MSU’s School of Social Work is honoring Michigan Indian Day today with an educational forum.

A panel will foster discussion on what social workers need to know when providing services to Native American families.

“The School of Social Work wanted to celebrate the Michigan Indian Day,” said Suzanne Cross, who joined the school last year as an associate professor and organized the event.

The free event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon today at Kellogg Center.

“It’s an opportunity for not only students but agency employees to be aware of the some of the cultural barriers that might lead to communication difficulties,” she said.

Cross, who also is from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, said events such as the forum contribute to the school’s understanding of diversity.

“Every tribe is not the same,” she said. “Some are recognized by the federal government and some are not and that makes a difference.”

The panel will allow students to learn before they are presented with cultural challenges in the workplace, said Paul Cloutier, a Native American affairs specialist at the Michigan Family Independence Agency and the event’s moderator.

“It will help them understand some of the nuances and problems that expatiate while working with people that are Native American,” Cloutier said.

Students will be able to discuss a variety of issues, Cloutier added.

“There’s going to be issues in relation to substance abuse and alcoholism,” he said. “They’re not going to be able to attend the panel and learn everything.”

But the panel will foster discussion and establish future references, Cloutier said.

“It’s going to be really important to have a free flow of questions and answers,” he said. “Students can start looking at creating networks, people that they can call and contact if they have questions for the future.”

Eva Kennedy, a speaker at the panel and community organizer from Detroit, said she is also hoping to generate discussion.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to share some good information with the students for the future,” she said.

Kennedy said she will speak on community involvement as a Native American and “the steps we have to take as grandparents and grandchildren.”

An Oneida Tribe descendant, Kennedy said she has never participated in a panel like this, but has high hopes for the event.

“Hopefully we can provide some insight to students that will make them more sensitive to feelings in their job,” she said.

“It’s beneficial for young people to hear things other than book learning.”