UM to Celebrate American Indian Heritage Sept. 18-22

     MISSOULA – The University of Montana plans a five-day celebration to recognize American Indian heritage, Monday through Friday, Sept. 18-22. All events are free and open to the public. Each day has a focused theme.

The 2017 schedule is:

Monday, Sept. 18. Theme: STEM

• 7:15 a.m.: Sunrise ceremony, Payne Family Native American Center fire pit.
• Noon-1 p.m.: STEM seminar presented by Associate Professor Aaron Thomas. The UM Chapter of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society will lead hands-on science activities following the seminar. PFNAC 201.
• 7 p.m.: City of Missoula Proclamation of American Indian Heritage Day by Mayor John Engen, City Council Chambers.

Tuesday, Sept. 19. Theme: Traditional Ecological Knowledge

• All day: Traditional regalia show, PFNAC Bonnie Heavy Runner Gathering Place.
• 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Tours of the PFNAC.
• Noon-1 p.m.: TEK talk hosted by Ruth Swaney, PFNAC 201.
• Afternoon: TEK tables, PFNAC garden.

Wednesday, Sept. 20. Theme: Social Justice, Rock Your Moccs and Wear Your Native Pride

• All day: Traditional regalia show, PFNAC Bonnie Heavy Runner Gathering Place.
• All day: Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women exhibit, PFNAC Bonnie Heavy Runner Gathering Place.
• 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Tours of the PFNAC.
• 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Soup Wednesday, co-sponsored by the Native American Law Student Association and the Alexander Blewett III School of Law, PFNAC.
• Noon: Traditional foods demonstration, PFNAC Bonnie Heavy Runner Gathering Place.
• 1-3 p.m.: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Traveling People’s Center, on the Oval in front of the PFNAC.
• 4:30-7 p.m. Film viewing and discussion of “Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock,” moderated by UM Professor George Price, PFNAC 105.

Thursday, Sept. 21. Theme: Art and Humanities

• All day: Traditional regalia show, PFNAC Bonnie Heavy Runner Gathering Place.
• All day: Native photographer display, PFNAC Bonnie Heavy Runner Gathering Place.
• 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Star Stories with Destini Vaile, PFNAC Planetarium.
• 6 p.m.: KyiYo community Bingo, PFNAC 103.
• 6-8 p.m.: Native American Hoop Dancer Terrance Littletent, Lowell Elementary School, 1200 Sherwood St. Hosted by Missoula County Public Schools’ Indian Education Department.
• 7 p.m.: Book reading and signing of “Invisible Reality: Storytellers, Storytakers and the Supernatural World of the Blackfeet,” by author and UM Associate Professor Rosalyn LaPier, Fact & Fiction, 220 N. Higgins Ave.

Friday, Sept. 22. Theme: Health and Wellness

• 8:30 a.m.: Tipi raising, the Oval outside the PFNAC.
• 9-11 a.m.: SciNation hands-on science learning exhibit, the Oval outside the PFNAC.
• 11:40 a.m.: Native American Studies Welcome by NAS Chair Ted Van Alst, PFNAC Bonnie Heavy Runner Gathering Place.
• Noon: Proclamation of American Indian Heritage Day by UM President Sheila Stearns, PFNAC Bonnie Heavy Runner Gathering Place.
• 12:15 p.m.: Traditional Native games, the Oval outside the PFNAC.

            For more information or to volunteer, contact Michelle Guzman, UM Native American studies adviser, at michelle.guzman@mso.umt.edu.