Nokoomis Nibii Equay (Grandmother Water Woman), by Anishinaabe artist Duane Goodwin, was unveiled at the University of Minnesota Morris (UMM) last fall, honoring the Native peoples whose stories are tied to the campus. 

Goodwin’s sculpture depicts an important time in its early history: that of the boarding school days. 

“That history, although painful, is important to remember as the institution moves forward and transforms itself into a highly diverse community of scholars,” wrote UMM graduates Puncky  Heppner, ’73 B.A., and Mary  Soehren Heppner, ’76 B.A., who commissioned and funded the piece.