42nd Annual Symposium on the American Indian
Published: 2014-03-27
Office of Communications & Marketing |Northeastern State University
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- All are invited to attend Northeastern State Universitys 42nd
Annual Symposium on the American Indian, April 7-12. NSU's Center for Tribal Studies
will host the symposium on the Tahlequah campus.
The theme for the 2014 symposium is Thriving Nations, Resilient Peoples and includes,
guest speakers, cultural activities, traditional art and institutional vendors and
the 2014 NSU Powwow.This year the event will kick off with a 5K Resilience Run and
1K Fun Run on Saturday, April 5.
Guest speakers will examine the history, education, human experiences, the arts, social
issues, and politics that impact tribal peoples. The symposium offers stimulating
topics and diverse perspectives to inspire innovative thought on ways to secure and
sustain well-being now and in the future. These presentations will be interspersed
with cultural activities.
Confirmed speakers include: Dr. Donald Fixico, Distinguished Foundation Professor
of History, School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Arizona State
University, Tempe; Dr. Leanne Hinton, professor of Linguistics at the University of
California at Berkley, and Director of the Survey of California and Other Indian Languages
a research unit which focuses on research and documentation of Native American languages;
Dr. Colleen Fitzgerald, Chair of the Department of Linguistics at the University of
Texas-Arlington; Stacy Leeds, Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Arkansas
School of Law, Fayetteville; Sarah Deer, Associate Professor, William Mitchell College
of Law, St Paul, MN; Dr. Stacy Pratt, Assistant Professor of English, SUNY-Jefferson
in Watertown, NY; Dr. Laura Tohe, Associate Professor of English, Arizona State University,
Tempe; Candessa Teehee, ABD, Director, Cherokee Heritage Center, Tahlequah; and Dr.
Brenda Child, Associate Professor of American Indian Studies, University of Minnesota-Twin
Cities, MN.
Other featured guests include Stephen Judd, independent filmmaker who will present
at the 2014 American Indian Symposium Film Series; a panel discussion presented by
the Southeastern Artists Association, moderated by Roy Boney; a Muscogee Language
Student Forum led by Mahaya Norma Marshall of the College of the Muscogee Nation,
Okmulgee; a Cherokee Language Student Forum led by Wyman Kirk, NSU; Field Methods
in Ethnology Student Presentations led by Dr. Benjamin Kracht, NSU; and the Revitalizing
Endangered Languages Conference, an inaugural event, led by Dr. Brad Montgomery-Anderson,
NSU.
This is an event designed for a diverse public audience and will include both scholarly
and general interest programs.
Traditional art and institutional vendors will be available daily, Monday-Friday from
9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Friday evening from 6-10 p.m. and Saturday from 1-11 p.m. Vendors are
invited to register at the Center for Tribal Studies.
All vendors and symposium activities will take place in the University Center until
4 p.m. on Friday, April 11, at which point the activities will move two blocks north
to the new NSU Event Center for the NSU Powwow.
The 2014 NSU Powwow is April 11 -12 and, for the first time, will be held in the new
Event Center. Admission is free and everyone to enjoy the festivities. It will include
prizes for the winners in each dance category. There are categories for men and categories
for women. Mens dance categories typically include: Fancy, Grass, Traditional and
Straight. Womens dance categories typically include: Fancy Shawl, Jingle Dress, Buckskin
and Cloth. Some categories might be combined.
Friday, April 11 from 6-10 p.m., there will be Gourd Dancing at 6 p.m. and at 8 p.m.
is the Grand Entry Contests.
Saturday, April 12 from 2 p.m.-Midnight, there will be Gourd Dancing at 2 p.m., supper
at 5 p.m. and the Grand Entry Contests at 7 p.m.
If you would like to sponsor a dance category, contact the Center for Tribal Studies
at 918-444-4350 or email tribalstudies@nsuok.edu