Participants formed a circle around Mayville State student Darrick Frederick (left) and Roy Morsette explained and demonstrated smudging.
October 11, 2022
Indigenous Peoples’ Day was commemorated at Mayville State University Monday, Oct. 10, 2022 with the revealing of the university’s newly formed Land Acknowledgement Statement. The document honors and pays respect to the history and the land called “home” at Mayville State University.
An MSU Diversity Committee subcommittee that included Mayville State student Tucker Bercier, Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences Dr. John Pederson, Coordinator of Transition Programs Amy Fuglestad, and Interim Co-Dean of Student 
Affairs and Enrollment Center Director Misti Wuori developed the statement and brought it forward for official university approval.
In addition to the revealing of the statement, the Multicultural Club hosted relevant activities for all, including a smudging ceremony led by Mayville State students Darrick Frederick and Roy Morsette.
Smudging is a tradition which involves the burning of one or more medicines gathered from the earth, such as sage. Smudging gives people the opportunity to stop, slow down, and become mindful and centered, allowing them 
to remember, connect, and be grounded in the event, task, or purpose at hand. It also allows people to let go of negative feelings and thoughts. The forms of smudging vary, but all are considered to be a way of cleansing oneself.
Photo captions
Top: Members of the subcommittee who developed Mayville State’s Land Acknowledgement Statement were (l-r) Misti Wuori, Amy Fuglestad, Tucker Bercier, and Dr. John Pederson.
Middle: The Multicultural Club hosted activities for all in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day Oct. 10, 2022.
Bottom: Mayville State’s newly formed Land Acknowledgement Statement was on display in the Mayville State Campus Center Foyer on Oct. 10, 2022.