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4/10/2006
Contact: K.E. Schwab -- 724-738-2199;
e-mail: karl.schwab@sru.edu
SRU TO HOST TWO-DAY ‘NATIVE AMERICAN
CELEBRATION’ EVENT APRIL 18-19
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa.
– “Native American Celebration Day” will be
marked at Slippery Rock University with a two-day celebration April
18-19, featuring the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center
and the premiere of the play “Higher Education” written
by the university’s Dr. Frederick White, assistant professor
of English.
The play, including
a cast of SRU students, faculty and staff, will conclude the
celebration at 7 p.m. in Swope Music Hall. The work probes a
cultural clash of two Native-American students attending college
trying to fulfill their general education
requirements. “American History to 1860,”
“Introduction to Early-American Literature” and an
“Introduction to Music” are the settings for the
encounter. “All too often, Native Americans have endured
misidentification beginning with Columbus. Establishing Native
American identity has rarely occurred from within the Native
American's community, rather, Euro-American stereotypes and
misinformation have contributed to global and inaccurate depictions
of Native American culture and communities. Even more
troubling is how many of these stereotypes find recognition in our
schools, colleges and universities. This play explores some of
those depictions expressed in American history and American
literature classes,” White explains.
In the
play, Joseph Red-Morning-Clouds and Angela Jaslanas are the two
main characters. Red-Morning-Clouds encounters some difficulty
in affirming Native American contributions to literature in his
early-American literature class. Similarly, Jaslanas meets
staunch defensiveness about rethinking Columbus' explorations as
“visits” rather than the commonly accepted
“discoveries.” They endure having their cultures
and histories minimalized or trivialized, but their experience in
the “Intro to Music” affords a rare opportunity for
validating their music, language and culture.
The
Pittsburgh-based Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center
will offer traditional dancers and singers, visual artists,
storytellers and vendors offering Indian arts throughout the day in
the University Union.
The celebration
opens at 7 p.m. April 18 with the screening of the film
“Smoke Signals,” followed by a Native Americans on Film
discussion led by Dr. Rachela Permenter, professor of English and
Hock E Aye Vi (Edgar Heap of Birds) in McKay Education Building
Auditorium.
April 19 events
open with a 10:45 a.m. visit by storyteller Larry Watson, a member
of the Pittsburgh council, in the University Union who will also
offer the event’s keynote address titled “Eastern
Tribal Contributions” at 11:30 a.m. in the union. Watson will
also offer a traditional story at 4:15 p.m. in the
union.
A panel will
examine “Native American Contributions to Small Business
Entrepreneurs, Art, History and the English Language” at a
noon session set for the Union and traditional dancers and singers
from the local council will perform at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. in the
union. Panelists will include Dr. David Dailey, associate professor
of computer science, discussing Native American contributions to
language; Dr. Theresa Wajda, assistant professor in the School of
Business, contributions to small business entrepreneurs, Dr. David
Dixon, professor of history, contributions to history, and Edgar
Heap of Birds on contributions to art.
A 2:30 p.m. lecture
on Native American art will be offered by Alfred Youngman and Edgar
Heap of Birds in the union. The event is held to promote
Native American heritage and to give students and the community a
chance to talk with Native Americans about their contributions to
today’s life.
The celebration is
sponsored by the SRU President’s Commission for Racial and
Ethnic Diversity, the Office of the Provost and Vice President for
Academic Affairs, the Office of the Vice President for Finance and
Administrative Affairs, the University Program Board, the
Association of Residence Hall Students, Frederick Douglass
Institute, the Office of Intercultural Programs, the Office of
Residence Life and is part of the Kaleidoscope arts festival,
coordinated by SRU’s College of Humanities, Fine and
Performing Arts.
PN, PGN, WPN, PR, PT, S
ativeAmCelebration06.kes.doc
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