OKEMOS - With November rolling around the corner so does Native American Heritage Month. In Okemos, there is no better place to learn about the history and culture of the local native tribe of the Anishinaabek than the Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center. The center acts as a miniature museum and gift shop dedicated to educating the community about the culture, adversity and goals of the Anishinaabek natives. Multiple native artifacts are on display and the center is eager to share their history with anyone who visits.

The acting president of the center, Aarin Dokum, has a strong passion for educating the community about the history of his people. His main goals are to spread his native language and to seek correct representation for his people and tribe. Aarin believes that not only is the term 'Indian' an incorrect characterization of his people, but 'Native American' as well. He wishes for the correct names (for example the Anishinaabek) to be used when speaking of native peoples.