Imagine that a friend came to you and asked you to explain what Native American Heritage Month is. What would you tell your friend? 

Kendal: To tell them of how far our native ancestors that went through many struggles to be here today. To be grateful that our heritage is still being practiced because of what they did.
 
Ayeden: If a friend or someone asks me then I would tell them that it is a month to recognize Native American people who were here before colonizers.

Elijah: I would explain that Native American Heritage month is to recognize and remember all that there is that has led past generations down towards the current path this current generation walks, every hardship, every sweat, blood and tears that has laid down the pavement for this future we live now is recognized.

Patience: Native American heritage month is a way for people to either learn more about their own culture, the history, the feeling, the beliefs, stories, teachings, etc. Also, for people to learn of others heritage, to bring awareness to our(native Americans) heritage and culture. ​

As youth, how would you describe how being Native American affects you today at home, school, and in the community? 

Kendal: It’s the missing piece of who I am. It completes who I was meant to be. To show that there is not just one way to look at life or, things in life. Take advantage of every lesson taught and use that new profound knowledge to look at things another way. - Kendal Kot
 
Ayeden: I would say sometimes I think its a struggle between all the racism that happens between the community but it doesn't really affect me because I correct them by telling them what's right.

Elijah: As an indigenous youth I think being Native American will be with me wherever I go, it’s an inherent part of my identity that I carry within every cell in my body.

Patience: Well in today's way of society, it really doesn't matter on your race, yes you get asked questions on /what's it like/ or explaining things they've heard about /indians/ in a home, you get to learn teachings, 7 generations, your language and your history. At school, you get questions on your race rarely, but you are able to choose things to express your heritage, for example ; drumming or Ojibwe language classes. And in the community, if somebody is unknowing of their culture, you can teach that (being your from the same one). You can express yourself in many ways. 

​Luke and Linda Black elk are food sovereignty activists and teachers of traditional plant use, gardening, food preservation, and forating. They spend their time collecting and preparing traditional foods and medicines for Indigenous peoples and communities in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and beyond. They involved their children in this work so that they may learn about the importance of feeding themselves and their communities with traditional medicines, healing them mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

​After lunch, Linda took the group on a walk around Gimaajii Mino Bimaadizimin and the Dr. Robert Powless Center, showing them over 10 different medicinal plants that were growing in the surrounding area. What people commonly thought of as weeds turned out to be traditional medicines used by the Anishinaabe past and present.