Home - NMU Indigenous Perspectives Symposium

Northern Michigan University (NMU) is proud to announce this year's Indigenous Perspectives Symposium on Medicines, a one-day event dedicated to exploring the rich traditions, profound significance, and evolving future of Indigenous approaches to healing and wellbeing. 

The symposium will be held on Friday, September 25th, 2026 at NMU's Northern Center in Marquette, Michigan. 

This year’s symposium aims to bring together Indigenous leaders, elders, knowledge holders, practitioners, academics, and community members to share insights on topics ranging from traditional medicinal plants and healing practices to Indigenous health education and applied seventh-generation thinking. Through a series of presentations, workshops, and communal gatherings, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the vital connection between medicine, land, language, and spirit in Indigenous communities.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

• Featured Keynote: Dr. Evan Adams, physician and actor known for his role in Smoke Signals, delivers the symposium's keynote address at 5:00 p.m.

Dr. Evan Tlesla Adams is a Coast Salish physician & actor from Tla’amin First Nation near Powell River, BC, Canada. Best known for his role as Thomas Builds-The- Fire in the Miramax film SMOKE SIGNALS. He completed his Medical Doctorate at the University of Calgary & a residency in the Aboriginal Family Practice program at UBC in Vancouver, Canada. He was a recent Harkness Fellow at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu, HI, & is currently the Assessment Lead for the National Circle for Indigenous Medical Education (NCIME) in Canada.

• Presentations by Indigenous Knowledge Holders: Special addresses on topics such as: woodland medicinal teas and salves, Indigenous medicinal plant identification, healing circles, physical activity and food as medicine, and specialists in Indigenous health practice and education.
• Workshops & Panels: Sessions on topics such as the language of Indigenous medicines, traditional ecological knowledge, land-based learning, and outdoor and hands-on programming reflecting this year's later September, land-focused date.
• Culinary Experience: An evening dinner inspired by the Decolonizing Diet project, offering attendees a chance to experience food as medicine firsthand.

NMU is honored to host this important event and provide a platform for Indigenous voices to lead this vital conversation, in addition to proudly celebrating the Center for Native American Studies 30th year! 

The symposium portion occurring from 12:30 – 5:00 p.m. is free and open to the public, with dinner available afterward for a fee ($5 – students, $20 – faculty/staff, $25 general admission).  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 Indigenous communities for millennia. 

Please reach out to jschapp@nmu.edu if you want to learn more or have questions about this upcoming event.