CFP: Native Presence and Survival Shaping Native Futures

Matthew Sparacio Discussion

Fourteenth Native American Symposium:

Native Presence and Survival Shaping Native Futures

 

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Durant, Oklahoma

 

Friday, November 12, 2021

 

We invite tribal members, students, scholars, and educators to submit roundtable proposals for Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s Fourteenth Native American Symposium. In recognition of the challenges of the past year, the event theme is “Native Presence and Survival Shaping Native Futures.” We ask that speakers help put the unique circumstances of 2020 in conversation with longer Native histories of what Anishinaabe theorist Gerald Vizenor refers to as survivance – the Native rejection of victimhood through active presence. Our program also is interested in allowing participants a forum to consider how the events of the past year – including the fight against COVID-19 and the implications of the McGirt Supreme Court decision recognizing tribal sovereignty in Oklahoma – can help shape the future. How do tribal communities and native-owned businesses continue to navigate both the economic slowdown and the virus? What will the “new normal” look like? We invite all to share how they believe the past and present will shape Native futures, and consider what form these futures will take.  

 

Our program is especially interested in roundtable proposals that reconsider Native business, sovereignty, leadership, education, career development, and inspiration in the time of COVID.  Roundtables connecting the theme of “Native Presence and Survival Shaping Native Futures” to other topics such as Native American history, cultural identity, literature, art, philosophy, and film will also be considered. 

 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Fourteenth Native American Symposium will be conducted entirely virtually. Although this format cannot completely replicate the in-person Symposium experience, we believe it will allow for a wider audience for our speakers. The specific virtual platform will be announced once the program is finalized. Please send all roundtable abstracts (between 250 and 500 words in length) by July 15, 2021 to nasymposium@se.edu

 

The Native American Symposium is pleased to announce that our keynote speaker will be Dr. Eric Tippeconnic (Comanche), Artist and Assistant Professor of American Indian Studies at California State University San Marcos. 

 

All symposium sessions will be free and will be made open to the public.

 

 

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Dr. Matthew J. Sparacio

Department of Social Sciences and Co-Director, Native American Symposium 

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

425 W. University Boulevard

Durant, OK 74701-3347

(580) 745-2626

nasymposium@se.edu