The annual Mari Sandoz Heritage Society Symposium runs today from 9 till 5 at at Chadron State College with morning sessions in the Student Center and afternoon sessions in the Sandoz Center.
This year’s Symposium focus is on theme’s found in two of the author’s books: Cheyenne Autumn and Hostiles and Friendlies.
The first session at 9:00 is by retired college professor Dr Norma Wilson on Native America storytellers, followed at 10:30 by 6 discussion round tables on the two focus books.
The Sandoz Society award luncheon is at 11:45, a book signing is planned for 1:00, and the first of 3 afternoon sessions starts at 1:30 as Dr Kim Lee talks about why Mari Sandoz felt it was important to explain the two Sitting Bulls.
At 3:00, Nebraska State Capitol researcher Jamison Wyatt will talk about the relationship between Mari Sandoz, the city of Lincoln, and the state Capitol.
The final presentation is at 3:45, when Fort Douglas Museum curator Ephriam Dickson tells the story of internal politics within the Oglala nation during the Great Sioux War.
The Sandoz Society Symposium comes during the first month of the 10th anniversary of the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center…a longtime priority of the Society.
Center Director Sarah Polack is pleased to be hosting the Symposium during the Center’s 10th anniversary, although there’s no special celebration.
She says the 10th year of operation has brought a greater emphasis on academics through CSC and some changes in the center itself.
One new item is a display case that’s changed each month to highlight or reflect some timely local issue, activity, or fact…such as the start of school or the Museum of the Fur Trade.
Polack says visitors over the next year will see continuing changes as some of the multi-media aspects of the center are revamped and the CF Coffee Gallery…which tells the story of the cattle industry in this area…continues to evolve.
Admission to the Sandoz Center is free, but donations are welcomed. Its hours are 8-12 and 1-44 Monday-Friday and 9-12 and 1-4 on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.
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