Events

Many of our events are video-recorded. You can see a list of available videos on our website. If you subscribe to our YouTube channel, you will be notified when new videos are available.

Fall 2019

Tuesday, October 22 I 4:00-5:30pm

Joseph A. Myers Center for Research on Native American Issues Colloquia Series:

Power and Progress on the Prairie

Tom Biolsi, Professor of Ethnic Studies, UC Berkeley

This talk will be based on Prof. Biolsi’s recently published book, Power and Progress on the Prairie, which traces the history of “modernization,” “improvement,” or “progress” on Rosebud Reservation. The central question of the book is how ideas about making things “better” were invented and applied to the people—both Indian and white—and the land. The cases examined include plans to “civilize” Indians and “modernize” farmers; to rationally manage agricultural production and land-use; to mitigate environmental problems; to “rationalize” plans for nuclear war to increase the likelihood of “national survival”; and to extend voting rights to Lakota people. Each of these plans or programs is an example of what Biolsi calls governing. Drawing on the work of Michel Foucault on governmentality, the book aims to understand how “problems” requiring correction came into public focus, or were actively made by experts with “remedies” or “solutions” in search of problems to fix. 

Shorb House (Latinx Research Center), 2547 Channing Way

Co-sponsored by Native American Studies Program, Native American Student Development, American Indian Graduate Program, American Indian Graduate Student Association

Tuesday, November 5 I 4:00-5:30pm

Joseph A. Myers Center for Research on Native American Issues Colloquia Series:

To Profit from Blood?   

Beth Redbird, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Faculty Fellow, Center for Native American and Indigenous Research, Northwestern University

Blood quantum is a controversial part of tribal constitutions, yet tribes have not developed their blood quantum standards in a vacuum. Using data from more than 500 tribal constitutions, this presentation examines the relationship between Native citizenship and economic development.   

Shorb House (Latinx Research Center), 2547 Channing Way

Co-sponsored by Sociology, Native American Studies Program, Native American Student Development, American Indian Graduate Program, Native American Studies Library, American Indian Graduate Student Association, Institute of Governmental Studies