Monday, March 4 Welcome luncheon and lecture with visiting Māori Fulbright Speaker from Aotearoa New Zealand
| February 27, 2013 | Posted by elissa under Events |
Tihei Mauriora! The Link between Māori Education and Constitutional Transformation in Aotearoa
This event is sponsored by the College of Education, the Department of American Ethnic Studies, the Department of American Indian Studies, the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, and the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity.
Idle No More & Indigenous Nationhood
| February 27, 2013 | Posted by Misha under Uncategorized |
Please visit this site to read the entire piece title- Idle No More & Indigenous Nationhood.
I found this writing to be so enlightening! Taiaiake Alfred is a phenomenal Mohawk author whose expertise in Native American studies is very relevant to histories of all Indigenous peoples. I feel that his writing here is relatable to the Idle No More movement because of his experiences and activism and research with First Nations people.
In expressing the importance of Idle No More, here is an excerpt from the link written by Taiaiake:
“But it is clear too that the movement has plateaued. Much of the passion, urgency and attention Idle No More generated is dissipating in the wake of Chief Theresa Spence’s fast and the “13 Point Declaration” supported by Chief Spence, the Assembly of First Nations and the two Canadian opposition parties – which to many people in the movement represents a cooptation of the movement’s demands by the chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations in support of their ongoing negotiations and long-running bureaucratic processes.
The question in the minds of many people in the movement who are committed to more serious and transformational goals is how do we revive the momentum driving us towards fundamental change that we had at the start of the movement? I think that the only way to keep this movement going is for us to see our actions in Idle No More as part of a larger and long-standing commitment to the restoration of Indigenous nationhood.”
Taiaiake goes on to question the relevance of Idle No More and what it has accomplished. He challenges to achieve change for Natives, using social media to be more than just another “rant,” and the effectiveness of this movement. Natives need to use this movement to gain mobilization of people “on the basis of Indigenous Nationhood.”
Misha Averill is a senior at the University of Washington, majoring in American Indian Studies with a minor in Diversity. Her future aspirations include helping Native American communities through preservation of traditions, culture, language, and human rights. Misha has a special interest in Indigenous Rights and cross-culture interactions, and she hopes to attend law school for tribal government and Indian law.
Short Documentary about Idle No More
| February 21, 2013 | Posted by Misha under Uncategorized |
This is the time for Unity! The following video has a couple of different features of what Idle No More is to people today. Idle No More is more than just the young rising up, but rather a recognition of the ancestors and the spiritual connections we Indigenous peoples have with Mother Earth. We are the ones to speak for the trees, for the waters, for all the living spirits here on Earth. We can overcome internalized oppression. We are not invisible anymore! All political beliefs are set aside.
“Indigenous people are standing together and coming together as all human beings.”
- Karina, from the following film.
Misha Averill is a senior at the University of Washington, majoring in American Indian Studies with a minor in Diversity. Her future aspirations include helping Native American communities through preservation of traditions, culture, language, and human rights. Misha has a special interest in Indigenous Rights and cross-culture interactions, and she hopes to attend law school for tribal government and Indian law.
Indigenous Foods/Ecological Knowledge Symposium! May 1-2, 2013
| February 19, 2013 | Posted by elissa under Events |
SAVE THE DATE!!
May 1–2 2013
“The Living Breath of Wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ”
Indigenous Ways of Knowing
Cultural Food Practices and Ecological Knowledge
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
The University of Washington’s American Indian Studies Department invites you to a two-day symposium to be held May 1-2, 2013 on the UW’s Seattle campus.
“The Living Breath of Wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ: Indigenous Ways of Knowing Cultural Food Practices and Ecological Knowledge,” will bring together primarily Northwest Coast and regional Native leaders, elders, and scholars who will share their knowledge and expertise on topics such as tribal food sovereignty initiatives, food justice and security, traditional foods and health, global climate change’s impact on coastal indigenous food systems, treaties and reserved water rights, and treaty fishing rights and habitat protection.
Indigenous peoples in the Northwest have maintained a sustainable way of life through a cultural, spiritual, and reciprocal relationship with their environment. Presently we face serious disruptions to this relationship from policies, environmental threats, and global climate change. Thus, our traditional ecological knowledge is of paramount importance as we strive to sustain our cultural food practices and preserve this healthy relationship to the land, water, and all living things.
This symposium will be the inaugural event to honor UW’s future longhouse-style community building, Wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ(a Lushootseed word meaning Intellectual House), that will open its doors in 2014. This event symbolizes the spirit of Wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ and embodies the essence of the work we envision doing in this cultural and intellectual space.
Registration details are forthcoming.
Symposium coordinators:
Dr. Charlotte Coté (Nuu-chah-nulth) Ph.D., Associate Professor, UW’s Department of American Indian Studies; Affiliated Faculty, Canadian Studies Center, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies; Chair, Wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ (Intellectual House) Planning and Advisory Committee.
Clarita Lefthand-Begay (Diné) MS, Ph.D. candidate, UW’s School of Public Health, Graduate Student Representative, Wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ(Intellectual House) Working Committee Member.
Dian Million (Athabaskan) Ph.D., Assistant Professor, UW’s Department of American Indian Studies.
Elissa Washuta (Cowlitz) MFA, Academic Counselor and Lecturer, UW’s Department of American Indian Studies.
“Warrior Women” by Jen Ten Bears
| February 15, 2013 | Posted by Misha under Uncategorized |
Image: thestar.com
In writting about Idle No More movement I found this poem to be fitting. Chief Teresa did a hunger-strike in protest to the new legistlation that passed in Canada concerning the First Nations people. Her hunger-strike lasted 6 weeks and came to an end with the meeting of Canada’s prime minister to discuss the honoring of ancient treaty rights. This beautifully written poem is in dedication of Chief Teresa Spence. This poem is co-titled: In Her Honor: Chief Teresa Spence. I was given permission from Jen Ten Bears to publish her work here. For more information about Chief Teresa try visitng:
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/01/23/chief-theresa-spence-announces-end-fast-147192
http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/01/first_nation_chief_theresa_spence_hospitalized_ends_fast.html
WarriorWomen
Who will take a stand and walk with me?
Who will know this meaning of true sacrifice for that which we love?
What discipline shall I leave for my grandchildren and their grandchildren?
How will I be remember when I walk into the sunset?
I shall walk with my head held high.
I am a daughter of the earth mother and a voice for my people.
I will walk my walk with dignity and truth that lives deep within me.
I will not be intimidated by guns, tanks, and harsh words.
I shall stand like the elders at the timber roadblock.
They knew the danger thay were in by sitting there protecting the forest.
And the elder women said we have a plan…
We will go first and then, you will folow our lead.
Can I offer you a cigarette? A blanket? A meal? A shoulder to lean on?
I will come find you where you are in the city streets.
I am a sister that loves you and is looking out for you.
I will offer you a cup of coffee, a meal, or words of comfort.
You didn’t get here by yourself, all the trauma and dysfunction.
This took years and years of oppression and abuse.
No shame dear sister for being where you are right now.
All this can change, we just need to work on ourselves.
There is a memory that lives deep in your blood.
We need to remember where we came from and where we are going.
Can you hear the songs of old as we sit in silence?
The songs that tell us of our strength, our beauty, our courage and wisdom.
We have existed and have persevered through the wind and the rain.
This journey has been the longest walk through time and space.
And we have cried: We’re walking home. We’re walking home.
This is our land and the land of our ancestors.
We are the Warrior Women that walk in beauty and strength.
The Warrior Women of yesterday, today, and tomorrow…
We Are The Warrior Women.
Misha Averill is a senior at the University of Washington, majoring in American Indian Studies with a minor in Diversity. Her future aspirations include helping Native American communities through preservation of traditions, culture, language, and human rights. Misha has a special interest in Indigenous Rights and cross-culture interactions, and she hopes to attend law school for tribal government and Indian law.
February 14th Idle No More
| February 14, 2013 | Posted by Misha under Uncategorized |
Just thought I would share this in relation to Idle No More campaign. There is a need to challenge the “silence” of all peoples for the preservation of our Mother Earth’s future and our own! Idle No More and Act! Participate with any of the following:
On February 14, We Are Idle No More!
♥ V-DAY and One Billion Rising ♥
Idle No More is organizing events in solidarity with two important initiatives on February 14th:
Idle No More is inviting people to join in creating an inclusive Valentines and organize community events to coincide with One Billion Rising (an international campaign to stop violence against women and girls) and Have a Heart Day (an initiative to support Indigenous children). Candle light vigils, teach-ins, rallies, round dances, and other creative acts of awareness, resistance and solidarity are being encouraged. http://www.onebillionrising.org/pages/about-one-billion-rising
♥ HAVE A HEART DAY ♥
On Valentine’s Day, Idle No More is organizing in solidarity with V-Day, which is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. This Valentine’s Day, an international event is taking place known as One Billion Rising. It is an attempt to get One Billion Men and Women to rise against violence towards women and girls. This includes solidarity work with activists demanding action on the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada, and globally.
On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2013, celebrate Have a Heart Day by supporting Indigenous children to grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and proud of their cultures. Have a Heart Day is about caring Canadians working together to ensure Indigenous children have proper services that make them feel proud of who they are. Explore the Have a Heart Day website for more information, to send an e-Valentine, or to order Have a Heart Valentine’s cards, posters, bookmarks, and buttons: http://www.fncaringsociety.com/have-a-heart
♥ Women’s Memorial March♥
The Women’s Memorial March is an opportunity to come together to grieve the loss of our beloved sisters, remember the women who are still missing, and to dedicate ourselves to justice. Twenty two years ago, in response to a Coast Salish woman’s murder in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, an annual march began on Valentine’s Day to express compassion, community, and caring. Decades later, the march continues to honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women. To find a march near you, please visit: http://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/national/
Misha Averill is a senior at the University of Washington, majoring in American Indian Studies with a minor in Diversity. Her future aspirations include helping Native American communities through preservation of traditions, culture, language, and human rights. Misha has a special interest in Indigenous Rights and cross-culture interactions, and she hopes to attend law school for tribal government and Indian law.
What is Idle No More?
| February 11, 2013 | Posted by Misha under Uncategorized |
Here is a quick rundown of what the Idle No More Movement:
Who? The movement is supporting First Nations people of Canada.
What? A grassroots movement to get people mobile to join in the fight for honoring ancestry treaty rights, in protest of the new legislation policies that were passed in Canada last year. Some of the federal law changes include: Fisheries Act, the Canada Grain Act, the holding of hazardous materials, and making changes to Navigable Waters Protections Act.
Where? Canada; but demonstrations have gone international!
When? The Conservative party of Canada ruled for policy changes in December of 2012.
Why? There is extreme controversy over the proposed changes because of the resistance to the mining, oil and gas projects, and a pipleine project, ultimately threatening land and water qualities.
What is being done? Various demonstrations including: hunger-strikes, flash mobs, hand drum songs, teach-ins, wearing regalia to shopping centers, gatherings in protest all over the World!
For more info please visit:
2. A peoples’ movement that is idle no more
3. Idle No More? Speak for Yourself…
(image from: http://warriorpublications.wordpress.com)
Misha Averill is a senior at the University of Washington, majoring in American Indian Studies with a minor in Diversity. Her future aspirations include helping Native American communities through preservation of traditions, culture, language, and human rights. Misha has a special interest in Indigenous Rights and cross-culture interactions, and she hopes to attend law school for tribal government and Indian law.
RICH INDIANS by Professor Alexandra Harmon: Now in paperback
| January 18, 2013 | Posted by elissa under People |
Alexandra Harmon’s most recent book, Rich Indians: Native People and the Problem of Wealth, is now available in paperback. Published in 2010 by UNC Press, the book examines seven instances of Indian affluence and the dilemmas they presented both for Native Americans and for Euro-Americans—dilemmas rooted in the colonial origins of the modern American economy. Harmon’s study not only compels us to look beyond stereotypes of greedy whites and poor Indians, but also convincingly demonstrates that Indians deserve a prominent place in American economic history and in the history of American ideas.
“Harmon offers a diverse, atypical view of the effects of tribal and American-influenced economics on Indian people.” —Indian Country Today
Alexandra Harmon is professor of American Indian studies at the University of Washington. She is editor of The Power of Promises: Perspectives on Northwest Indian Treaties and author of Indians in the Making: Ethnic Relations and Indian Identities around Puget Sound.
Read a conversation between UWToday and Professor Harmon here.
Voices of the First Peoples Film Series premieres September 16
| September 14, 2012 | Posted by elissa under Events |
Voices of the First Peoples showcases films created by American Indian filmmakers, many of them produced through the Native Voices program at the University of Washington, as well as other award-winning PBS films. The films explore themes of identity, survival, racism and exploitation, children, history, community, and activism, opening a window into First People’s issues, culture and history. The series is hosted by UW Department of American Indian Studies Professors Charlotte Cote’ and Daniel Hart.
Premieres Sunday, September 16, 7 p.m., UWTV.
Autumn 2012 Course: Two-Dimensional Art of the Northwest Coast Indians
| August 29, 2012 | Posted by elissa under Classes |
Space is still available in AIS 350: TWO-DIMENSIONAL ART OF THE NORTHWEST COAST INDIANS.
Department: American Indian Studies
Instructor: Marvin Oliver
SLN: 10174
VLPA
MT 3:30 – 5:20 pm
Studio course emphasizes principles of structure and style of two-dimensional art which can be found on many old, traditional Northwest Coast pieces, such as painted storage boxes and chests, house panels, and ceremonial screens. Students apply these principles in creating a variety of graphic projects.