by Rod Jones
野狼社区 University President Robert Henry declared today Indigenous Peoples鈥� Day during a ceremony at the Chickasaw Warrior Garden on campus.
Henry made the declaration in support of Native American culture and campus diversity on a day that is traditionally observed as Columbus Day. The ceremony included a Choctaw hymn sung by Rev. Sharon Yeahquo of the Mary Lee Clark Memorial United Methodist Church in Del City, a drum song performed by Cortney Yarholar of the Sac & Fox and Creek nations and a speech from Henry. Rev. David Wilson provided the opening remarks.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important that we realize this isn鈥檛 just something to celebrate today, then forget about Native American contributions the rest of the year,鈥� Henry said. 鈥淭hat is not what this campus is all about, and that is not what this day is all about.鈥�
Henry discussed a story from the book 鈥淲inona鈥檚 Web鈥� by author Priscilla Cogan about how the Lakota Sioux tribe encourages its people to organize their lives, learn new things and listen to the opinions of others.
鈥淭here鈥檚 something to be said that we need to sacrifice individually for the good of the whole. There鈥檚 no one who can teach us that better than our native peoples,鈥� Henry said.
