A Different Account

The Nov. 7 symposium seeks lessons to be learned from an interdisciplinary global perspective on indigenous matters.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 2, 2016) – A new UAlbany symposium on Monday, Nov. 7, will spotlight the resilience and strength of indigenous people.

Global Solidarity: Harnessing the Strength of Indigenous Communities Around the World is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Campus Center Assembly Hall. Admission is free.

The symposium features a wide range of scholars, from leading indigenous academics in Australia to the co-founder of a project in Massachusetts to reclaim the Wampanoag language. Until 2010, there had been no speakers of this language for six generations. For the full list of speakers, go to www.albany.edu/indigeneity.

“Too often, the only narratives that frame discussions about indigenous people are those of ‘lack,’ disadvantage or misery,” said Institute Director Michelle Harris. “The symposium seeks to foster a different account of these communities by drawing attention to the lessons that can be learned from an interdisciplinary global perspective on indigenous matters.”

The symposium seeks to engage Native American and Indigenous students in a more direct and intentional way, while drawing attention to the campus’s new Institute for Global Indigeneity.

As a project, this symposium was a winner of a Diversity Transformation Award. It is intended to broaden conversations about diversity and inclusion by acknowledging indigenous students, faculty and research.

In Spring 2016, more than 200 enrolled UAlbany students identified themselves as having indigenous ancestry – either Native American, Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.

One of the speakers at the Nov. 7 conference is Bronwyn Carlson, associate professor of Indigenous Studies, University of Wollongong, NSW Australia. She teaches first year Indigenous Studies at UAlbany. Find out more about Carlson in today's 5 Questions for Faculty feature.

Another presenter is Fenmei Niahosa, a soprano singer and activist who has performed in more than 100 countries around the world. Niahosa was the first Tsou (indigenous people of central southern Taiwan) individual to study abroad and earn a master's degree.

The event is co-sponsored by the Institute and by the Center for International Education and Global Strategy.

To register go to: http://bit.ly/2f9R0pe.

For more news, subscribe to UAlbany's RSS headline feeds