Dagwaagin Wiikonge’ (Fall Feast) at AICHO, and the New President at Leech Lake Tribal College

Transcript

[Music: Minnesota Native News Theme]

Marie Rock: For Minnesota Native News, I'm Marie Rock. This week, we visit a Fall Feast in Duluth and meet the new President of Leech Lake Tribal College.

First, reporter Chaz Wagner shares his experience at the Fall Feast hosted by the American Indian Community Housing Organization.

Chaz Wagner: As the autumn air settled over Duluth, the American Indian Community Housing Organization, or AICHO, opened its doors to welcome the changing season. With the time-honored tradition, community members gathered for Dagwaagin Wiikonge', the annual fall feast.
The event started not with a feast for the body, but sustenance for the spirit. Fond du Lac Ojibwe spiritual leader Rick DeFoe led a ceremonial feasting of sacred items. He offered tobacco, and prayer to traditional pipes, ribbon skirts, and eagle feathers. DeFoe took time to explain the deep cultural significance of the teachings so families could bring them into their own homes.

Rick DeFoe: We are told to feast twice a year at least. The sacred items we utilize in our culture, so we want to be in harmony and in balance with the natural world. Because when we're doing those things, it manifests itself in our lives. The tendency is to get healthier and well.

Chaz Wagner: Following the teachings, the room transformed into a community feast. As plates were filled, laughter echoed across the cultural center, and generations sat side by side, sharing stories. The event concluded with the traditional gift giveaway, ensuring every person walked away with a spiritual token of gratitude to take home.

Marlena Boedigheimer: It's been an event here actually long before I started working here. It's kind of a tradition that we have.

Chaz Wagner: Marlena Boedigheimer is a Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe member and is the traditional healing coordinator, organized the event. She says seeing the space filled with new and returning guests and making a cultural connection was the ultimate goal.

Marlena Boedigheimer: Makes me feel very good to know that like even if one person comes to me and is like hey I haven't been involved in the community a lot and this was so awesome. I want to keep coming back to these. Just seeing people happy and laughing and smiling and wanting to come back it's very rewarding.

Chaz Wagner: As guests wrap their items tight and headed out into the cool September evening, they left with full stomachs, warm hearts, and a renewed sense of connection.

For Minnesota Native News, I'm Chaz Wagner.

Marie Rock: Next, reporter Travis Zimmerman sits down with Dr. Erin Stresow, the new President of Leech Lake Tribal College.

Travis Zimmerman: This summer, Dr. Erin Stresow was approved as the new president of the Leech Lake Tribal College.

Erin Stresow: I've been all over in higher education across the country. And every type of institution, whether it's online fully, is it brick and mortar regular, classes in a classroom, is it hybrid.

Travis Zimmerman: Dr. Stresow's career path and leadership training brought her to this position, but she is particularly proud of her work that she has done to support students.

Erin Stresow: I've been working in diversity, equity, and inclusion. And so I've been serving all populations and demographics of students. at institutions of higher education. And what I was finding was that we were needing to best support each student population in ways that they needed.

Travis Zimmerman: Dr. Stresow is excited to learn more about the college and looks forward to creating valuable connections.

Erin Stresow: I get to do this work in partnership and collaboration alongside and with my executive team, along with our faculty and staff and our students. We have our next five year strategic plan.

Travis Zimmerman: One of the main priorities in that plan is to celebrate Anishinaabe culture.

Erin Stresow: We do that in so many different ways here on this campus. We do land-based learning. We have food sovereignty. We have indigenous data sovereignty, which is really important because we now get to ensure that we focus on that we as indigenous people have control over that data and how it gets used, how it's interpreted. We have Ojibwe we have art making, we have storytelling. We do all those things. And so that's one of the ways in which we're ensuring that this continues, that our life ways continue.

Travis Zimmerman: For Minnesota Native News, I'm Travis Zimmerman.

Marie Rock: That's all for this week's episode. Join us next time for more voices and stories that inform, uplift and shape our communities, right here on Minnesota Native News.

[Music: Minnesota Native News Theme]

Marie Rock: Minnesota Native News is produced by AMPERS, Minnesota's community radio stations made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.