Edweying Naabing // Looking at the Past and Present
Treaty of Saginaw Commemoration
Honoring over 200 Years of Ongoing Indigenous Presence
Michigan State University occupies Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. Edweying Naabing // Looking at the Past and Present, as well as a number of other MSU activities and initiatives marked the 200th commemoration of the Treaty of Saginaw. Edweying Naabing // Looking at the Past and Present was part of a series of programming designed to raise awareness about the history of the Land on which MSU resides and how the past shapes our present and future. The symposium addressed how MSU, and universities in general, will work equitably with Anishinaabeg according to the interests and needs of Indigenous communities. Through the Symposium, individuals at MSU affirmed Indigenous sovereignty and hold Michigan State University accountable to the needs of American Indian and Indigenous peoples. The Symposium consisted of approximately 30 speakers and panelists over a two-day period. This Symposium and related events attracted hundreds of current students, prospective students, their families, alumni, and community members at large.
The persistence of a vibrant, urban Anishinaabe community with dozens of speakers of the Anishinaabemowin language in Nkwejong // Lansing area reflect themes of Indigenous survival in urban spaces. We honor this presence as well as the many thriving communities throughout the Great Lakes region. The Symposium focused on Indigenous histories, presence, and futures on Anishinaabewaki and across Turtle Island. In doing so, we look at the past and present to imagine the future, promoting cultural education within the University community and beyond.