The University of New Mexico Native American Studies Lecture Series features two presentations, one offering insight on indigenous higher education in Canada and the other focusing on the Iroquois. Both events are free and open to the public.
Photo: Singer, performer, composer Joanne Shenandoah.
Shauneen Pete, vice president of academics, First Nations University of Canada, presents, “Indigenous Higher Education in Canada: Visions for a 21st Century World,” Monday, April 21 from 5-7 p.m. in Santa Ana B in the Student Union Building on the UNM campus.
The First Nations University of Canada at the University of Regina is an independently administered university offering university education to First Nations and non-First Nations students. The First Nations University of Canada is the only First Nations-controlled university in Canada has the largest concentration of aboriginal faculty in one institution in the world.
For more information about First Nations visit: First Nations.
The second event features Joanne Shenandoah, singer, performer, composer, and journalist Doug George-Kanentiio. The duo present, “We Are The Iroquois: Preserving a Distinct Native Identity in the Northeast,” Thursday, April 24 from 3-5 p.m. in the Willard Room in Zimmerman Library on the UNM campus.
Shenandoah, a Wolf Clan member of the Iroquois Confederacy - Oneida Nation, has 14 recordings with her music on 40+ compilations. Her original compositions, combined with a striking voice, allow her to embellish ancient songs of the Iroquois using a blend of traditional and contemporary instrumentation. Shenandoah’s music reflects indigenous philosophy and culture that continue to have a profound effect on the world today.
For more about Shenandoah visit: Shenandoah.
Kanentiio, Akwesasne Mohawk territory, is a lecturer, renowned author and award-winning journalist. He is nationally recognized as a primary source of information about Iroquois politics and culture. His expertise has been relied upon and sought after by historians, film producers as well as television documentary directors. He is a columnist for News From Indian Country and Indian Time publications.
Kanentiio’s columns have also been printed in the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Toronto Star, Rochester Democrat-Chronicle, Montreal Gazette, London Free Press, Schenectady Gazette and the Albany Times Union. For nine years The Syracuse Newspapers printed his columns on the opinion page.
Kanentiio received the “Wassaja Award” for his journalistic contributions; the highest honor bestowed by the Native American Journalists Association, and was also featured in Gentlemen’s Quarterly (GQ) Magazine.
Kanentiio was the editor of Akwesasne Notes for six years, a bimonthly international journal about indigenous people worldwide. He also edited Indian Time, a newspaper serving the Mohawk Nation.
University Libraries Indigenous Nations Library Program is a co-sponsor for both events.
For more information regarding both lectures contact: Native American Studies at (505) 277-3917 or nasinfo@unm.edu.
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; email: cgonzal@unm.edu