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Updated: November 21, 2025 @ 2:49 am
The Native American Student Organization hosted a ShiShiBe Bingo night on Nov. 11.
The Native American Student Organization hosted a ShiShiBe Bingo night on Nov. 11.
Western Michigan University’s Native American Student Organization (NASO) hosted a night of ShiShiBé bingo in celebration of Native American Heritage Month Nov. 11.
ShiShiBé is a form of Native American bingo played in the Great Lakes region among Anishinaabe tribal nations. At the event, NASO adapted American bingo cards to Pottawatomi words to assist learners with understanding common words in the language.
“My grandma was at bingo every week, so we’re bringing pieces of our community to campus,”said WMU history and music professor Frank Waln.
He continued: “In my classes I try to get everybody to realize that no matter what your ethnicity or background is, if you’re in America, this history is your history because Native history is U.S. history.”
Waln is from the Lakota tribe in South Dakota and performed the Lakota flag song in celebration of Veterans Day.
“Native people didn’t become U.S. citizens until 1924 and we were serving in the military before that,” Waln said. “In the Lakota tribe, we’ve always had a strong tradition of warriors and people stepping up to defend our communities.”
He continued: “After we were colonized, the military was the place for us to become warriors. I have nothing but love and respect for the veterans that I know.”
Waln noted how the Lakota flag song highlights the evolving nature of Native American culture.
“This song came out in the ‘70s,” Waln said. “It’s an example of how Native music and culture has been adapting through time. A common stereotype is that Native culture is this static, dead thing of the past, but that’s not true; our culture is alive. It’s living, it’s breathing and it’s adapting as we do.
NASO president Jordan Morseau expressed enthusiasm for the organization’s growth.
“We’re seeing an uptick in attendance,” Morseau said. “It’s exciting and it makes my heart warm.”
Faculty advisor Dee Sherwood encouraged students to attend NASO events.
“We’re a welcoming community and we want students to feel empowered,” Sherwood said. “Come check us out!”
For more information on NASO, visit their Instagram @wmu_naso.
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