Diversity at the University

Native American Heritage Month

Students and faculty on our campus represent 10 native tribes.  In their honor, we present their tribal flags.

Calendar of Events

Thursday, September 20: Friends of Ganondagan's 2012 Native American Lecture Series: “Land & Identity: Seneca and Quaker Perspectives on Two Controversial Treaties.”
The three-lecture series price is $25/Friends of Ganondagan members. Individual lecture prices are: $10/Friends of Ganondagan members, $15/non-members, and $5/students with ID. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.ganondagan.org/programs/LectureSeries.html or call 585-742-1690. Tickets also may be purchased at the door prior to lecture start.

Saturday, September 29, 10 am - 4 pm: Friends of Ganondagan's 2012 Native American Lecture Series: Seneca Encounter with LaSalle: Living History Event
This event is sponsored by the Rochester Area Community Foundation Historical Fund.

Thursday, October 25, 7-9 pm; Native American Lecture Series #2; "Lost Identity: The Painful Legacy of the Native American Boarding Schools"
Shults Center, Nazareth College.  During the early 1900s, many Native American children were taken from their homes and lands by the U. S. government and sent to government-run residential boarding schools in order to "Americanize" them. This lecture aims to raise awareness of this haunting and painful issue in American history, whose impact has continued on future generations. In keeping with "Fibers & Threads," we begin by looking at school uniforms forced upon Native students while taking away their traditional clothing. This lecture will include a viewing of the documentary Unseen Tears: The Impact of Native American Residential Boarding Schools in Western New York by filmmaker Ron Douglas. Michael Martin, interviewed in the film, will be on-hand for discussion.  www.ganondagan.org/programs/LectureSeries.html

Check out the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender and Women's Studies.  Beginning November 1, they will be featuring famous and important Native American Women activists on their website and blog!

Thursday, November 8, 3:30-5:00pm, Native American Languages Documentation and Conservation
University of Rochester, Wilson Commons, Gowen Room
Presenters: Joyce McDonough & Wilson De Lima Silva, Department of Linguistics
Co-sponsored by the College Diversity Roundtable & the Department of Linguistics

Sunday, November 11, 10:30 am - 5 pm; Canandaigua Treaty Day
Canandaigua, NY
The annual commemoration of the Canandaigua Treaty takes place on November 11 at 2 p.m. on the front lawn of the Ontario County Court House on Main Street in Canandaigua, New York. Please join us for a time of Peace and Friendship to commemorate a very important Treaty between the people of the United States of America and the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people. All activities (unless specified) take place at the Canandaigua Primary School, 96 W. Gibson Street, Canandaigua, New York. Admission is free and open to the public. Keynote speaker Jamie Jacobs at 4:00 pm at the Canandaigua Primary School Auditorium. Jamie Jacobs (Tonawanda Seneca, Turtle Clan) will speak on “Reading the Wampum Belts” in recognition of the prominent role the wampum belt played in the Canandaigua Treaty. Historic wampum belt reproductions from the collection of geologist/paleontologist Richard D. Hamell also will be on display. http://www.ganondagan.org/TreatyCelebration.html

Thursday, November 15, 5:00-6:00pm Traditional Mohawk Storyteller Barbara Mahooty
University of Rochester, Wilson Commons, Hartnett Gallery
Co-sponsored by the Office of Admissions & Office for Faculty Development and Diversity

Thursday, November 15, 6:00-7:00,  Lecture and demonstration on Woodland-style Art with Michael Galban
University of Rochester, Wilson Commons, Stackel Room
Co-sponsored by the Office of Admissions & Office for Faculty Development and Diversity

Friday, November 16, 7-9pm; Iroquois Social with the Eastern Travelers singing and dance group.
University of Rochester, Douglass Dining Center
Co-sponsored by the Office of Admissions & Kappa Delta Inc.

Saturday, November 17, 8-11pm: Exhibition Opening Party for Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation 3
Memorial Art Gallery
Enjoy music by Grammy award winner Joanne Shenandoah, the Ganondagan Young Spirit Dancers and the Chris Bethmann Trio. Purchase cocktails, coffee, snacks and dessert by our party sponsor, Max at the Gallery (also serving dinner 5-9 pm).Tickets are $25 (free to MAG supporter members and above). For more information, call 585.276.8939.

November 18-February 10; Exhibition: Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation 3
Memorial Art Gallery
The third in a series of exhibitions organized by the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, showcases contemporary Native and First Nations artists from the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast USA, as well as Northeastern Canada.  Exciting new work in ceramics, glass, metal, wood, fiber, and mixed media have been chosen to examine how values and aesthetics are being renewed and debated by artists caught between traditional and dominant cultures. For more information, visit http://mag.rochester.edu/mag/index.php?page_id=7982.

Sunday, November 18, 2 pm; Art Starts Conversations
Memorial Art Gallery
Discussion between exhibition curator Ellen Taubman and artist G. Peter Jemison

Wednesday, November 28, 5:00-6:30pm; Traditional Lacrosse stick maker Alfie Jacques
University of Rochester, Goergen Athletic Center, Hajim Leibner-Cooper Room
Co–sponsored by UR Women’s Lacrosse and Office of Admissions

Wednesday, November 28, 4:30 pm; Especially for Educators
Memorial Art Gallery
Join Gallery staff and artist G. Peter Jemison for an in-depth look at bringing the exhibition into your classroom

Thursday, November 29, 7-9pm Native American Lecture Series #3: "Denying Identity: the Ongoing Passport Issue"
Shults Center, Nazareth College
One of the most representative contemporary issues facing Native Americans caught between two cultures has been the passport issue. In 2010, this became a public, hot-button issue when the United Kingdom refused to recognize Haudenosaunee passports of the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Team as valid travel documents, thus denying them participation in the international lacrosse championships. Guest speakers include Ansley Jemison, assistant coach and assistant general manager for the Under 19 Iroquois Nationals lacrosse program. www.ganondagan.org/programs/LectureSeries.html 

Sunday, December 2, noon–5 pm; Native American Family Day
Memorial Art Gallery
Hands-on art activities, music, dance and storytellingSeries sponsored by JPMorgan Chase Foundation, with additional support from the Robert and Madeleine S. Heilbrunn Memorial Fund.

Thursday, December 6, 6 pm; Ganondagan at the Gallery
Memorial Art Gallery
On Thursday, December 6, you are invited to an historic "Ganondagan at the Gallery" fundraiser to benefit the non-profit Friends of Ganondagan in conjunction with the "Changing Hands" exhibit at the MAG. Experience a cross-cultural and inspiring evening, helping to inform and shape the way we look at art as an expression of culture. View the "Changing Hands" exhibit; enjoy a multimedia presentation by Ganondagan Site Manager G. Peter Jemison (also one of the shows featured artists), a performance by Iroquois social dancers, a silent auction, and coffee and dessert. Wine and tapas are available for purchase. $40/General; $100/Patron (includes 5:30 Jemison preview tour and wine/tapas voucher). Tickets are available at www.ganondagan.org or at the MAG admission desk during gallery hours. 

Saturday, January 19, 2013; 10 am - 4 pm; Traditional Native Arts Wampum Belt Workshop with Richard Hamell.
Ganondagan State Historic Site, Victor, NY.
Sponsored by the Friends of Ganondagan
www.ganondagan.org

Thursday, January 24, 7 pm Recent Scholarship
Memorial Art Gallery
University of Rochester students Carlie Fishgold, Amanda Graham and Alex Marr each present on work in the exhibition

Saturday, February 16, 2013: 9 am - 1 pm: Traditional Native Arts Cornhusk Doll/Clothing Workshop with Ronnie Reitter.
Ganondagan State Historic Site, Victor, NY.
Sponsored by the Friends of Ganondagan
www.ganondagan.org

Saturday, February 23, 2013; 10 am - 4 pm; Annual Native American Winter Games at Ganondagan
Canandaigua, NY
Outdoor enthusiasts, lovers of winter, and those interested in traditional Native American ways of celebrating the winter season all have a full day in store at Ganondagan’s annual Native American Winter Games & Sports event. Play the traditional game of snowsnake (a popular Seneca winter pastime); watch a dogsled team in action; walk in snowshoes; observe traditional winter craft demonstrations;  listen to traditional storytelling over a warm fire in the bark longhouse; hike the trails; and view an educational video.