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Augsburg Professor Eric Buffalohead Discusses Native Americans in Film With ICT

In a recent newscast, ICT (formerly Indian Country Today) interviewed Augsburg University Associate Professor Eric Buffalohead about persistent stereotypes of Native Americans in film. Buffalohead chairs the Department of American Indian, First Nations, and Indigenous Studies and is the co-editor, with Professor Elise Marubbio, of the book “Native Americans on Film: Conversations, Teaching, and Theory.”

“I’ve been teaching “American Indian in the Cinema” for going on 30 years, and people have asked me, what’s the solution to some of these problems?” said Buffalohead. “And it’s contemporary representations. The big theme that you walk away from my course with is that most of our images are stuck in time, meaning that they’re somewhere in the past. People don’t see us as contemporary—they see us as these images in the old West and very much stereotypes of plains or southwest Indians. They don’t see the real diversity of Indigenous people in the Americas.”

The conversation with anchor Aliyah Chavez also touched on expanding representations in television through shows like “Rutherford Falls” and “Reservation Dogs,” translation of major films into the Navajo and Comanche languages, and Professor Marubbio’s work on representations of Native women in film. Find the full interview in the ICT newscast archive (segment begins at 6:15).

Fifth powwow to celebrate cultures, traditions of Native American students

PowwowA powwow to celebrate the traditions and cultures of Augsburg Native American students and the Twin Cities community will be held March 23 in the College’s Si Melby gymnasium.

The powwow—now in its fifth year—is an opportunity for Augsburg’s indigenous students to share their traditions and culture with the community, according to Jennifer Simon, event organizer and director of Augsburg’s American Indian Student Services.

“Each year, nearly a dozen students help me organize the powwow and learn all the details involved in planning a large cultural event for both the campus and the surrounding community,” Simon said. Continue reading “Fifth powwow to celebrate cultures, traditions of Native American students”

Powwow to celebrate traditions, cultures, accomplishments of Native American students

powwowA community powwow to celebrate the traditions, cultures, and accomplishments of Augsburg College’s Native American students will be held March 31 at Augsburg College.

“The powwow is a chance for Augsburg’s indigenous students to share the traditions and culture of our peoples with the community,” said Jennifer Simon, event organizer and director of Augsburg’s American Indian Student Services.

“It also is an important opportunity for our community to celebrate the educational accomplishments of our native students and to plant the seed in young people that education can be part of their futures. This year’s program includes a special ceremony to honor our largest group to date of graduating native students.” Continue reading “Powwow to celebrate traditions, cultures, accomplishments of Native American students”

Indigenous film series brings Bolivian and Native American artists to Minneapolis

condormeetseagleThe Augsburg Native American Film Series, in collaboration with Phillips Indian Educators and the Parkway Theater, presents Where Condor Meets Eagle: Indigenous Bolivian and Native American Film Festival and Cultural Exchange Screening, March 16-18 at the Minneapolis Parkway Theater. All events are free and open to the public.

The Augsburg College Native American Film Festival and various academic departments are proud to present a three-night film festival celebrating Indigenous film, collaborations across national boundaries, and visual storytelling. Continue reading “Indigenous film series brings Bolivian and Native American artists to Minneapolis”

Olympian Billy Mills comes to Augsburg for Native Youth Visit Day

billymillsOlympic athlete Billy Mills will speak to 250 Native American students from grades 6-12 at Augsburg on Friday, Jan. 13 as part of Native Youth Visit Day.

“Native youth will have the chance to step foot on a college campus, something that many of these students have never done before,” said Jennifer Simon, event organizer and director of Augsburg’s American Indian Student Services.

“Students will get a feel for what college is like, and interact with current Native college students with the hope that they will see college is an option for them. We want to implant the idea in their minds that they, too, can and should be college students in the future.” Continue reading “Olympian Billy Mills comes to Augsburg for Native Youth Visit Day”