Silent auction, taco luncheon to benefit NSU's Symposium on American Indian

(Tahlequah, OK)--Northeastern State University will host a silent auction March 10 in the University Center Herb Rozell Ballroom Lounge from 11 a.m. 6 p.m. to benefit the 39th Annual Symposium on the American Indian held each year at the institution.??The event features open bidding throughout the day and is free and open to the public. ??An Indian taco luncheon will be held in the Rozell Ballroom from 11 a.m. 2 p.m. where some auction items will be on display. Luncheon tickets are $8 and include one Indian taco, a drink, and a dessert. Carryout is not available. Tickets can be purchased onsite or by calling the Center for Tribal Studies at 918-444-4350.

The silent auction is the American Indian Heritage Committees major fundraiser for the annual symposium," said Dr. Susan Frusher, the auction's co-chair. "We greatly appreciate the past and continued support from local businesses and individuals in our community, including NSU. In part, because of generous donations and participation in the silent auction, we can continue to have one of the longest running annual events of its kind that is free and open to the public."

Preliminary symposium activities begin April 11, with the full schedule running April 13-16. This year's theme is "Hands Across Nations: Smart Legacies Strong Spirits." Admission is free to the symposium and powwow.

Items donated for silent auction include a large, hand-woven reed basket and beaded earrings both created and donated by NSU students, a red Cherokee blanket, hand-crafted jewelry, Cherokee syllabary eye charts, an original Bobby Martin etching, American Indian prints including one by Dana Tiger and another by Joan Hill, gift certificates for Continuing Education courses, a roller backpack filled with teaching and classroom supplies, certificates for pet vaccinations and gift certificates for local restaurants and other goods and services.

Frusher acknowledged co-chairs Asa Lewis and Connie Henshaw and said she was grateful for the student volunteers and support particularly the American Indian campus organizations and for assistance from Alisa Douglas and Dr. Phyllis Fife of the Center for Tribal Studies.