Upcoming Events: Students Respond to Capitol Art; The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s March

Three upcoming events to put on your calendar:

ReImage Minnesota art by Peter Xiong, a student at Wsashburn Technology Magnet School. Here is his artist statement: “I once went to the Split Rock lighthouse and decided to paint it. Some art elements and principles I see are color, lines and tone. I find the Split Rock lighthouse really beautiful and interesting.”

Student Art Exhibit: Students from St. Paul Public Schools have been learning about the art in the Minnesota State Capitol, its negative images of Native Americans, and its narrow view of early Minnesota history. They have been crafting their own alternative Capitol art. Their show: ReImage Minnesota: Art that Represents Us All, will have a grand opening Thursday, Feb. 9, 5-8 p.m. at Washington Technology Magnet School, 1495 Rice St, in the Multicultural Resource Center.

The show will include approximately 75 pieces of art from nine classrooms from the Creative Arts Secondary School and Washington Technology Magnet. Participating teachers are Randy Schutt, Keith Sellers, and Mary Ann Rogers. This builds on a project launched by Healing Minnesota Stories and art teacher Rachel Latuff.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s March: A coalition of Native American-led organizations are co-hosting the “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s March” on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The march starts and ends at Minneapolis Indian Center, 1530 East Franklin Ave. Minneapolis. The route will start at Indian Center, down Franklin to Cedar, Cedar to 24th, West to Bloomington Avenue, then Bloomington back to the Indian Center.
Allies welcome. Wear red. Bring rattles, drums, shawls, signs and/or banners. Vehicles will be available for Elders and children.

The march honors all missing and murdered Indigenous folks — all genders across all continents. The event is co-hosted by the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition, Indigenous Women’s Life Net, Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, and the Native Lives Matter Coalition.

Reminder: Doctrine of Discovery Documentary to be Shown Friday

We wrote about this earlier, so just a reminder, this Friday, Olivet UCC, 1850 Iglehart Ave. in St Paul, will host a screening of the film: Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code. The evening starts and  6:00 p.m. with an Indian Taco Dinner, followed by the movie.

The Doctrine of Discovery refers to the religious and legal justification used by Europe’s colonial powers to claim lands occupied by indigenous peoples, seize their property and forcibly convert or enslave them. The Doctrine has its roots in 15th century papal edicts granting Spain and Portugal permission to seize foreign lands as long as no baptized Christians had a prior claim. The “Discovery Doctrine” was put into U.S. law through a series of 19th Century Supreme Court decisions. It still applies today.

Here is a link to the trailer.