• Inside the Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center, that shows pieces of the culture of the Indigenous people of the Great Lakes

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared Oct. 11 as Indigenous Peoples' Day to give recognition to Indigenous peoples.

"Today is a day of remembrance, reflection and celebration of the Indigenous peoples, including those who call Michigan home," said Whitmer. "The success of tribal communities is inextricably linked to Michigan's success, and we must ensure that they have an empowered voice and seat at the table."

To celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day, Michigan State University's North American Indigenous Student Organization (NAISO) is hosting an event. The event begins at 5:00 pm at the Beaumont Tower, is followed by a march to the MSU rock at 5:30 pm and ends at 6:00 pm with prayer and speakers.

There is also the Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center located in Okemos. It is open to the public on Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The center works to preserve the Anishinaabe people of the Great Lakes Region's history, culture, arts and language.

November is National Native American Heritage Month, which means more events are being planned to celebrate and honor the culture and history of America's Indigenous peoples.

The Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center is located at 5153 Marsh Rd., Okemos, MI 48864.