ALLENDALE, Mich. — Grand Valley State University will get an early jump on celebrating Native American Heritage Month, which is recognized during November, with a public lecture by Ojibwe scholar and author Anton Treuer, who will speak on “Decolonizing Our Future: Truth, Sovereignty, and Student Success.”
The event will take place Tuesday, October 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the Cook-DeWitt Center on GVSU’s Allendale Campus. It is free and open to the public.
"Anton Treuer’s visit to GVSU is an incredible opportunity for our students," Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), co-president of Grand Valley State University's Native American Advisory, said. "His insights on Native history, sovereignty, and education will inspire them to see the world differently and to consider their own roles in building a more equitable future. We welcome the general public to attend his lecture."
Treuer, an Ojibwe scholar and author, earned his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Minnesota. He has spoken across the United States, educating communities about the continuing history and resilience of Native peoples.
Over the course of the past quarter century, Treuer has authored 21 books. Among the most popular are:
Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask (2012, updated young readers edition in 2021)
– A widely read Q&A-style book addressing misconceptions and questions about Native people.The Language Warrior’s Manifesto: How to Keep Our Languages Alive No Matter the Odds (2020)
– A passionate call to action on Indigenous language revitalization.Where Wolves Don’t Die (2024)
– A novel and winner of the Minnesota Book Award.
A respected leader in Native scholarship and cultural preservation, Treuer serves on the governing boards of the Minnesota State Historical Society and the Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute. He has been recognized as a Guardian of Culture and Lifeways and received the Pathfinder Award from the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums.
Treuer’s lecture will explore the deeper meanings of sovereignty, trust, and responsibility, while examining how decolonization can serve as a framework for educational transformation.
The event is sponsored by GVSU’s Native American Advisory Council, with support from the Division of People, Equity, and Culture, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Anthropology Department, Kaufman Interfaith Institute, and the Native American Student Association.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Treuer after the presentation. Refreshments will be served, and free parking is available in Lot H for all community members.