UMD’s American Indian Learning Resource Center teamed up with the College of St. Scholastica’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion to offer a Student Leadership Tour over spring break.
The trip focused on exploring American Indian culture, art, history, and governance in Minnesota. It included stops at the Minnesota Historical Society Museum, the Hoċokata Ti (Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s cultural center), and the Jeffers Petroglyphs. One of the highlights was a tour of the Minnesota State Capitol where students met with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan.
Cassidy Capriglione, AILRC advisor, helped organize the trip and fundraised to make the trip possible for UMD students. “It provides them with experiences they’re not going to get at school. It helps them with personal development and with navigating unknown territory,” she says, adding that the connections between CSS and UMD students are valuable as well. “It connects them with other Native students they might not otherwise get connected to.”
Pictured at top from left to right: Dan Soulier, Native Student Recruitment and Retention Specialist at CSS; Jacob Dunlap, Graduate Student in the CSS MBA program; Camy Fineday, CSS student (undecided); Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan; Michael Dahmen, Studio Art BFA & Photography minor at UMD; James Clark, American Indian Studies & History double major & Museum Studies Certificate at UMD; Cassidy Capriglione, UMD, AILRC Advisor/Counselor.
Learn more about the American Indian Learning Resource Center.