On Saturday, November 16, the Minnesota Fulbright chapter hosted a Thanksgiving event at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in South Minneapolis. It was attended by over 70 people, half of whom were alumni now residing in Minnesota who had held Fulbright awards around the world, and the other half were current grantees also from around the world, most living in the Twin Cities but one who traveled from Duluth to attend. It was an amazing feast with sufficient leftovers that many grantees could take food home in take-out containers supplied by alums. The featured speaker was Barry Hand, a Dakota educator who is now directing the Owamniyomni Okhodayapi project near the current Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Falls. Attendees agreed that the opportunity to have table conversations across generational, geographical, and academic lines strengthened their ties to Fulbright and its agenda to work for international cooperation and world peace.
Wókizi. Ihdúwitayapi. Waúŋspekhiye. Wówaš’ake. Wówakhaŋ.
Heal. Connect. Teach. Strength. Power.
Owamniyomni Okhodayapi is a Dakota-led non-profit creating a future where Dakota culture has a vital presence and Dakota values – such as mni wičóni, or water is life – are embedded into our communal existence. We are currently working to transform five acres of land at Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls) into a place of restoration, education, healing and connection. For more information, visit: https://owamniyomni.org/