2020 Speaker Series
The School for Advanced Research’s Indian Arts Research Center presents a series of conversation-style presentations exploring today’s world of cultural preservation. Museums, artists, and communities are increasingly recognizing the need to elevate indigenous voices in the public’s understanding of traditional and evolving Native arts and culture. This year’s Speaker Series takes us on a journey beyond the Pueblo communities within which we are situated, to shed light on the many remarkable ways indigenous-based cultural preservation, promotion, and revival are happening nationally. Through the intimate conversations, this series celebrates and acknowledges the powerful work happening all around us. From indigenous language revitalization efforts, centuries old traditions in Alaska’s Alutiiq communities, or a changing contemporary art scene in Hawai’i, “Rise” asks how indigenous communities are coming together to ensure that their respective histories, arts, and cultures, are represented with respect and are able thrive and grow for future generations.
All discussions take place from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and are hosted at the School for Advanced Research, 660 Garcia Street, Santa Fe, NM 87505 – except for the presentation by Anton Treuer (see details below). These events are FREE and open to the public, advanced registration is encouraged. Click on individual events to register.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
The Language Warrior’s Manifesto: Indigenous Language, Culture, and Art in Motion
with Anton Treuer
Join celebrated author and speaker Dr. Anton Treuer for a fresh perspective on what’s driving revitalization efforts in indigenous language, culture, and art. Healing takes many forms. What’s in the way? What’s being done about it? How can people help? Treuer is Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University and author of 15 books, including The Language Warrior’s Manifesto.
(Please note: this first talk will be at the New Mexico History Museum – 113 Lincoln Avenue in downtown Santa Fe)
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
He Alo A He Alo: Face to Face, Conversations with The Ancestors
with Maile Andrade and Marques Hanalei Marzan
Maile Andrade, multi-media artist, professor at Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and SAR’s 2012 Eric and Barbara Dobkin Native artist fellow, joins Marques Hanalei Marzan, Hawaiian fiber artist and cultural advisor for Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawai’i for an open dialogue on the relevance and the changing world of indigenous visual art practices for contemporary Native Hawaiian artists. Art plays a key role in promoting cultural values and understanding for this and future generations. While they began as teacher and student, Andrade and Marzan continue to explore these issues as fellow artists and cultural educators.
“Come join us for this provocative conversation looking at ourselves as being the ancestors of tomorrow.” – Maile Andrade
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Waila: The O’odham Social Dance Tradition
with Angelo and Ronald Joaquin
Why is it that Arizona’s Tohono O’odham Nation tribal members have been dancing to polkas, schottisches, and mazurkas since the 1800s? Join Angelo and Ronald Joaquin in a conversation exploring the Tohono O’odham social dance music known as waila and, sometimes, as “chicken scratch.” The style, which emerged out of European and Mexican origins, has been adapted to include traditions from Tohono O’odham culture. Angelo and Ronald are the sons of Angelo Joaquin Sr., founder of The Joaquin Brothers band, which culminated a 35-year career with a performance at New York City’s Carnegie Hall. Angelo is a co-founder of the Waila Festival in Tucson and Ronald is a musician and leader of the Southern Scratch band. The two will take the audience through two centuries of honoring this vital Tohono O’odham music tradition.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Community Collaborations: Alaska Native Artistic Revitalization
with Sven Haakanson and Nadia Jackinsky Sethi
Sven Haakanson, curator of Native American Anthropology at Seattle’s Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture and Nadia Jackinsky Sethi, Program Officer for Alaska’s CIRI Foundation and Curatorial Consultant at the Alaska State Museum, reflect on ongoing collaborations between museums and indigenous communities in Alaska. As the jumping off point, the two explore an effort to bring back angyaat “open boats,” a culturally relevant style of boats whose fabrication techniques had been lost to Native communities from which they originated. Using a small selection of existing museum models and archival references, Sven and the community were able to reverse engineer the vessels.
“I have called this repatriating knowledge that was once forgotten and is now being reawakened once again through pieces from the past.” – Sven Haakanson