Featured Events
Native American Heritage Month - November 2025
Echoes of the Earth: Native American Drumming Traditions
Dan Jackson, member
of the Saginaw
Chippewa Indian Tribe
and instructor at the
7th Generation Center
The MSU Museum and the MSU Native American Institute warmly invite you to an evening of inspiration, culture, and music on Wednesday, November 19, at WKAR Studios, located in Room 145 of the Communication Arts and Sciences Building (404 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824).
Join Daniel Jackson, proud member of Bear Clan and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, as he shares the deep cultural and spiritual significance of Native American drums. Through stories and insights, Daniel will explore how drums connect communities to tradition, ceremony, and identity.
Following Daniel’s presentation, enjoy a sampling of traditional Anishinaabe cuisine prepared by Chef Sam Anglin, celebrating the rich flavors and heritage of Native foodways.
Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hand Drum Building Workshop
Hand Drum and Stick
Interested in Native drumming traditions after attending Dan Jackson’s talk? Or simply curious about crafting your own traditional hand drum? Join the MSU Museum and the MSU Native American Institute on Saturday, November 22, for a unique, hands-on experience in traditional Native hand drum making!
Lee Smith, instructor,
Burt Lake Band of
Ottawa and Chippewa
Indians and Little
Traverse Bay Band of
Odawa Indians
Led by Lee Smith at the Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center (5153 Marsh Rd, Okemos, MI 48864), this workshop offers participants the opportunity to:
- Learn about the cultural significance and traditional methods of hand drum making
- Craft your own hand drum and drumstick to take home
Two sessions available
To register, click on the link next to the session you wish to attend.
Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged!
MSU/U-M Indigenous Food Sovereignty Summit
Save the Dates: April 6–8, 2026
Honoring Traditions • Cultivating Futures
Mark your calendars and consider joining us for a powerful gathering that celebrates Indigenous food systems, cultural resilience, and community-driven solutions for food sovereignty. This conference brings together Tribal leaders, farmers, youth, scholars, and advocates to share knowledge, build relationships, and inspire action.
Date: April 6–8, 2026
Location: Michigan State University, Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, East Lansing, MI
Hosted by: Native American Institute and MSU Extension
What to Expect
- Keynote speakers from Indigenous communities leading food sovereignty efforts
- Workshops on traditional food and harvesting practices, seed saving, land stewardship, and policy advocacy
- Participant panels and intergenerational storytelling
- Local Indigenous vendors and food tastings
- Cultural performances and ceremonies honoring the land and its people
Why It Matters
Food sovereignty is more than access—it's about reclaiming ancestral knowledge, protecting sacred relationships with the land, and ensuring that future generations thrive. This conference is a space to uplift Indigenous voices and build pathways toward sustainable, self-determined food systems.
Wish to attend, become a sponsor, be a vendor, or submit an abstract
Nokomis Center Programming
5153 Marsh Rd, Okemos, MI 48864
Anishinaabemowin Language Classes – Wednesdays, October 1 through November 19, with classes resuming after the holiday break in January 2026.
Nokomis Center Ghost Supper, November 2, 2025, 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Holiday Shopping Sale, December 6, 7, and 13, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Please contact the Nokomis Center at 517-349-5777 or info@nokomis.org for more information on these events and other programing throughout the year. Their hours are Thursday 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
The Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center is dedicated to the preservation of the history, arts, culture, and language of the Anishinaabe people — Ojibwa, Odawa and Potawatomi Nations. This nonprofit was started in 1989 by a dedicated group of individuals to preserve Native American culture.
MSU Pow Wow of Love
Save the Date: February 21, 2026
The North American Indigenous Student Organization at Michigan State University has announced the date for the 2026 MSU Pow Wow of Love. Please mark your calendars for February 21, 2026. Location TBD on the campus of MSU.