Idaho State University to celebrate Native knowledge and sovereignty this Indigenous Peoples’ Day

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho State University will host its annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration on Monday, Oct. 12, bringing together Tribal communities, students, educators, university partners and members of the public for a day of cultural celebration, learning and relationship building.

The 2026 event will center on the theme, “Beyond the Land Acknowledgment: Indigenous Knowledge. Sovereignty in Action,” encouraging participants to move beyond recognition of Indigenous lands and deepen their understanding of Tribal sovereignty, Indigenous knowledge systems and the university's relationships with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and other Tribal communities.

The celebration is free and open to the public, with activities taking place primarily in the Pond Student Union. Registration is required at isu.edu/ipd.

“Indigenous Peoples’ Day creates an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous people, but it is equally important that it creates opportunities for learning and relationship building,” said Echo Marshall, ISU Director of Tribal Relations. “We especially encourage our non-Native students, colleagues, educators and community partners to attend. Strong relationships with Tribal communities begin with showing up, listening and learning.”

The day will begin at 8 a.m. with a tipi raising on the lawn of the ISU Administration Building, led by Agai Dika/Lemhi Valley Shoshone Elder Rose Ann Abrahamson. University students will have the opportunity to participate in the tipi raising alongside Tribal community members as part of an expanded emphasis on hands-on learning and student engagement.

Activities will then shift to the Pond Student Union, where attendees can visit Indigenous arts and crafts vendors, explore student research posters and connect with community member.

The formal program begins at 10 a.m. Shoshone-Bannock Tribal member and ISU alumnus Tyson Shay will serve as emcee. Opening ceremonies will feature the Spring Creek Singers, the Fort Hall Veterans Association, local royalty and student dancers, along with welcome remarks from Tribal leaders and Idaho State University President Robert Wagner.

An Indigenous brunch and networking gathering starts at 10:30 a.m., highlighting Indigenous foods and perspectives while providing opportunities for conversation and connection. Native American flute player and composer Hovia Edwards, who is Okanagan-Similkameen, Shoshone and Navajo, will also perform.

The event's keynote address begins at 11 a.m., delivered by Gaylen V. Edmo, a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and Assistant General Counsel for the Tribes' Office of Tribal Attorneys. Organizers said Edmo's presentation will examine Tribal sovereignty and explore how Indigenous knowledge and traditional lifeways continue to inform contemporary governance and the government-to-government relationship between the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and Idaho State University.

More than 150 years after the signing of the Tribes’ treaty, the lifeways, knowledge and sovereign authority of the Shoshone and Bannock peoples continue to be practiced and carried forward. The program encourages participants to understand sovereignty not only as a historical or legal concept, but as something actively expressed through governance, culture, education and community.

At 12:15 p.m., students and alumni will compete in an Oratorical and Storytelling Competition featuring original work inspired by this year's theme, with cash prizes awarded to participants.

At 1:30 p.m., Native students and community members will share culture through a Student Dance Exhibition, educating attendees about Native American dance traditions, regalia and cultural expression.

From 2 to 5 p.m., guests can visit the Idaho Museum of Natural History with free admission. Throughout the day, the Eli M. Oboler Library will also feature Indigenous-focused displays and resources that complement the celebration and provide additional opportunities for learning.

The celebration will conclude with a Contemporary Indigenous Fashion Show at 6 p.m., showcasing Indigenous identity, creativity and storytelling through fashion. The student-led event will include casual, athletic, formal, outdoor and regalia-inspired looks and will conclude with a performance by Aztec dancers.

The celebration will conclude with a Contemporary Indigenous Fashion Show at 6 p.m., showcasing Indigenous identity, creativity and storytelling through fashion. The student-led event will include Indigenous-inspired casual, athletic, formal, outdoor and regalia-inspired looks and will conclude with a performance by Aztec dancers.

Indigenous arts and crafts vendors, educational displays and student research exhibits will be featured, and food trucks will be available from noon until 8 p.m.

Idaho State University’s Pocatello campus is located within the original boundaries of the Fort Hall Reservation and on the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Shoshone and Bannock peoples.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to strengthening reciprocal and meaningful relationships with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes while creating opportunities for the broader campus and community to learn about Tribal sovereignty, Indigenous knowledge and contemporary Indigenous experiences.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is intended for everyone. Tribal community members, Native and non-Native students, ISU faculty and staff, educators, local schools, community organizations, government partners, families and members of the public are encouraged to participate.

For non-Native participants in particular, the event offers an opportunity to listen and learn directly from Indigenous voices, build relationships and better understand how to support respectful partnerships with Tribal nations and Indigenous communities.

2026 Indigenous Peoples’ Day Schedule

8 a.m. — Tipi Raising, ISU Administration Building Lawn
9:30 a.m. — Registration, Indigenous Arts and Crafts Vendors and Student Research Posters
10 a.m. — Welcome Remarks and Opening
10:30 a.m. — Indigenous Brunch, Networking and Native Flute Music
11 a.m. — Keynote Address: Gaylen V. Edmo, JD
12:15 p.m. — Student & Alumni Oratorical and Storytelling Competition
1:30 p.m. — Student Dance Exhibition
2–5 p.m. — Free Admission to the Idaho Museum of Natural History
6 p.m. — Contemporary Indigenous Fashion Show and Aztec Dance Performance
Noon–8 p.m. — Food Trucks

The 2026 Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration is free and open to the public. Registration is required. For registration, the complete schedule and additional event information, visit isu.edu/ipd.