and psychological, and panels to learn more about such a heavy subject.