American Indian Awareness week is the second week in April. Students and faculty at Black Hills State University in Spearfish are taking part in it by hosting a week-long series of events that includes eleven speakers that focus on Indian businessmen and women.
This week is the 30th annual Lakota Omniciye Wacipi pow-wow at BHSU. Each year for American Indian Awareness week student organizations choose a theme and plan activities. This year’s theme is S.T.R.O.N.G. – or “strong tribal roots offer new growth”. Organizers say the event helps show that endeavors like small business ownership can be successful.
Urla Marcus is the Director of the Center for American Indian Studies at Black Hills State. She says this year’s speakers are focusing on helping foster knowledge and confidence in potential entrepreneurs.
“I think its bringing awareness out there that there are American Indians who are running their own businesses, owning their own businesses, and that there is a possibility for other American Indians to start their own business – if it’s on or off the reservation. It’s also important for us just to show our community that there are American Indians out there who are successful, who are supporting themselves, and also supporting the people of their reservations,” says Marcus.
Marcus says that American Indian Awareness Week is an opportunity for all people to learn about financial literacy, overcoming obstacles, and is a way to experience traditional Indian culture. She adds that a memorial run, a buffalo feed, and pow-wow are also part of the awareness effort.