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Native history month kicks off

Coeur d'Alene Tribe women wear traditional clothing outside the Sacred Heart Church in DeSmet, Idaho, in this early 1920s photo. The tribe is the subject of a free seminar beginning tonight. Courtesy of the Museum of North Idaho (Courtesy of the Museum of North Idaho / The Spokesman-Review)
From Staff Reports The Spokesman-Review
Coeur d'Alene Tribe women wear traditional clothing outside the Sacred Heart Church in DeSmet, Idaho, in this early 1920s photo. The tribe is the subject of a free seminar beginning tonight. Courtesy of the Museum of North Idaho (Courtesy of the Museum of North Idaho / The Spokesman-Review)

A symposium titled “Indian Identity in a Contemporary World” will kick off tonight in Coeur d’Alene and continue through November, which is Native American History Month.

The free symposium is presented by North Idaho College’s Diversity Events Committee and the Human Rights Education Institute.

The reception begins at 7 p.m. at the institute, 414 S. Mullan Ave. Coeur d’Alene tribal member and educator Frank SiJohn will speak on the history of U.S. government treaties with the Coeur d’Alene Indian Nation and the significance of those treaties today. Also tonight, a related monthlong art show opens at the institute.

Other events:

“Marian Ackerman, anthropologist and NIC anthropology instructor, will present “Looking at Offensive Words and Images” Nov. 8, 7 p.m., at the institute. The presentation will focus on commonly used derogatory words and Indian mascots.

“Phillip Cernera, director of the Lake Management Department of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, will present “Lake Coeur d’Alene: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” Nov. 15, 7 p.m., in Molstead Library’s Todd Hall on NIC’s main campus. The presentation will address the tribe’s stewardship of lower Lake Coeur d’Alene and a portion of the St. Joe River. These waterways were part of the tribe’s original homeland, were later part of the reservation and now are held in trust for the tribe by the federal government.

“Robert Bostwick, public relations director for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, will speak on tribal enterprises and economic development, and the impact on the tribe and the region’s economy, Nov. 29, 7 p.m., in Todd Hall.