University Libraries and the Indigenous Nations Library Program are sponsoring an October lecture titled, “Sustaining Indigenous Presence through Language” on Monday, Oct. 24. A brown bag discussion begins at noon in room 102 of Zimmerman Library. There will be a panel discussion from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Willard Reading room of Zimmerman. Both events focus on the importance of sustaining indigenous languages through community and academic programs.
Invited speakers include the Indigenous Language Institute’s Executive Director Inee Slaughter, and the institute’s program coordinator Brenda McKenna from Nambe Pueblo. Also, invited is Christine Sims, UNM assistant professor in the Department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies. Sims, from Acoma Pueblo, testified before the U.S. Congress on behalf of indigenous language preservation in 2003.
Andrew Becenti, Diné, is the Navajo Language, Culture and History instructor at Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington. Maureen Olson is the Jicarilla Tribal Language Revitalization Coordinator in Dulce, New Mexico.
For more information about the event, please contact April Hale at (505) 277-7433. This event is free and open to the public.
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627