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Odeh Center Launch Event

Highlights from the Event Heading link

Donald Perrot and Zoë Harris standing together behind a podium

Native Speakers Centering Their Native Languages

Potawatomi language expert Donald Perrot addressed the crowd first in the Potawatomi language, and UIC PhD student Zoë Harris (citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe) spoke in the Wampanoag language in her remarks to the crowd.

Dr. Pallares speaking from behind a podium

Vice Chancellor Pallares Sharing her Philosophy that “Acknowledge Is A Verb”

Dr. Amalia Pallares, UIC vice chancellor for diversity, equity & engagement, spoke of her approach that inclusion and equity must be enacted, not merely stated, and how the Odeh Center is meant to welcome students from historically marginalized communities so that they do not have to choose between their cultural and academic identities.

Dr. Ballard-Thrower speaking from behind a podium

Dean Ballard-Thrower Sharing her Admiration for the Innovation of Prince

Dr. Rhea Ballard-Thrower, UIC dean of libraries, told the crowd that she is probably the only Dean at UIC who has a large, framed photo of musical artist Prince on the wall of her office, not only because he was a musical genius, but because he was willing to push boundaries and challenge the status quo – something she aims to do as the leader of UIC’s library network and by housing the Odeh Center within the Library of Health Sciences.

the named people standing in front of a colorful mural and using over-sized scissors to cut a large blue ribbon

Ribbon Cutting to Launch the New Odeh Center

Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Engagement Dr. Amalia Pallares, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Dr. Robert Barish, Potawatomi language expert Donald Perrot, Director of Health Affairs Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Adriana Black, Dean of Libraries Dr. Rhea Ballard-Thrower, PhD student Zoë Harris, and muralist Miguel A. Del Real cut the ceremonial ribbon to formally inaugurate the health equity center (pictured left to right).

Chef Jessica standing in an open field and looking into the camera, wearing a chef's jacket with a tribal paw insignia on the sleeve

Chef Jessica Bringing Indigenous Tastes to the Garden

Jessica Pamonicutt, executive chef and owner of Ketapanen Kitchen, Chicago’s first and only Native American pop-up kitchen and catering company, served indigenous fare to event attendees with her women’s medicine salad, blueberry bison tamales and iced cedar tea with honey.

a detail from the mural

Public Presentation of the “Odehmenan” Mural

The UIC community got a first look at the mural “Odehmenan” designed and painted by Miguel A. Del Real, a Chicago artist born and raised in the Pilsen neighborhood. In his own words, the prominent position for the anatomical heart is the most important symbolic element for the center and significance of Odehmenan Potawatomi word for “this heart of ours.” There is a mind, body and spirit connection depicted with the whimsical flowing lines that interweave all the elements. The four sacred plants of tobacco, sage, sweetgrass and cedar continue to flourish throughout the composition.

a Native American dropping seeds into the ground in the Atkins Medicinal Plant Garden.

Ceremonial Planting of Cedar Tree in the Atkins Medicinal Plant Garden

Among the Four Sacred Medicines of Native American healing practice, Cedar (Gizhki) is known as the restorer and purifier. The ceremonial planting of the cedar tree in the garden during the center dedication program represents healing and growth for this new beginning.

two staff members of the College of Pharmacy tending to small pots of clippings on a table

Sharing of Clippings of Plants to Flourish Among Our Community

Event attendees were invited to take home clippings of sage and other aromatic plants as a memento of the event, and as a flourishing reminder of the work of the Odeh Center.

Photos from the Event Heading link

  2. the three named people standing side by side and smiling into the camera
    Dr. Mark Rosenblatt, executive dean of the College of Medicine; Dr. Robert Barish, vice chancellor for health affairs; and Dr. Amalia Pallares, vice chancellor for diversity, equity and engagement.
  7. the three named people posing together and smiling into the camera
    Mario Lucero, director of inclusion initiatives; Dr. Carlos Crespo, dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences; and Dr. Robert Barish, vice chancellor or health affairs.
  11. the named people standing closely together and smiling into the camera
    Roberta Givens, Urban Health Program (UHP);Clara Awe, UHP director for the College of Pharmacy; Dr. Robert Barish, vice chancellor for health affairs; Dr. Phyllis Hayes, assistant vice chancellor for external engagement; and Crystal Stevenson, Auburn Grehsam community coordinator, Office of Community Collaboration.
  13. the two named people and Spark D. Dragon standing next to a banner that says UIC Pharmacy, Chicago, Rockford
    Sparky D. Dragon posing with Bridge to Faculty (B2F) Scholar, Dr. Tristesse Burton, who conducted tours of the garden, and Dr. Bethany Elkington of the UIC Pharmcognosy Institute.
  17. the four named people standing wiht their arms on each others' shoulders and smiling into the camera
    Dr. Chandra Harris-McCray, UIC vice chancellor for strategic marketing and communications; Dr. Michelle Mariscalco, associate vice chancellor for health sciences academic affairs; Dr. Phyllis Hayes, UIC assistant vice chancellor for external engagement; and Dr. Aisha El-Amin, associate vice chancellor for equity and belonging.
  18. Joy Vergara at her table with materials, speaking with a visitor
    Joy Vergara, executive director of the Center for Student Involvement and Student Leadership & Civic Engagement, presenting information about the many programs and services available to UIC students.
  21. photos of Adriana black and Dr. Barish, both speaking from behind a podium
    For the Odeh Center dedication program, Adriana Black, MPH, MAT, director of the Odeh Center, gave an introductory land acknowledgement, followed by Dr. Robert Barish, vice chancellor for health affairs, who talked about the importance of the Odeh Center for the health sciences at UIC.
  22. photos of Dr. Pallares and Dr. Ballard-Thrower, both speaking from behind a podium
    Dr. Amalia Pallares, vice chancellor for diversity, equity and engagement, spoke of her philsophy that the word acknowledge is a verb, meaning that incusion and belonging achieved through meaningful action, not just words. Dr. Rhea Ballard-Thrower, dean of libraries, spoke of how she finds inspiration from musical artist Prince because of his innovation and willingness to challenge the status quo.
  23. Donald Perrot and Zoë Harris standing together behind a podium
    Donald Perrot, a Potawatomi language expert who was instrumental in the naming of the Odeh Center, and Zoë Harris, UIC PhD student and citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, both opened their remarks in their native languages, followed by remarks in English.
  24. a women bending over soil in the gardn and dropping seeds into the soil
    The dedication program culminated in the ceremonial planting of a cedar tree in the garden. Among the Four Sacred Medicines of Native American healing practice, Cedar (Gizhki) is known as the restorer and purifier, here symbolizing healing and growth for this new beginning with the launch of the Odeh Center. Pictured here is Cyndee Starr, cultural coordinator for the American Indian Health Service of Chicago, who was pivotal in refining the details and meaning around the plants and food shared during the launch.
  25. the named people standing closely together and smiling into the camera
    Posing in front of the newly planted cedar tree are Adriana Black, director of the Odeh Center; Cyndee Starr, cultural coordinator for the American Indian Health Service of Chicago; Dr. Tol Foster, director of UIC’s Native American Support Program and citizen of the Mvskoke Creek Nation of Oklahoma; UIC PhD student Zoë Harris, a citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe; Pamala Silas, associate director of community outreach and engagement for Northwestern University; and Dr. Tristesse Burton, a Bridge to Faculty (B2F) Scholar in the Department of Pharmacy Practice.
  26. the named people standing in front of a colorful mural and using over-sized scissors to cut a large blue ribbon
    The ceremonial ribbon cutting marking the opening of the Odeh Center, left to right: Dr. Amalia Pallares, vice chancellor for diversity, equity and engagement; Dr. Robert Barish, vice chancellor for health affairs; Donald Perrot, Potawatomi language expert; Adriana Black, director of the Odeh Center; Dr. Rhea Ballard Thrower, dean of libraries, Zoë Harris, UIC PhD student; and the Pilsen-based artist who created the center’s beautiful mural, Miguel A. Del Real.
  27. an older man (Donald Perrot) gesturing toward the mural and speaking into a microphone with a younger man (Miguel) listening
    Potawatomi language expert Donald Perrot and artist Miguel A. Del Real seated near the center’s mural, answering questions and discussing the genesis of the center’s name and of the mural.

Video of the Dedication Program Heading link

00:00 – Introduction and land acknowledgment from center director Adriana Black, MPH, MAT
02:03 – Robert Barish, MD, vice chancellor for heath affairs
06:14 – Amalia Pallares, PhD, vice chancellor for diversity, equity and engagement
12:04 – Rhea Ballard-Thrower, JD, MLIS, dean of libraries

14:55 – Formal dedication – Introduction from center director Adriana Black, MPH, MAT
19:27 – Remarks in Potawatomi and English from Donald Perrot, Potawatomi language expert
26:39 – Remarks in the Wampanoag language and English from Zoë Harris, UIC PhD student and citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
30:03 – Ceremonial planting of a Cedar tree
31:15 – Conclusion and invitation to the Odeh Center

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