MSU celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day with arbor reveal

The smell of sage filled American Indian Hall (AIH) at the grand reveal of the Elouise Cobell Garden Arbor on MSU’s first official Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The dedication ceremony on Oct. 13 welcomed students, faculty, community members and descendants of Elouise Cobell — the Blackfeet elder and activist after whom the new space is named — to reflect on her impact and the culmination of AIH’s construction. 

The event kicked off with a speech from the Native American Studies (NAS) Department Head Meredith Hecker, who thanked those in attendance. She was followed by speakers who acknowledged Cobell’s legacy in the Native community and beyond. 

Speaker Walter Fleming, the recently retired NAS department head, said the arbor was the missing piece of the puzzle for AIH. 

“It's that one missing piece because when we got to that final construction phase [of AIH,] we recognized that we weren't going to be able to finalize it with the funding that we had,” Fleming said. “Today, we get to fit that piece back in and make a complete picture. And I can sleep at night knowing that the puzzle is done.”

Hecker spoke on potential plans for the hall now that construction is finished. “We’d love to build a shed for the arbor’s garden tools,” she said. “But as far as construction, and what was envisioned by my predecessor,  Dr. Walter Fleming, it is done.” 

“It's like, we put that last piece in, but I don't think the last piece is ever going to be completely finished,” said Josie Kaufman, the Good Relations Learning Community (GRLC) program coordinator at AIH. The GRLC program offers first-year and transfer students mentorship within the NAS department, according to its website. 

“There are constantly new students and new stories coming through the building, so I think the planning for this event included, ‘How do we celebrate the building and the architecture?’” Kaufman said. “But also, ‘How do we celebrate the fact that it's never fully complete?’ Because students are constantly evolving the space.”

After the opening speeches, guests were invited to tour the arbor and its surrounding landscape, which includes a garden, fire pit and covered seating area. 

As people gathered in the space, Blackfeet elders prayed over the new construction. “The prayer was my favorite part,” said Ulali Adams, a freshman in attendance.

While planning for the celebration, event organizers had to determine the best ways to honor the arbor and Elouise Cobell, according to Maleeya Knows His Gun. She serves as the cultural outreach and communications coordinator for the American Indian Alaska Native Student Success Services. 

“I think it was amazing to see the different people who traveled to this wonderful arbor and bless the grounds for the students and for everyone that would be walking and using the arbor,” Knows His Gun said.

With the grounds blessed and construction complete, Hecker said that the new space will encourage students to spend time in and around AIH. “[AIH] is a place where people can come and feel like they are with those in the community,” Hecker said. “We have a lot of Native students who come, and we have non-Natives who also come and spend time because they feel welcomed here.” 

“As a freshman in college it can be daunting to find a community, especially when you’re a minority,” Adams said. “Because we have this space, it's easier to connect as a community rather than us being sprawled out all over campus,” she said. 

“With the new arbor outside, I think it’ll be nice come spring. People will be able to hang out outside and enjoy the weather,” she said. 

Adams encouraged non-Native community members to visit AIH, even if they feel uncomfortable. “If they were to come in here respectfully, most people are very friendly and open and would love to share their culture with non-Natives,” she said.

Hecker said that learning about Native American culture directly from the community teaches you things that you could not discover in a textbook.

“I think that's always our goal here. We want to have as many stories, voices and perspectives as possible in every event that we do,” Knows His Gun said. “I think these events can be instrumental in creating connections and fostering relationships that will last.”

“[Indigenous Peoples’ Day] was a really important and pivotal day, and I feel like it was a huge success in creating that sense of belonging for the people that were involved,” Hecker said.

For more information about the events occurring at AIH, visit https://www.montana.edu/aih/.