Complex history of black and Native American relations to be focus of Dartmouth College conference April 20-22

Posted 03/28/00

The intertwining histories of blacks and Native Americans in the United States will be explored through scholarship, artistry and personal reflection at a Dartmouth College conference April 20-22.

Titled "Eating Out of the Same Pot: Relating Black and Native Histories," the cross-cultural symposium is believed to be the first academic conference devoted to the convergence of black and Native American histories. The conference will introduce participants to major themes and questions in the study of black-Indian relations.

"The subject of black and Native relations is a significant and sometimes sensitive one for scholars as well as members of black, Native and mixed-race communities. We want it to be personally meaningful, as well as educational, for those who participate," said Tiya Miles, conference organizer.

At the core of the event will be the shared experiences of blacks and Indians, beginning with European settlement of North America. Blacks and Indians were enslaved together through the 18th century, often intermarrying. During the 19th century, some Native Americans protected runaway slaves, while other Indians owned black slaves themselves. More recently, the two groups have fought separate battles against environmental racism, poverty and lack of access to national representation. While written records documenting black and Native American ancestry are rare, many people of this heritage grew up listening to stories of their mixed ancestry. Today, growing numbers of black Native Americans are seeking information about their joint heritage.

Besides encouraging scholarly investigation of the topic, the event will provide an opportunity for dialogue on issues of authenticity and identity. Academic treatments of the topic will be augmented by a session on researching black/Native American genealogy, a photography exhibit, and a panel discussion with people of mixed black/Native American heritage, among other events.

Among the presenters at the three-day conference will be: Theda Perdue, history professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; Robert Warrior, professor of English at Cornell University; activist Jewelle Gomez, who also authored The Gilda Stories; Ward Churchill, professor of ethnic studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder; Donald Pease, Dartmouth College professor of English; and David Wilkins, professor of American Indian studies at the University of Minnesota.

Hosted by the El Hajj Malik El Shabazz African American Center, the African American Studies Program and the Native American Studies Program, all at Dartmouth, the symposium is free and open to the public, but registration is requested for planning purposes.