This documentary explores the origins of the Jingle Dress Dance Tradition with Ojibwe historian Brenda J. Child, who also describes what the tradition means to dancers and Ojibwe people today, and how it has evolved to include modern protest movements such as Standing Rock and calls for racial justice.
Even though her last semester at the U moved to distance learning, Hamy Huynh didn’t let it stop her from learning and growing. “I’m choosing to look on the bright side and have been using this pandemic as a reason to better myself mentally, physically, emotionally, and career-wise.”
Junior Robel Tedros used his time during distance learning to spend quality time with family and focus on physical and mental health. “What inspires me to keep moving forward is finding ways in which I can activate my own personal happiness.”
Postdoctoral fellow Meixi began her work this spring at the Department of American Indian Studies. As she learns more about Minnesota through the people and the landscape, she is excited for the opportunities to work within the community. Her work focuses on connecting with communities and designing educational systems that incorporate Indigenous knowledge in subjects like math and science.
“Claiming trans recognition or rights is not enough as long as we don’t look at how transgender identity is made possible through racial and imperial logics,” says Aren Aizura. His new book examines the racial dynamics and economic issues related to gender and gender reassignment. “I argue that trans culture and politics need to take account of its own whiteness and reliance on capitalist circuits.”
Elliott Powell, a professor in the American studies department, researches the historical intersection of sexuality, gender, and race in popular music. He looks at the role of sexuality in collaborations between South Asian and Black popular music from 1960 to the present.
A letter from the new director of the RIGS initiative, Kat Hayes. Kat Hayes tenure home is in archaeology and is an affiliate professor in the American Indian Studies department. She is also the co-founder of the Heritage Studies and Public History Graduate Program.
