UA will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a series of events designed to spotlight the history, tradition and values of Native Americans.
One of the month’s highlights will be a visit by Dr. Joseph Connolly. Connolly, who is Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River, is an aerospace engineer in the Intelligent Control and Autonomy Branch at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. He serves as a technical lead for propulsion controls under the Advanced Air Transport Technology project.
Connolly will participate in Campus Dialogues Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. in the Great Hall in Ferguson Student Center before leading a discussion on STEM education awareness and appreciation of Native American perspectives at 6 p.m. at 1014 North Lawn.
Other Events
Gorgas Library will have a monthlong exhibit featuring the work of Joy Harjo, a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She was named the 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate in June and is the first Native American to receive the honor. Harjo’s exhibit will be located near the Capstone Drive entrance of Gorgas Library.
A screening of the award-winning documentary “Warrior Women” will be held Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m. in 3104 Ferguson Student Center. The film looks at the role women played during the American Indian Movement of the 1970s and unveils not only a female perspective of history, but also examines the impact political struggles have on the children who bear witness. The event is sponsored by University Libraries, the department of American Studies and the Women and Gender Resource Center Student Leadership Council.
Stringing Rosaries: A Book Talk with Dr. Denise Lajimodiere will be held Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in 108 ten Hoor. The book presents a brief history of the boarding school programs for indigenous Americans, followed by 16 interviews with boarding school survivors, and ending with the author’s own healing journey with her father.
Every Woman Book Club will meet Nov. 21 at noon at Hotel Capstone’s Legends Bistro to discuss “The Plague of Doves” by Louise Erdrich, whose writings feature Native American characters and settings. The monthly activity is sponsored by the Women and Gender Resource Center. Those planning to attend should RSVP to JLKimbrough2@ua.edu or by calling 205-348-5040.