INDIANAPOLIS — Approximately 800 students from across Indiana attended the “Educating Youth About Native Truth” event at the Indiana State Museum Friday, Nov. 13, as part of Native American Heritage Month.

The Miami Nation of Indiana provided the drum and singers, and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians demonstrated various dances for the audience, including a Grand Entry followed by men’s and women’s dance styles. Students were then invited to enter the circle and join in on the dancing.

Prior to the event, teachers were sent a Treasure Hunt with a list of questions for the students to answer. Some of the questions included, “What part of the cat tail plant did the Miami people eat?” and “What Tribe had Fort Quiatenon built for them by the French in 1717?” These questions encourage students to visit the many exhibit tables to ask questions and learn more about Native American culture and Indiana’s history as it relates to the state’s original inhabitants.

Besides the Miami Nation of Indiana and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, tribal representation included Marty Gradolf, Winnebago or Nebrask; Michael Sturgis, Cherokee descent; Dani Tippman, Miami Nation of Oklahoma; Tony Showa, Diné; and storyteller Teresa Webb, Anishinaabe.

Educational displays were presented by organizations from around the state, such as the Native American Student Alliance at IUPUI, Sullivan County American Educational and Cultural Center at Purdue, American Indian Center of Indiana, National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture, Wea Indian Tribe and the Potawatomi Trail of Death Association.

By visiting these exhibits and talking with Native Americans, students learned about bone carving, hand drums, plants, animal furs, weaving and they even got to make Hawaiian leis.

The event was hosted by the Indiana Native American Indian Affairs Commission and made possible through the sale of the Native American license plate.