CLOQUET, MN— On October 14, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC) hosted more than 350 students from area schools for an interactive day of learning for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The event aimed to provide information about local Indigenous people with content focused around the 7 Grandfather Teachings.

According to the Fond du Lac Ojibwe School, “Ojibwe oral tradition tells us that there were 7 Grandfathers who were given the responsibility by the Creator to watch over the Earth’s people”. The Seven Grandfathers gave the people seven gifts, which are Nibwaakaawin (Wisdom), Zaagi’diwin (Love), Minaadendamowen (Respect), Aakode’ewin (Bravery), Gwayakwaadiziwin (Honesty), Dbaadendiziwin (Humility), and Debwewin (Truth).

“We were happy to host the Indigenous Peoples’ Day event. These types of events are really what we’re about at FDLTCC; they are the fulfillment of our mission and broaden appreciation for the richness of our local communities,” shared Roxanne DeLille, FDLTCC Dean of Indigenous and Academic Affairs.

While rotating between 7 sessions, middle school and high school students from Esko, Barnum, Wrenshall, and Carlton had a chance to learn about baaga’adowewin (traditional stick lacrosse), food sovereignty, Indigenous wisdom from the land, and much more.

During the Debwewin (Truth) session, students had the chance to explore the Why Treaties Matter exhibit, which is currently on display in the Ruth A. Myers Library at FDLTCC. According to the exhibit’s Facebook page, the traveling exhibition “stimulates conversations as it explores the Native nations in Minnesota and their history of treaty making with the United States.” The exhibition will be on display at FDLTCC through October 21 and the community is encouraged and welcome to tour the exhibit while it is on display. To learn more about the Why Treaties Matter traveling exhibition, visit treatiesmatter.org. For information about touring the display at FDLTCC, contact Keith Cich, FDLTCC Librarian, at keith.cich*AT*fdltcc.edu.

“Listening to local students have real meaningful conversations about how our area was settled was so encouraging!” shared Lyz Jaakola, FDLTCC Faculty and Fond du Lac Tribal College board member, “It’s always a hope that we will see good things come from events like this, but we all got to experience it in real time.”

For more information on the Indigenous Peoples’ Day event at FDLTCC, please contact Taylor Warnes, FDLTCC’s Director of Marketing and Communication, at taylor.warnes*AT*fdltcc.edu.