Native American Awareness Month Activities

November is Native American Awareness Month. Proud Indigenous People for Education will be sponsoring activities on campus in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving Break. Health Week is Nov. 2 to Nov. 9. PIPE members walked in honor of those with Diabetes in the Walk for Diabetes at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

History Week is from Nov. 10 to Nov. 16. Brian Bull '91, news director for South Dakota Public Radio, will give a speech on Monday entitled "Our Ancestors' Wars and Those of the Seventh Generation." The lecture will look at the media and its relationship with indigenous peoples, particularly with regard to the impact it has had on Native America. It will be in Weyerhaeuser Chapel from 7 to 9 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Program Board.

Also as a part of Native American Awareness Month, Twin Cities Public Television will broadcast an historical documentary, produced by Kristi Wheeler of Media Services and Terry Grant, called "Medicine Wheel: A Journey of Healing." It will be aired at 3 p.m. on Channel 2 and at 8 p.m. on Channel 17 on Sunday, Nov. 10. The historical documentary features Lakota Spiritual Leader Basil Brave Heart. Brave Heart, who spoke at Macalester in Sept. 2001, counsels veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as well as others who suffer from addiction.

Education Week is from Nov. 17 to Nov. 23. On Monday Nov. 18, University of Minnesota Associate Professor Dr. David Wilkins will speak about Supreme Court rulings that have affected the Native American community, why they were made and what implications they will have for tribal sovereignty, democracy, and intergovernmental relations. The speech is entitled "The Rehnquist Court and First Nations: The Precarious State of Tribal Sovereignty" and will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the John B. Davis Lecture Hall.

Myra Garnes hired as new Assistant Dean of Students

Myra Garnes was recently hired as Assistant Dean of Students. Garnes replaced Joi Lewis, who recently filled the newly created position of Dean of Multicultural Affairs. Before coming to Macalester, Garnes was coordinator of community services and education at the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.

"We are delighted to have Myra with her background in higher education and other related experiences," said Laurie Hamre, Vice President for Student Affairs. "She has had to hit the ground running and has already made a strong impact on the student experience. I am very happy she has joined the Macalester community."

Garnes is in charge of the college grievance procedure, advising student government, working with students on in and out-of-classroom concerns, editing the student handbook and serving as a liaison with parents.

She has worked at Loyola University in Chicago in African American student affairs and women's programs and services, at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. and at Ohio State University. She has an M.A. in higher education and student affairs from Ohio State and a B.A. in Psychology from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.