The 11th annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration brought students, faculty, staff, and community members together in Lawrence University’s Warch Campus Center on Oct. 12 to honor Indigenous cultures, histories, and contributions.
The celebration reflected a collaborative effort across campus. Carter Robinson, Lawrence’s director of community values, engagement and sustainability, helped organize the event alongside students involved in Earth Fest as part of a collaborative effort to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
The event featured a keynote address by Jud Gauthier, Indigenous Studies Scholar in Residence; a powwow dance performance by dancers from the Oneida Nation; pizza; and cultural displays that encouraged attendees to engage with Indigenous traditions and perspectives.
Gauthier spoke about the deep historical and cultural connections between Wisconsin and the Indigenous nations that have called the region home for generations. Reflecting on the significance of recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, he emphasized the enduring presence and influence of Native communities throughout the state.
“The history of the region here is so tied into Menominee culture and Oneida and Stockbridge, Ho-Chunk, and all the other nations that are around,” Gauthier said.
The annual celebration serves as an opportunity for the Lawrence community to learn about and recognize Indigenous cultures while reflecting on the university’s connection to the lands on which its campuses are located. Through education, storytelling, and community gathering, the event highlights the importance of honoring both the history and continuing contributions of Indigenous peoples.
In recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Lawrence also reaffirmed its land acknowledgment:
Lawrence University’s Appleton and Door County campuses are located on the ancestral homelands of the Menominee and Ho-Chunk peoples. Today, 11 federally recognized Native American sovereign nations are located in Wisconsin. We acknowledge these Indigenous communities, who have stewarded this land throughout generations, and pay respect to their elders, past and present.
