University of New Hampshire, Durham
Keynote Speaker: Jean O'Brien (Ojibwe), University of Minnesota professor and author of Firsting and Lasting: Writing Indians out of Existence in New England
Friday evening celebration with Joseph and Jesse Bruchac (Abenaki)
Proposals are invited for the first interdisciplinary Indigenous New England conference to be held September 17-18 at the University of New Hampshire. The theme is partnerships between universities and indigenous communities. We seek to initiate a conversation among academics and community activists who wish to move beyond (or who have already moved beyond) the "expert" model, whereby academics "study" Native communities or Native "guests" make isolated appearances on campus. What obligations do universities have to local Native American communities? How can Native activists partner with academics to produce (and protect) new knowledge? What have been some of the challenges and rewards of academic/community partnership?
We invite proposals for individual papers and panels on such topics as:
- Family and Community History including efforts to document and preserve
- Language Revitalization
- Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Environmental Activism
- Collaborative Research
- Artistic Presentation & Production
- Service learning
- Curriculum and academic program development
- Sovereignty and Recognition
- Historic Preservation, Repatriation and Heritage Management
- Outreach and Recruitment to First Nations students
- Importance of Kinship Relations in Indigenous Communities.
Proposals are welcome from faculty and university students; from community-knowledge keepers and elders; and professionals working in the field. Abstracts (250 words) describing the proposed topic and the presenter's knowledge of that topic are due by May 15, 2010. Please include a one-page c.v. or one-paragraph personal biography. (First Nation Elders may also contact the organizing committee and discuss their submissions orally.) Please submit only one proposal, and indicate whether it is for an individual presentation or panel. We will respond to all proposals by July 30, 2010.
Presented by the University of New Hampshire. Co-sponsored by Gedakina and the Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions. Submissions to ssenier@unh.edu or Gedakina, PO Box 221, Milford NH 03055.
Inquiries can be directed to any of the following: Siobhan Senier (ssenier@unh.edu), Meghan Howey (meghan.howey@unh.edu or 862-2518), Donna or John Moody (wcit@valley.net, 802-649-8870) or Rick Pouliot (RickPouliot@gedakina.org).
