Message

University of Minnesota Morris Powwow
University of Minnesota Morris Powwow

 

Hello students, faculty and staff.

Hello to our alumni and members of the Morris-area community.

I am honored to be with all of you today as we celebrate and pay tribute to Native and Indigenous communities and cultures. 

Thank you to:

  • The University of Minnesota Morris Circle of Nations
  • The Indigenous Association student organization
  • And the Office of Equity, Diversity and Intercultural Programs for all your efforts in making today’s powwow possible.


I am also so proud of our students for organizing what I believe will be a very meaningful and memorable experience for everyone.

Long before we gathered here as a University community, this land housed an American Indian boarding school.

The University of Minnesota recognizes that—in the words of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition—"The social, emotional, spiritual, and cultural devastation from boarding school experiences have passed down to Native American individuals, families, communities and Tribal Nations today."

The University of Minnesota Morris is a member of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, and our University will continue its commitment to serving Native learners and communities.

As part of this commitment, we have built contemporary relationships and operate as a Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution to help grow the next generation of Native students.

The University of Minnesota Morris does this through tuition waivers, programming and activities, academic opportunities and student services, including the Native American Promise Program. 

We are also growing national leadership with Tribal Nations and Native American/American Indian Studies through our strategic roadmap Elevate Extraordinary 2030. 

On that note, I’m grateful to Chancellor Rodriguez for his leadership in sharing new and energizing ideas to help us bring this roadmap to life.

Sustainability is also a focus area in our roadmap, and this is another area where the University of Minnesota Morris is doing vital and consequential work.

A great example of this is the recent innovation to pilot a Roman-inspired cement battery using excess wind power to store heat.

This points toward fossil-free campus heating and showcases the University’s role in testing bold, scalable climate solutions. 

In our 175th year, the University of Minnesota is strong and getting stronger.

We are investing in the University of Minnesota Morris!

We are partnering across the University to launch new strategies.

And we are committed to coming together as one community to serve Minnesota, the nation and the world.

Thank you!