Scholars are producing work that will change the way the world views cross-cultural relationships between natives, blacks, and whites. “Crossings of Breath: Indigenous & Black Relations in North America,” a symposium designed to explore this emerging scholarship and create a dialogue about the politics of identity and Indian sovereignty, will be held Thursday, Nov. 10, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building, Lobo rooms A and B.
Blacks and Indians were enslaved together throughout the 18th century, often intermarrying. During the 19th century, some Native Americans protected runaway black slaves, while others owned slaves. More recently, blacks and natives have fought separate battles against environmental racism, poverty and lack of access to national representation. While written records documenting black and Native American ancestry are rare, many people of this heritage grew up listening to stories of their mixed race. Today, a growing number of black Native Americans seek information about their joint heritage.
Most of the research in this area has focused on the Southeastern United States and Oklahoma.
“Because little scholarship has been conducted on the experiences of natives and blacks in the Southwest, this conference seeks to further that study,” said Jennifer Denetdale, UNM assistant professor of history, co-organizer of the symposium with Elizabeth Archuleta, assistant professor of English; Greg Cajete, director of Native American Studies; and Delia Halona, NAS administrative assistant.
Symposium presenters will present overviews of native and black relationships beginning with European settlement of North America leading to current issues of cross-cultural ties, including the politics of claiming identity and the status of natives/blacks in tribal communities and governments.
A panel discussion will feature presenters of NativeAmerican /African-American descent. Evening events include a dinner and keynote address by Tiya Miles, assistant professor in the Program of American Culture, Native American Studies and the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Miles is the author of “Ties That Bind: The Story of an Afro-Cherokee Family in Slavery and Freedom” (University of California Press, 2005). Navajo/African-American artist Radmilla Cody will perform traditional Navajo songs from her three compact discs “Seed of Life,” “Within the Four Directions,” and “Spirit of a Woman.”
Other presenters include: Daniel Littlefield, professor emeritus, University of Arkansas, Little Rock; James F. Brooks, president of the School of American Research; Cortez Williams, UNM professor emeritus; Robert Collins (Choctaw/African-American), lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley; historian Susan Miller (Tiger clan and Tom Palmer band of the Seminole Nation), American Indian Studies faculty at Arizona State University; and Celia Naylor, assistant professor of Native American Studies at Dartmouth College.
UNM doctoral student Monica Joiner (Diné/African-American), and UNM senior Jacquelyn Walker (Cochiti/African-American) will also be presenters.
Sponsors include Native American Studies, President’s Office, School of Law, College of Arts and Sciences, New Mexico Humanities Council, History and English Departments, the Center for Southwest Research, Peace Studies, College of Fine Arts, the KIVA Club, African-American Studies, Institute for American Indian Research, and the Western History Association.
The event is free and open to the public; however, reservations are required for the evening portion, held at the UNM Hibben Center. Contact Native American Studies at 277-3917 or nasinfo@unm.edu.