KU's indigenous studies program plans May 8 roundtable discussions, banquet

LAWRENCE -- Preserving languages and tribal histories through museums will be among the topics of three public roundtable discussions from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8, in the Kansas Union Big 12 Room at the University of Kansas. KU's Center for Indigenous Nations Studies is sponsoring the events.

In addition, the center will conclude the day's celebration of indigenous scholarship and heritage with a 7 p.m. invitation banquet in the Kansas Union to honor six graduating master's degree students, their guests and the program's faculty and staff. The annual Crystal Eagle Award for American Indian leadership will be presented.

The roundtables will feature Bob Rankin, professor of linguistics, and Clifton "Cliff" Pye, associate professor of linguistics, at 10:30 a.m. on preserving languages.

Four museum professionals, including a representative of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian, and three graduate students will lead a discussion on tribal museums at 1:30 p.m. The museum professionals are Gaylord Torrence, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Mo.; John Simmons, KU Natural History Museum; Mary Adair, KU Museum of Anthropology; Mary de Montano, National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.; and Bobbi Rahder, Haskell Indian Nations University museum. The three KU students from the museum studies track of the program are Hope Melius of Waubay, S.D., Johnnie Ann Fields of Lawrence, Gilbert "Gil" Hood of Norman, Okla., and Helen Kirsche-Dee of Lawrence.

The roundtables will conclude with a 3:30 p.m. discussion of issues involving indigenous scholarship, led by Donald L. Fixico, program director and Bowlus distinguished professor of history at KU; Cornel Pewewardy, assistant professor of education; David Anthony "Tony" Clark, assistant professor of American studies; Ray Pierotti, associate professor of biology; Bernard "Bud" Hirsch, associate professor of English; and Dan Wildcat, Haskell American Indian studies program.

At 7 p.m. the center will honor its students, including six graduating on May 18 at KU. At the end of the summer 2003 term, when two more students plan to complete their master's degrees, the four-year-old indigenous nations studies program will have graduated 14 students. Established in 1997 to complement Haskell's Native American studies bachelor's degree, KU's program began enrolling students in fall 1999 and today enrolls about 24 graduate students.

The graduate students voted this year to present the Crystal Eagle Award for American Indian leadership, a national honor, to Fixico, program director. Since coming to KU to direct the indigenous nations studies program, Fixico has conducted a national conference on American Indian leadership, has established an international journal and was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve on the advisory council of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Under Fixico's leadership, the KU program received a research grant from the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers in Washington, D.C., to analyze treaties involving U.S. Defense Department installations throughout Indian country.

Students receiving indigenous nations studies master's degrees on May 18 are listed by their hometowns and their parents' names if available.

ARIZONA
From Tuba City
Ernestine "Tina" Kay Tsinigine

FLORIDA
From Key West
Cedric Sunray, son of Joan King

MONTANA
From Billings
Marzha Lazelle Fritzler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fritzler

OKLAHOMA
From Ardmore
Jay Aaron Mule

From Tahlequah
Katherine Margaret Humphrey, daughter of Roland and Vera Anne Humphrey

SOUTH DAKOTA
From Waubay
Hope Jodele Melius, daughter of Sandra Melius