What does it take to wake up a “sleeping” Indigenous language? How do Indigenous nations keep their cultures and environments thriving? Elisabeth Pierite-Mora and Jean-Luc Pierite, both Tunica-Biloxi and Mississippi Choctaw, will speak on “Indigenous People and Social Change” at Northwestern State University at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17 in the Lucile Hendrick Room on the first floor of the Student Union. The event is free and open to the public.

During the talk, the speakers will discuss their family and community’s work on language and cultural revitalization and how it impacts their individual work. Pierite-Mora will address stereotypes of Indigenous peoples and the challenges and successes of shifting an endangered language from extinct to awakening. Pierite will speak on his experiences working with the urban Indian community in New England, including legislative advocacy, environmental justice activism and promoting access to technology. Both will share their collaborative work creating new Tunica-Biloxi content through their contribution to Mitoloji Latannyèr/Mythologies Louisianaises, a multimedia exhibit running now through the end of 2024 at Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge.

The event is part of National Day of Racial Healing on campus.

“As stated by the National League of Cities, the National Day of Racial Healing began in 2017 as a call to action for racial healing for all people,” said Brittany Broussard, NSU’s director of Campus Climate and Culture. “It is so important for the healing process to hear from members of marginalized groups to be educated on their culture and support the social action causes they fight for.”

The event is sponsored by the Gail Metoyer Jones Center for Inclusion and Diversity, American Indian and Indigenous Studies Minor offered through the School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs and the NSU Native American Student Association .