The Maverick Diversity Institute’s mission at MNSU is to “offer challenging and unique workshops and programs that will help you to become knowledgeable on inclusivity, access, and equity in your workplace and classroom environment”. From my experience, they go above and beyond this mission and have greatly changed my outlook and approach to diverse situations. This past fall I attended a talk given by Mariah Gladsone who spoke on sustainability and food sovereignty on Indigenous People’s Day. She started off her presentation by talking about the history of indigenous cooking and how their struggles to survive in America resulted in being creative with specific cuisine. Indigenous people were given very little fresh food from the U.S. government and the flour, sugar, salt, and lard they were provided were made into the widely known fry bread. Food sovereignty is deeply connected with power dynamics related to food production and distribution. An example is when companies see culturally restricted diets as a means to make money. They may increase prices on items listed as Kosher or Halal because of their high demand. I have seen this firsthand in Minnesota with products that are staples in indigenous cuisine such as wild rice, quinoa, and chia seeds. Mariah praised local businesses throughout Montana that provide ground buffalo at affordable prices in large quantities. In her talk she discussed her goal of re-indigenizing our diets using digital media; showing that the recipes are easy to make and healthy as well. Initially, expressing appreciation and love for traditional foods evolved into her capacity to assist others who shared her mission, deliver speeches to educate, and establish indigenous gardens.

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A few weeks after hearing Mariah speak, I decided to attend the American Indian Night featuring a Native singer, Dancer, and speaker Sean Soukkala, and his son Jason. They represented the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe showcasing their Grass Dance wearing traditional Native dance Regalia. At the event, we enjoyed a meal consisting of turkey, sweet potato, and green beans, striving to capture the essence of a traditional dish while also catering to the preferences of the Minnesotan palate. The dance was wonderfully done, and we were told to close our eyes and envision a story unfolding as they danced. Given the historical significance of Mankato, Minnesota, particularly the events of 1862, the gathering for American Indian Night had profound significance, symbolizing resilience in the face of enduring struggles, despite the ongoing need for progress. This is a drastic example of how power dynamics shape intercultural interactions but it’s important to be mindful of how power dynamics put other people in difficult situations. Recognizing these dynamics is crucial in fostering respectful engagements and moving society forward in being more open to inclusivity. As the event reached its conclusion, Sean invited everyone to stand and join him in dance, and we eagerly accepted, forming a circle that filled the entire CSU ballroom with dancing.

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As someone who grew up visiting my mom’s hometown of International Falls Minnesota, I have grown up with great respect for indigenous traditions and culture. The city resides in Koochiching County and is named from the Ojibwe word meaning “at the place of inlets” referring to the Rainy Lake and River. The city is also home to the beautiful Voyager’s National Park which I have visited on many occasions. While visiting museums, attending a powwow, and visiting with our indigenous family friends, I always had a good understanding of the importance of food in native cultures. However, it wasn’t till this talk that I realized the extent it can strengthen the ties of their culture and remind people of their inherent worth in promoting healthy and cost-effective eating habits. Even though I am not indigenous I can learn from this and integrate some of the techniques Mariah discussed into my cooking. Since her talk, I have been using plenty of squash and freshly sourced produce for cooking. For example, supplementing spaghetti squash for noodles for spaghetti is something I have routinely done, and this has carried over to my family back home and some of my friends. I can relate this to my developmental experience (Language Partners) because a way I connected to many of the students from other countries was through food.

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Attending the American Indian Night heightened my sensitivity to instances of ethnocentrism, where I realized I might have subconsciously evaluated other cultures through the lens of my cultural values. One example is presuming someone’s cultural background incorrectly and inadvertently associating prejudices with that culture. Conversely at the event, I also witnessed instances of ethnorelativism, where individuals embraced cultural differences with curiosity and respect. During the event, a student shared their challenges in learning an indigenous language after giving a lengthy introduction to that language which was impressive. Their introduction highlighted the interconnectedness between language and culture. Language plays a vital role in preserving cultural tradition, sharing knowledge, and fostering connections within one’s community. The impact language has can be better understood when looking back at our history and how boarding schools established in the 1860s prohibited indigenous people from speaking their native languages aiming to assimilate children into European/American culture. Colonial authorities sought to erase indigenous identities and suppress their resistance to their rule. The loss of Indigenous languages has had significant consequences such as impacting their cultural identity and increasing the social marginalization within their communities. An example of this can be seen in northern Minnesota where indigenous communities face barriers to accessing healthcare, have worse health outcomes, lower quality of care, and are cared for by providers who lack cultural competence. This is reflected in the University of Minnesota Medical School in Duluth’s mission to address the healthcare needs of indigenous communities. Recognizing the connection between cultural identity and language paired with the history of the United States is vital to understanding the ongoing struggles for indigenous rights that people face.

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Finally, watching the discussion on places and spaces held by the Maverick Diversity Institute and led by Alex Lucier was very insightful and related to the talk from Mariah Gladstone and my experience at the American Indian Night. During this discussion, I reflected on how I got a sense of belonging as a student. As an extroverted person, I found my identity through the various organizations I joined.  I became friends with people through the Honors program, and peers in CSET. Feeling like you aren’t allowed to be in a certain space is something that hits hard with me and was a topic of discussion. In my role as a nursing assistant at the hospital, finding a spot to chart on a computer often makes me feel like I'm at the bottom of the pecking order. It's daunting to share space with nurses and even physicians, sometimes leaving me with a sense of not fitting in. I anticipate grappling with this imposter syndrome during medical school and residency. However, it's vital to reaffirm my worthiness in these settings. Recognizing that many others feel similarly, I am committed to championing inclusivity and a welcoming atmosphere in all spaces. I will be sensitive to instances where this isn’t being practiced and will advocate change after being in that situation. Since I am however a member of the majority on campus, I never realized I could feel like this until I reflected on my time at work. Given what our discussion was on, I have a newfound appreciation for the topic of spaces and will never forget my experience.Our discussion of students having trouble fitting into their environment reminds me of my discussion with international students I tutored in the Language Partners program. Many of them admitted to feeling like they had trouble fitting in and had trouble interacting with people outside their inner circle. This resulted in many of them only spending time with people who spoke their language and were from their country. They felt bad about not branching out and I reassured them that it was normal and that having a balance could be healthy because anyone would become overwhelmed when moving to another entirely different country. As my time with these students went on, I saw them become more comfortable on campus in spaces while reminding them that they were mavericks like everyone else.

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All three of my experiences have reinforced my belief in the importance of intercultural engagement as a means of fostering empathy, understanding, and unity across diverse communities. It has encouraged me to approach cultural interaction with humility, curiosity, and willingness to learn and grow. Over time, my view on intercultural engagement has really evolved. Attending talks and cultural events has taught me to appreciate and respect different perspectives. The areas I have learned the most are in cultural sensitivity, social responsibility, and respect. I have also come to see the importance of recognizing systemic inequalities and advocating for inclusivity and cultural competence. Before my time at MNSU, I knew this was important but lacked real-life experience with it coming from a predominantly white city. Thankfully I was able to get experience in this area at MNSU and during the summer while working as a nursing assistant. In my role as a CNA, I’ve encountered patients from various cultural backgrounds, and some situations have pushed me beyond what I learned at college. One instance I will never forget involved a patient from Colombia who arrived in significant pain accompanied by his wife. Communicating with him was challenging due to his limited proficiency in English. Drawing upon my basic Spanish knowledge from high school and using iPad video translator calls, I managed to keep the patient calm and informed him and his wife about his care plan. After the shift, the charge nurse praised my efforts in ensuring the patient felt reassured and understood despite the language barrier. While this occurred before my intercultural engagement experiences, I believe reflecting on this encounter will enhance my future performance, allowing me to better support patients from diverse backgrounds. As I approach graduation, I’ve come to a profound realization; the journey of intercultural engagement is an ongoing process without any defined endpoint. There’s no finish line or medal awaiting me because learning never truly concludes. Instead, it’s a lifelong endeavor that will continue to shape and enrich my understanding and perspectives for the rest of my life.