Native Voices comes to River Campus

Internationally known speakers and artists will present their writings and research that look at Native Americans through new eyes. "We want to raise awareness about Native people in general and for Native people to rejoice in their Indian identity," said Yvonne Bilinski (Navajo), an organizer of Native Voices and assistant director of the Higher Education Opportunity Program at Rochester. "We want to acknowledge the research and contributions of Native people in their fields."

Native Voices stretches beyond the academic to quality entertainment and toward mutual understanding of Native peoples. The program offers an array of nationally recognized speakers who will discuss such topics as barriers to educational success for Native students and nontraditional roles for Native women. Beyond the experts, graduate students who have researched their own cultures also will make presentations.

The opening concert performance on Thursday, March 30, will present Sharon Burch, whose newest CD, Colors of My Heart, captures the beauty of Navajo living and traditions. Friday night's Alfonso Ortiz Memorial Keynote Presentation will feature the poetry and music of Joy Harjo, Muscogee writer and musician, who plays saxophone with her band Poetic Justice. Her books of poetry include the award-winning titles In Mad Love and War and The Woman Who Fell From the Sky.

This year, Native Voices is cosponsored by Nazareth College of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John Fisher College, and SUNY College at Brockport. On campus, the event is made possible by the College, the Office of Minority Student Affairs, the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender and Women's Studies, the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women's Leadership, and the Arts Committee of the Student Association.

Check the Currents calendar for details on the events. More information also is available at www.rochester.edu/College/OMSA/Events/NVoices/ or call x5-3157.

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