To speak and act on behalf of ourselves as a human, social and cultural world, we are required to speak and act on behalf of land, culture, and community. No matter who we are, no matter what our livelihood is, and no matter what our inclinations are, we are bound by a relationship to the land upon which we live, the cultural knowledge by which we are guided, and the community we share with one another.

The Simon Ortiz and Labriola Center Lecture on Indigenous Land, Culture, and Community at Arizona State University addresses topics and issues across disciplines in the arts, humanities, sciences, and politics. Underscoring Indigenous American experiences and perspectives, this series seeks to create and celebrate knowledge that evolves from an Indigenous worldview that is inclusive and that is applicable to all walks of life.

The Simon Ortiz and Labriola Center Lecture on Indigenous Land, Culture, and Community seeks to speak, act, offer, and share in order to assume responsibility for land, culture, community that is our world.

Sponsors: ASU American Indian Policy Institute | ASU American Indian Studies | ASU Department of English | ASU Women and Gender Studies Program | Heard Museum | Labriola National American Indian Data Center | ASU Department of History

Thursday, Mar. 25, 2010 :: "Finally, We Are Growing Our Own"

Peterson Zah, former Navajo Nation President

7:00 p.m.   |   Heard Museum Downtown     |    2301 N. Central Avenue (Central & Encanto), Phoenix, AZ 85004 
602.252.8848     |    On the Encanto & Central Light Rail stop!

Free of charge and open to the public.

Former President of the Navajo Nation, Dr. Peterson Zah is widely known and respected among American Indian Nations. Zah is a distinguished alumnus of Arizona State University, having received an honorary doctorate in 2005. A member of the Navajo Nation from Low Mountain, Arizona, Zah is a co-founder of the DNA People’s Legal Services Program. He is the last chairman of the Navajo Tribal Council and the first elected President of the Navajo Nation. He currently serves as a Special Advisor to the ASU President on American Indian Affairs, working to develop strategic alliances between Arizona State University and Tribes. These partnerships encourage Tribes to utilize university resources and expertise to advance their communities in areas such as community development, stragetic planning, finance, law, construction, and education.

Heard Museum Press Release [coming soon]

Printable Flyer: [coming soon]

Future Events

October 7, 2010
Dr. Kathryn Shanley, PhD, Assiniboine scholar, Professor of Indigenous Literature, University of Montana

Past Events

Leslie Marmon Silko: An Evening with Leslie Marmon Silko, reading from her forthcoming memoir, Turquoise Ledge. Oct. 8, 2009
Podcast: http://lib.asu.edu/librarychannel/2009/12/14/ep102_silko

Gerald Taiaiake Alfred: "Resurgence of Traditional Ways of Being: Indigenous Paths of Action and Freedom." Mar. 23, 2009
Podcast: http://lib.asu.edu/librarychannel/2009/04/20/ep96_taiaikealfred

Wilma Mankiller : "Challenges Facing 21st Century Indigenous People." Oct. 2, 2008
Podcast: http://lib.asu.edu/librarychannel/2008/10/20/ep84_wilmamankiller

Ned Blackhawk: "Violence over the Land: Lessons from the Early American West." Jan. 28, 2008
Podcast: http://lib.asu.edu/librarychannel/2008/02/21/ep89_nedblackhawk