Events & Photos
NAISA 3rd Annual Conference Co-Hosted by Yale
The 2012 Annual meeting of the Native American Indigenous Studies Association Conference was co-hosted by Yale University, and organized in great part due to the efforts of Yale’s Native American Faculty members and administration. The conference brought scholars from all over the world to Mohegan Sun Casino and over 160 different sessions on Native American and Indigenous Studies were presented.
1491s Visit Campus and film REPRESENT with Native Students
The 1491s, an all Native sketch comedy group based out of Minnesota and Oklahoma visited campus. The group’s following in Indian country is strong, with several famous videos including Smiling Indians, Geronimo E-KIA, and their films with the Indian Law Resource Center highlighting the epidemic of violence against Indian women. While at Yale, the group met with students and filmed two skits starring Yale students to be a part of their REPRESENT series. Watch the videos at the links below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6J8XvweOi4&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhmeDtbdypk&feature=plcp
Navajo Nation Supreme Court Hears a Cast at Yale Law School
The Navajo Nation Supreme Court, consisting of Chief Justice Herbert Yazzie, Justice Eleanor Shirley, and Justice Wilson Yellowhair (by special designation), heard oral arguments at Yale Law School in the case Navajo Nation v. RJN Construction Mgmt., Inc. Robert J. Nelson and The Home for Women and Children
The appeal raises issues of interpretation of "ownership" in which the federal government holds land in trust for Indian beneficiaries. Other issues concern the interest of local communities in land use decisions, and business site leasehold interests with regard to tribal trust land and structures built on such land. Because the nature of trust land, ownership of title, actual ownership, ownership of structures, and possessory rights are complex subject.
In addition to attending the hearing, Yale Native Community members were able to get to know the justices over dinner and introduce them to our campus.
Henry Roe Cloud Conference Celebrates 100 Years of Native Americans at Yale
The Native American Community gathered to celebrate the legacy of Native Americans at Yale that began with Henry Roe Cloud in 1910. The three day conference included a student-led brunch, gala dinner, alumni panels, reception at the Dean’s House, and a student-organized dance. The Wa-Na-Xi-Lay Hunkah (Henry Roe Cloud) Native Alumni Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Patricia Nez Henderson (Dine’) and the Association of Native Americans at Yale Community Award was presented to Professor Alyssa Mt. Pleasant (Tuscarora).
Beading Night
Students gathered in the center for an evening of culture and celebration. Upstairs students learned traditional beadwork techniques, and even used them to express Yale pride! Downstairs, students cooked Crow hamburger stew, frybread, and red chile Frito pies.
Native Graduation
Every year the Native American Community at Yale gathers to celebrate the graduation of Native American Seniors. Each year, the community reflects on the growth of both the community and the individual seniors. Speeches are given by the Dean of Native Students, alumni, and there is an open mic for community members and current students to tell stories of the many ways in which the individual seniors have contributed to the lives of their fellow students. Each student is honored by their peers and mentors, and then presented with gifts from the community, including the Native American Community stole to wear on graduation day as a symbol of honor at the completion of their Yale degrees.
Dennis Banks Visit and A Good Day to Die
In fall 2010, Dennis Banks came to campus to give a talk, meet with students and screen his new documentary, A Good Day to Die. The film follows Banks’ life from his early experiences in boarding schools, military service in Japan, transformative experience in prison and activist career including the founding of the American Indian Movement.
