FLC hosts 'Day of Dialogue' April 20

Fort Lewis College wants to open the lines of communication between the school, Native American students and residents. Next Tues., April 20, the school is hosting a “Day of Dialogue,” a virtual event comprised of roundtable conversations between students, educators and alumni from Native American-serving nontribal institutions that started as Native American boarding schools, such as FLC. Speakers will discuss a range of topics, and audience participation is encouraged.

The event is possible through a grant from the Mellon Foundation to bring Native American and Indigenous Studies scholars to campus, foster additional research in the humanities and expand the use of inclusive teaching methods.

“Fort Lewis College believes the work supported by the grant aligns with our core values, and the program is having a positive impact on the education of our students,” school administraors said in a press release. “The grant facilitates a collaborative educational environment across our campus as we work toward reinforcing our efforts to infuse diversity and inclusion into our curriculum and institutional life.”

In 2019, FLC President Tom Stritikus also established a Committee on FLC History to examine the school’s origins as a Native American boarding school. A key question was how understanding and recognition of that past should inform the school’s present and future.

Joining FLC in its day of conversation will be faculty, staff and students from the University of Minnesota-Morris, an institution that, like FLC, also began as a Native American boarding school. 

All sessions are free and open to the public. The schedule is as follows: 

• 9-9:50 a.m. Opening Ceremony & alumni comments

• 10-10:50 a.m.  Session One: Land acknowledgement & environmental sustainability 

• 11-11:50 a.m.   Session Two: Boarding school histories & tuition waiver 

• 12-12:50 p.m. Lunch 

• 1-1:50 p.m. Session Three: Student voices 

• 2-2:50 p.m. Session Four: Indigenous pedagogies 

• 3-4:00 p.m. Recap & closing ceremony   

For info or Zoom link, go to: fortlewis.edu/dayofdialogue.