Indigenous People’s Day Yard Sign Installation

I was invited to contribute to an installation on the ISU Quad for Indigenous Peoples’ Day (October 14, 2024). Participants were asked to create a sign featuring a phrase that highlights Indigenous Peoples’ struggles for rights. As I am not Indigenous, I wanted to ensure my contribution was respectful and avoided cultural appropriation. After careful consideration, I chose the phrase: “Honor Land. Respect Rights. Celebrate Resilience.” This statement encourages awareness, respect for Indigenous communities and their land, and recognition of their enduring strength.

My sign visually represents a story shared by many tribes near the Great Lakes region. It tells of a great flood that covered the earth, and how a muskrat placed a small piece of earth on a turtle’s back, which grew to form the land we now call home. The back of my sign featured a fact about the Myaamia tribe, following a standardized template used across all signs in the installation, each highlighting different tribes and facts.

The installation also included a podium where ISU faculty spoke, and students walking through the Quad were invited to engage with the display by walking around and inside the circle of signs. It was a powerful and meaningful event, and I am grateful to have been part of such an impactful project.