Campus Life

Campus groups mark 2025 Indigenous Peoples Day with October events

Cree Interdisciplinary Artist Angela Gladue, aka Miss Chief Rocka, will participate in several events. Credit: Provided. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Indigenous Peoples' Student Association and the Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance at Penn State, in coordination with the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State and the Penn State Filipino Student Association, are offering events in October in recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day, to be held this year on Monday, Oct. 13.

Penn State is committed to building a community of belonging for all. Events and programs are open to all regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, or any other protected class. 

The Indigenous Peoples’ Student Association (IPSA) at Penn State is a vibrant community comprising Indigenous students, allies, faculty and staff. Its primary commitment is to foster the academic success of Indigenous students by advancing awareness, recruitment, retention, and organizing social and cultural activities. IPSA is dedicated to addressing the diverse needs of the broader Indigenous community by actively supporting initiatives related to issues in American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and other Indigenous communities. Through its collective efforts, IPSA strives to create an inclusive and supportive environment that empowers Indigenous voices and promotes cultural understanding. 

Penn State's Acknowledgement of Land was developed in collaboration with the Indigenous Peoples' Student Association and the Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance: 

The Pennsylvania State University campuses are located on the original homelands of the Erie, Haudenosaunee (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora), Lenape (Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe, Stockbridge-Munsee), Monongahela, Shawnee (Absentee, Eastern, and Oklahoma), Susquehannock, and Wahzhazhe (Osage) Nations. As a land-grant institution, we acknowledge and honor the traditional caretakers of these lands and strive to understand and model their responsible stewardship. We also acknowledge the longer history of these lands and our place in that history. 

Indigenous Peoples Day — Monday Oct. 13

Resistance Day Rally Noon-1 p.m., Monumental Staircase, HUB-Robeson Center. Featuring Onondaga Storyteller Perry Ground and Cree Interdisciplinary Artist Angela Gladue, also known as Miss Chief Rocka.

Hip-Hop Workshop with Miss Chief Rocka2:30-3:30 p.m., Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Open to all. Registration is not required. Co-sponsored by RAM Squad.

Indigenous Peoples Day Joyfull Feast6-8 p.m., Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Featuring Onondaga Storyteller Perry Ground; Cree Interdisciplinary Artist Angela Gladue, also known as Miss Chief Rocka; the Penn State Filipino Association; and DJ Bennie. Register for the Joyfull Feast here.

Tuesday, Oct. 14

Haudenosaunee Influence on American Democracy with Onondaga Storyteller Perry Ground9:30-11 a.m., the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Development, 107 Pasquerilla Memorial Lounge. Registration required.

Native American Heritage Month in November with Seneca Nation Chef Lorinda John

The Indigenous Peoples’ Student Association also will host several events in November featuring Seneca Nation Chef Lorinda John, in celebration of National Native American Heritage Month.

Three Sisters on the Fire Community Dinner with Chef Lorinda John — Monday, Nov. 10, 6-8 p.m., St. Paul's United Methodist Church & Wesley Foundation, Social Room.

Keynote Lecture with Chef Lorinda John — Tuesday, Nov. 11, 4-5:30 p.m., Flex Theater, HUB-Robeson Center.

Dreamcatcher Workshops with Chef Lorinda John — Wednesday, Nov. 12, 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Pattee and Paterno Library. Registration required.

Last Updated October 6, 2025