Located in the Muenster University Center Ballroom, the daylong event, "O'yate O'kiciyapi: People Helping One Another," focuses on several topics of support and resiliency within the Native communities. Programs include opportunities for participants to examine emotional and psychological support in Native communities, including an O'kiciyapi activity facilitated by the USD Clinical Psychology Program and Wase Wakpa (Vermillion) community, and Psychological First Aid by Jerry Jacobs, Ph.D., professor of clinical psychology and director of the Disaster Mental Health Institute at USD.

Additionally, Gene Thin Elk, director of Native Student Services at The U, Edward Valandra, Ph.D., chair of the Department of American Indian Studies, and Beth Boyd, Ph.D., associate professor, clinical psychology, will present programs on support and the significant role education plays in adapting to change. Other presentations include an information fair, Historical Trauma and Resilience, and opening and closing ceremonies.

The Building Bridges Conference and Native American Visit Day begins with registration at 8 a.m. followed by the opening ceremony at 9 a.m. A complete schedule of events, along with a registration form, is available by visiting the Building Bridges Conference Web site: www.usd.edu/bridges/conference.cfm.

Open to Native students in high school, college and graduate programs, Building Bridges provides opportunities for students and faculty to learn effective ways to make higher education a positive experience for all students. A limited number of travel grants are available for high school groups on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, please contact the conference planning committee at (605) 677-5353 or e-mail bbridges@usd.edu.

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Hanna DeLange
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