Native American Studies: Visiting Elders/Leaders

Through the generous support of David Raynolds (Dartmouth class of '49), the Native American Studies Program secured start-up funds for a three year pilot program to develop a Tribal Elders/Leaders Mentor Program at the College. Under this program, each year a member of a Native community who is recognized as an authority in that community's cultural knowledge was invited to reside at the college for one term. Residents contributed to the intellectual life of the college both formally, through department-sponsored colloquia and scheduled guest lectures in Dartmouth classes; and informally, through office hours, social gatherings, and other activities. The invited participant's knowledge, experience, training, and perspectives provide our students, faculty, and community members with a rare and constructive counterpoint to text-based academic methods of cross-cultural study, while affording the Resident an opportunity to explore possibilities present in the academic milieu, to meet interested Native and non-Native people from divergent backgrounds, and perhaps to reflect with them at a distance on the issues their communities face every day.

In the recent past, visitors have included Wilma Mankiller, former Principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, who held Dartmouth's prestigious Montgomery fellowship in the winter of 1996. Chief Mankiller lectured in many classes and shared wisdom and leadership experience with the Dartmouth community. She held discussion groups on topics such as Native American identity, religion and culture, and economic development.

In 1996-97 our Program invited Alyce Spotted-Bear (Mandan/Hidasta), former Tribal Chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes at Fort Berthold, to join with us as a Visiting Scholar. Alyce guest lectured in many classes and was popular with faculty and students alike. In Fall 1998, she returned as visiting lecturer teaching a course on social history of Plains Indian women. The Native American Studies Program is planning on bringing other Native American scholars to teach and lecture in the upcoming academic years.