NDSU Celebrates Native American Heritage Month

The pipeline protest is being talked about all over the world.

But for many people in our own backyard it’s personal.

Students from the Circle of Nations School in Wahpeton join together to perform traditional drumming and dancing to kick off NDSU’s Native American Heritage Month.

“The goal is to strengthen and embrace personal identity and culture but to also reach out and explore,” said Jered Pigeon, Program Coordinator with NDSU Multicultural Programs.

And that means educating as many people as possible.

Right now, any discussion on Native American issues centers on the Dakota Access Pipeline and there’s no doubt it will be a hot topic throughout the month.

“What they are protesting about is very significant and I know a lot of people who are very concerned about it because…shoot, you have to look at the big picture,” said Earl Bullhead. “It doesn’t take very long to figure out what’s going on.”

Bullhead is originally from the Standing Rock Reservation.

He now serves as the Cultural Director at Circle of Nations Schools where he works directly with youth.

“In order to be a sovereign person you have to act sovereign and so we’re doing that,” he explained. “I do that and work with kids all the time. I teach things about that.”

He hopes people who are looking to understand will be there to ask questions.

“I teach the kids that all the time. It’s very important to understand that to us water is the giver of life,” he explained.

NDSU’s Native American planning committee organized the series of discussions.

It’s a way they could show support for unity.

“It’s trying to give back in a way that they see as meaningful,” Pigeon said.

For a full list of events you can click here.