ISU Indigenous Peoples Day keynote speaker Rudy Soto.
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Sho-Ban News
POCATELLO — The Indigenous Peoples Day event at Idaho State University had over 250 participants register according to Lethaniel Loley, Native American Student Coordinator.
It was the third annual event. He said the events purpose is to bring awareness to people in southeast Idaho and the ISU campus about Indigenous People.
The event started with a morning prayer.
Fort Hall Business Council member Lee Juan Tyler gave some remarks to welcome the crowd and commended ISU for hosting. He talked about his time at ISU as a student and how through the years he continued to support the school as an alumni.
He reflected on his participation in a healing run years ago in honor of Indigenous tribes from Alaska to South America. He said prayer was important to the people and they do it with everything.
Keynote address speaker was Shoshone-Bannock tribal member Rudy Soto who talked about “Native power, resilience & strength in the 21st Century.” He shared his experience from a troubled youth and growth and transformation to his present-day career path as a leader in his community.
He said this day is very symbolic and overtime it’s becoming more sacred for everyone. He said for the Native people it’s a lot about healing and transformation and turning a negative into a positive with historical trauma, difficulties and hardship that is all rooted in the past and carried forward into the present.
“Too often carried on with our younger generations,” he said. Adding this event being supported by everyone is a powerful statement about what the United States of American intends to be about – equality, fairness, opportunity for everyone.
Idaho Museum of Natural History display.
He said what he hopes people will see with his sharing his story is the story of Indigenous Peoples and as Americans.
“What it is, is coming from the past, and trying to use our story to create a better future, for ourselves, our family, for our community, for our tribe, for our state, for our nation,” he said.
Soto said he comes from a background that is very uncommon from some of the places and people he has been able to come in front of and stand with, all because of his ancestors and family and the people before him that helped make it possible.
Soto’s message to young people is to know their pasts, hardships and struggles don’t have to define them and they can use those to turn upside down and make it so that it helps them succeed beyond their imagination, for the betterment of their family and tribe.
Supaman gives a musical performance to all ages.
For lunch, Yola’s Sweet Treats and Anthony’s Navajo Tacos served 300 attendees of the event. The dance performance was canceled because of unforeseen circumstances.
They had three workshops, including Engaging Native Students in Research; Decolonizing your Syllabus! Setting the tone for a more inclusive course; Honoring Traditional Ways of Knowing to Create Pathways in CTE and STEM and a student panel on the Native American student experience at ISU.
The evening closed with a performance by Supaman for “Music is Life.”
Guests were served Indian Tacos.
Loley said they look forward to Indigenous People’s Day in 2022 and they invite everyone out.
They’re currently looking at dates and presenters for having Native American Heritage Month events in November.