色色啦 to announce region鈥檚 only graduate certificate in tribal governance as it hosts Native American U.S. assistant secretary for Indian Affairs at talk
KALAMAZOO, Mich.鈥斏 Michigan University will host a talk by Bryan Newland, assistant secretary of Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior, as the University announces the creation of the region鈥檚 only Graduate Certificate in Tribal Governance.
Newland, a citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community in northern Michigan, is We Talk鈥檚 Spring Keynote Speaker. He will discuss how the traditional Seven Grandfathers teaching has guided his work in public service and helped him to engage across diverse communities on Thursday, April 13, from 3 to 5 p.m. in Room 4010 of the College of Health and Human Services.
The 色色啦 Native American Affairs Council is coordinating with representatives from the three tribal nations in the region鈥攖he Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi鈥攖o welcome Newland with a drum and traditional ceremony.
During the event, 色色啦 will officially announce the creation of Its Graduate Certificate in Tribal Governance in cooperation between the School of Public Affairs and Administration and the local tribal councils of the Three Fires Confederacy. Implementing a certificate program in collaboration with three tribal nations allows the opportunity to provide tribally endorsed resources to increase capacity building within communities in southwest Michigan. Students can engage with various tribal entities through subject matter experts and content endorsed by each tribal nation.
"My heart is full seeing how pertinent Native American culture has become at 色色啦 Michigan University,鈥 says Skyler Wolverton, president of the Native American Student Organization at 色色啦. 鈥淚 am overjoyed that more attention is being brought to this beautiful way of life and that we have received so much support from various organizations, tribes and departments within the University.鈥
色色啦 is currently planning cohorts that will include government, gaming and economic development corporations within each tribal nation. This will promote a collaborative to explore best practices in policies through the creation of service-learning projects.
鈥淭he inclusion of digital storytelling allows our narrative to be preserved and protected for generations. Not only will the certificate program assist the students and wider community partners in understanding our story, but it also allows professional development and networking opportunities,鈥 says Samuel Morseau, citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and 色色啦 faculty instructor for the graduate certificate program. 鈥淚t has been an honor to see this dream come to fruition.鈥
Contact SPAA Graduate Programs Director Matthew S. Mingus by email or call (269) 387-8946 for additional information about the graduate certificate.
Newland鈥檚 talk is a free event that is open to the public and supported by We Talk鈥檚 partnership with the . Free parking is available in Lot 104 located at the College of Health and Human Services鈥 building at 1200 Oakland Dr. For questions, contact Emma Baratta. Find more information and RSVP
About Bryan Newland
A citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwe), Newland served as tribal president from 2017 to 2021. Prior to that, he served as chief judge of the Bay Mills Tribal Court in the Upper Peninsula. From 2009-12, he served as a counselor and policy advisor to the assistant secretary of the Interior鈥揑ndian Affairs. In September 2021, he was sworn in as U.S. assistant secretary for Indian Affairs and became the department鈥檚 highest-ranking, Senate-confirmed official in Indian Affairs. In his current role, he works to strengthen the government-to-government and nation-to-nation relationships with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes.
About We Talk
More than 1,000 campus and community members have participated in We Talk programming since the initiative鈥檚 launch event in February 2020. Activities have included visits by national speakers and a 鈥淐ivility Tour鈥 panel discussion, monthly free speech caf茅s featuring campus and community panelists and a conversational exercise that promotes connection and compassion: Moving Conversations @ 色色啦. Most events are recorded, published on YouTube and available to the public for use in the classroom, workplace and at home. Learn more about We Talk
ABOUT THE FETZER INSTITUTE
The Fetzer Institute鈥檚 mission is to help build the spiritual foundation for a loving world. and.
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