By Dr. John L. Hoffman, president, Bemidji State University & Northwest Technical College

For a number of reasons, November is one of my favorite months. With the focus on activities recognizing our American Indian Heritage Celebration at both Bemidji State University and NTC, Bemidji’s Technical College, this month offers opportunities to lift up and celebrate the heritage and cultures of the original residents and caretakers of the lands surrounding us.

Service to American Indian communities is woven into the DNA of both Bemidji State and NTC. BSU is renowned for creating the nation’s first collegiate Ojibwe language program and for opening one of the first Indian Studies programs in the country. Our American Indian Resource Center has provided an on-campus home for our students since it opened more than two decades ago. Last year, we expanded our American Indian Resource Center and, for the first time, have a full-time staff member on the NTC campus providing support for students there, as well.

These resources and services are increasingly vital as we continue to explore innovative ways to serve the people of our region. As members of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, BSU and NTC are just two of a 54-campus network that state-wide enrolls more than 167,000 students. Together, BSU and NTC serve around 5,100 of those students — 3% of the system’s total enrollment. However, nearly one quarter — 22.5% to be precise — of the American Indian students enrolled in a Minnesota State college or university are pursuing their educations at either BSU or NTC. The only school in Minnesota which enrolls more American Indian students than BSU is the University of Minnesota — and despite being more than 13 times our size, at nearly 55,000 students, their American Indian enrollment exceeds ours by less than 100 students.

We are the destination for American Indian students in Minnesota, and every day we recognize the tremendous responsibilities that this imparts upon us — to provide accessible, affordable and life-changing educations to prepare them for a world they can only imagine. Along the way, we must help others understand American Indian cultures and the contributions these communities make to our broader society.

In the past two years, our AIRC has become the vibrant heart of our transformative Nisidotaading initiative — named from an Ojibwe phrase meaning “having a mutual understanding.” This initiative, which exemplifies our dedication to fostering cultural awareness and mutual respect, has enabled us to create new programming and services to support our students and to provide innovative professional development activities that are educating and empowering our employees, as well.

As you may know, all students enrolled at Bemidji State University are required to take a course focused on Indigenous people or issues prior to graduation. This program is an important reminder of the power of higher education to shape lives and to prepare our students for the increasingly diverse world they will enter after graduation. This program is about giving our students the tools they need to develop empathy and understanding. In time, this understanding will help our graduates transform the region in which we live and work.

We are also extending this work to our employees. Last year, we began offering Nisidotaading training seminars meant to educate our employees on the history and cultures of the sovereign Indigenous nations in our region. This fall, for example, our employees have an opportunity to participate in a multi-week seminar where they are learning about the various treaties between these nations and the American government. All employees of BSU and NTC will complete a Nisidotaading training course by the end of 2026, and with support from Minnesota State we also hope to begin offering this training to all employees in the system in the near future. These efforts equip our employees with the knowledge to better serve all students and to create an environment that respects and uplifts Indigenous perspectives.

While we are proud of this work, our responsibility to serve extends beyond our campuses. In 2017, BSU became the first university in the country to sign dual-enrollment agreements with four Minnesota tribal colleges — at Leech Lake, Red Lake and White Earth, and at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. This agreement guarantees enrollment at BSU to graduates of those schools. BSU is now working to enhance these transfer pathways for tribal college students and ensure they are met with the support they need to succeed.

While there is so much we have achieved, we recognize that our achievements pale in comparison to the work that remains ahead of us. While November gives us ample opportunity to recognize and celebrate our successes, to be grateful for what we have done together, it also calls on us to pause and reflect on our shared history.

With this reality in mind, for many families, November feels incomplete without Thanksgiving. Over the years, I have come to appreciate the holiday’s complex and layered significance, particularly during American Indian Heritage Month. Thanksgiving invites us to gather, share food, and express gratitude, but it also challenges us to deepen our understanding of history — reflecting on the resilience of American Indian communities and the lessons they continue to offer us today. By recognizing these histories alongside the spirit of gratitude, we can commit to building a more inclusive future for all. Together, we are building pathways to understanding, inclusion, and a future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.

John L. Hoffman (he/him/his), President Bemidji State University & Northwest Technical College