UW-River Falls to host event Feb. 5 highlighting the importance of Indigenous people

Speaker to focus on preserving Native American lands, cultures

Jan. 29, 2024 - The University of Wisconsin-River Falls will host an address by a Native American educator on Monday, Feb. 5, about the importance of Indigenous lands and cultures and efforts to preserve and restore them.  

The UWRF Politics, Geography and International Studies Department is collaborating with the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Sustainability Faculty Fellow and the Student Social Work Association to bring Brian McInnes to campus. McInnes is an assistant professor in American Indian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and is a member of the Wasauksing First Nation.

McInnes will present “Talk on Local Indigenous Lands and Cultures and How Local Tribes are Working to Restore Each” at 4 p.m. in the Falcon’s Nest in the University Center, 410 S. 3rd St., River Falls. A traditional feast will follow McInnis’ presentation. The event is free and open to all. More information about the event is available here.

McInnes has a deep interest in the preservation of Indigenous cultures and languages. He often speaks and makes presentations about Indigenous cultures. He previously was a teacher and administrator at the Waadookodaading Ojibwe Immersion School in Hayward and founded theEnweyang Language Nest program at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. 

McInnes has also been a distinguished teaching professor at the University of Minnesota and the Leola R. Culver Professor of Philanthropy and Nonprofits at the University of Wisconsin.