Sunset over a calm body of water with a rocky shoreline and silhouetted trees in the background.

Indigenous Perspectives Symposium

The annual Indigenous Perspectives Symposium creates a space for knowledge dissemination, focusing on the intersection of Indigenous Peoples, communities, Tribal governments, and lifeways.

Indigenous Perspectives Symposium on Food

Northern Michigan University (NMU) is proud to announce this year's Indigenous Perspectives Symposium on Food, a one-day event dedicated to exploring the rich traditions, profound significance, and evolving future of Indigenous food systems. The symposium will be held on Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 at NMU's Northern Center in Marquette, Michigan.

The symposium aims to bring together Indigenous leaders, elders, knowledge keepers, academics, and community members to share insights on topics ranging from traditional harvesting and sustainable land stewardship to food sovereignty and decolonization. Through a series of presentations, workshops, and communal meals, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the vital connection between food, culture, and identity in Indigenous communities.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Presentations by Indigenous Food Experts: Special addresses by Indigenous knowledge keepers on topics like: manoomin restoration efforts Roger LaBine (Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians); Great Lakes Intertribal Food Coalition efforts, Stephanie Dodge (Oneida | Menonminee), various Great Lakes Indigenous Nations Food Sovereignty Initiatives, culinary experts, farmers, and many more.   
  • Workshops & Panels: Sessions on topics such as revitalization, culinary experiences, food systems, distribution & policies, traditional ecological knowledge, stewardship, and land-based learning.
  • Culinary Experiences: offering multiple pathways to interact with Indigenous foods, including a decolonizing diet project inspired luncheon and an evening culinary experience with an Indigenous chef.

NMU is honored to host this important event and provide a platform for Indigenous voices to lead this important conversation. "This symposium is a testament to our commitment to fostering a more inclusive and knowledgeable community."

The event is open to the public, and we particularly encourage members of Native communities, students, scholars, and journalists to attend. This is a crucial opportunity to learn directly from those whose knowledge has sustained them for millennia.

Register by clicking on the link above or by following this QR code:

IPS Flyer

Northern Michigan University is located on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabe Three Fires Confederacy. Gichi-namebini Ziibing is the traditional name of Marquette.  

ᑮᐧᐁᑎᓄᒃ  ᒥᒋᑲᓐ  ᑭᓄᒫᑫ'ᑲᒥᑯᒃ  ᑮᐧᐁᑎᓄᒃ  ᒥᒋᑲᓐ  ᑭᓄᒫᑫ'ᑲᒥᑯᒃ  ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯ  ᐧᓯ  ᔥᑯᑌ  ᐊᑭᒃ᙮  ᑭᒋᓇᒣᐱᓂ  ᓰᐱᒃ  ᐁᔑᓂᑲᑌᒃ ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᒧᐧᐃᓂᒃ Marquette. 

Giiwedinong Michigan Kinomaage'gamigong ayaa gete-anishinaabewaking Anishinaabe Swi Shkode Aking. Gichi-namebini Ziibing ezhinikaadeg Anishinaabe mowining Marquette.