Please join us March 5th at 12:00 p.m. EST via Zoom for a discussion of storytelling, Dakota culture on the Lake Traverse Reservation, and UVA relations with Dakota people. The conversation will be led by Dustina Gill, founder of Nis’to, Inc., a Dakota-led organization dedicated to supporting Native youth. Dustina is part of the inaugural class of Global Mentors, after having worked with UVA students for the past 6 years.

This event will allow us to share the importance of storytelling within Indigenous Communities. Stories connect the way we think with the way we feel, they connect our individual experiences of the world with those of others in our community, and they help us build mutual understanding with those from very different communities.

Further, stories put all of us on a level playing field as knowledge holders. This is important when we are building relations between Dakota people and university faculty and students. Such relations have historically been ones of domination and extraction, with universities taking knowledge, commenting on it, sometimes profiting from it, and using it to treat Dakota people as lesser citizens.

Creation stories, in particular, have always been an essential part of Indigenous Cultures. This oral tradition continues, and its method has far more impact than that of any other method in protecting our culture throughout settler colonialism.

Dusty will share a story or two.  She will share with you how it is told, where and when and why, so that you can have an example.  Then each person joining on the day will discuss their thoughts on these oral traditions and the impactful meaningful ways that come with it.   Each individual will gather a story from someone meaningful to them or will share their own meaningful story and share with the group this day, or at a later gathering.

Joining Dusty in sharing their own stories will be guests Jeremy Red Eagle, Mandla Majola, and Xolile Madinda.  

Interested in attending? Use this form to sign up. A confirmation email with Zoom link will be sent to you before the day of the event.