Indigenous People’s Day and Land Grant Institutions

Indigenous People’s Day, observed this year on Monday, October 14, is a day to recognize and honor the global contributions and legacy of Indigenous Peoples. According to the United Nations, there are an estimated 476 million Indigenous Peoples in the world. These communities represent thousands of cultures and languages across 90 countries, each retaining distinct characteristics from the dominant societies around them.

Throughout history, Indigenous Peoples’ livelihoods, cultural practices, and rights to their land have been violated through colonization and the destruction of natural resources. At the University of Minnesota, we have a unique place in this history as being a land-grant institution. Signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, the Morrill Act distributed public lands to establish colleges and universities. While the Morrill Act was integral in the founding of the University of Minnesota, the land used to establish the University, and the wealth generated by designated state trust lands, was taken from Indigenous Peoples.

Groups and organizations at the University are working to bring awareness to this history and contribute to restorative justice for indigenous communities by doing more than land acknowledgements. Examples of such efforts include the University of Minnesota’s Ojibwe and Dakota Language Programs, which support the preservation and revitalization of these Indigenous languages, the Native American Promise Tuition Program, the TRUTH Project, and the Circle of Indigenous Nations (COIN), which we featured in a previous News & Notes article.

An interview with Delaney Anderson of COIN

One of the great advantages of the DEI corner is the opportunity to showcase diverse UMN groups. The Circle of Indigenous Nations (COIN) is a student services and support office for American Indian/Native American, Alaska Native, and First Nation(s) students on the UMN Twin Cities campus. We had the opportunity to interview Delaney Anderson, American Indian Student Engagement Specialist with COIN, about the organization.

What should folks know about COIN?

COIN creates and maintains a welcoming on-campus space—with the best view might I add—where Native and global Indigenous students are able to build relations with each other through shared interests, cultural values/traditions, and historical experiences. As staff, we put a lot of care and effort into our work with students to make sure that they feel a sense of belonging on campus.

One of the shared values across Native cultures is community and the belief of looking out for the next seven generations in the way that previous generations have for us. This value is what drives my work—I’m a first-generation college student. When I was going through college, I had no idea what I was doing. I first found community in college through Native organizations on campus, and it was my community that helped me get through my undergraduate degree. Because I was fresh out of college when I found this job, I thought there was no better way to give back than to use my recent experience to help guide and hold space for Native students who might be navigating similar struggles as I did.

COIN helps University students with professional development, support, and advocacy during their academic careers. What kind of advocacy/support work is done most often?

We support students through academic, cultural, and social programs that help them connect to resources, navigate academia as a system, build skills they may need throughout their academic career, and feel a sense of belonging. The cultural programming is to help them continue to connect with their culture and learn more about their own identities as well as reach beyond their own cultural background to learn about the backgrounds of others. We also heavily emphasize the importance of upholding our cultural values throughout their academic journey—Native students have knowledge and ways of knowing that they can bring into conversations (if protocol should allow that to be shared).

How can people support COIN? Are there events, fundraisers, or any other opportunities to get involved?

People can support COIN by sharing the word that we exist as a resource! We’re happy to share more about what our specific programming looks like and find areas to collaborate, or discuss Native student needs. You can also volunteer at our annual welcome program called Native & Indigenous Kick Off, or you can volunteer at the American Indian Student Cultural Center’s annual Spring Powwow to show support to Native students directly. We have an Instagram (@umncoin) and a newsletter if you’re interested in keeping up with the work we’re doing, or to share opportunities/resources/events that you think would interest our network of students.

Can non-indigenous folks attend COIN events?

Non-indigenous folks can definitely attend COIN events. There are certain affinity groups, such as the Oceti Sakowin community gathering, the Queer & Two Spirit Indigenous group, and certain ceremonies or cultural practices that we heavily prioritize Native & Indigenous-identifying folks in order to maintain cultural protocol. We will explicitly state if Native & Indigenous attendance is prioritized!