News

Ms. Ida Downwind (Leech Lake Anishinaabe), Indigenous Elder in Residence, returned to Carleton in April Ms. Ida Downwind returned to campus April 24-28, 2023, following her attendance of the Minnesota…

Ida Downwind, Elder-in-Residence at Carleton for 2023, made her first visit to campus in January.

Last year, we were honored to entertain a presidential delegation from the Prairie Island Indian Community, the first of several wonderful exchanges with the community involving students, faculty, and staff. Following thoughtful conversations with Prairie Island President Shelley Buck and the Carleton Indigenous Peoples Alliance (IPA) last fall, we committed to advancing a number of priorities, resulting in the actions noted below:

Marcy Averill’s new position as Indigenous communities liaison at Carleton has a wide focus. In collaboration with Indigenous communities and organizations, her role works with faculty, students, and staff from across the college. As a champion of fostering connections, Averill is “usually the question-asker,” but the Carleton News team turned the tables a bit in order to get to know her better.

Carleton College has announced Marcy Averill as its inaugural Indigenous communities liaison. She will start in the newly created role on Sept. 1.

Dr. Denise Lajimodiere’s week-long residency on campus increased visibility for Native students and prompted thoughts of healing and honest storytelling for attendees.

Indigenous students — in collaboration with select faculty members, staff representatives, and leaders of the Prairie Island Indian Community — are working to help the college address their collective strengths, traditions, and needs.

Native students, professor, allies form community partnerships around Indigenous issues.