An Evening of Inspiration • 2025 Awards Night

Thank you to all of you who supported and joined us under the dome for our annual Awards Night.

2025 Sustainability awardee Dr. Serdar Celik speaking in the Fuller Dome at Awards Night.

Each year the Center bestows two awards, one for Spirituality Leadership and one for Leadership in Sustainability. These dual awards reflect the Center’s mission to “promote humanity’s sacred connection to the Earth and each other.” This year the Fuller Dome was proud to honor the leadership of Johnny Moses and Serdar Celik whose careers embody the excellence, passion, leadership, and service that these awards were designed to recognize. The following photos are by Howard Ash:

L-R Tovia Black, Serdar Celik, Johnny Moses and Benjamin Lowder

Master storyteller, Johnny Moses singing with friends accompanied by the Red Cedar Circle of S.W. Illinois.

Master Storyteller Johnny Moses in the Fuller Dome at SIUE

Johnny Moses, Whis-stem-men-knee – Walking Medicine Robe (Nuu-chah-nulth and Coast Salish)

Johnny Moses is a traditionally trained Native American memorizer, singer, and master storyteller. In this presentation for all ages, he will share songs, stories, and teachings from Native American peoples of the Pacific Northwest. 

Friday, September 12, 2025,  8:00PM  • Stories from the First People of the Pacific Northwest

Sunday, September 14, 1:00PM  • Medicine Circle: Songs and prayers. Bring your voice, drum or rattle!

Johnny is a recipient of the Washington Governor’s Heritage Award.  His collection of 80 songs from the Native Northwest was released in 2017 by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Johnny has told stories, given presentations, and led song and prayer circles at the Fuller Dome every few years for three decades.  Many individuals, of all ages, have learned from, and been uplifted by the words he has shared. 

This is his eighth visit to speak in the southern Illinois and St. Louis region.  In 1996, on his first visit, recordings were made that are included in his book, Sacred Breath: Pacific Northwest Medicine Teachings, Stories, and Epics, forthcoming in 2026 from the University of Nebraska Press.