Native American Artist and Activist to Present Carleton Convocation
Native American artist and activist Charlene Teters will present Carleton’s weekly convocation address on Friday, October 31 at 10:50 a.m. in the Skinner Memorial Chapel. A Spokane Indian and mother of two, her impassioned transformation from a graduate student into a leader of a national movement—motivated by her mission to protect and preserve her cultural identity for her children—has earned her enough respect from her community to be called by some “the Rosa Parks of American Indians.” Teter’s appearance is free and open to the public.
Native American artist and activist Charlene Teters will present Carleton’s weekly convocation address on Friday, October 31 at 10:50 a.m. in the Skinner Memorial Chapel. A Spokane Indian and mother of two, her impassioned transformation from a graduate student into a leader of a national movement—motivated by her mission to protect and preserve her cultural identity for her children—has earned her enough respect from her community to be called by some “the Rosa Parks of American Indians.” Teter’s appearance is free and open to the public.
Now a professor of art at the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, and a former dean of the same institution, Teters holds a Masters of Fine Art from the University of Illinois and an Honorary Doctorate from Mitchell College of New London, Connecticut. Teters’ art focuses on her Native American heritage, especially social and media assumptions regarding Native Americans, and her personal views regarding American mistreatment of its native peoples. Her multimedia installations have been exhibited internationally.
Teters’ activism goes beyond her artwork. She believes that Native Americans are often viewed as belonging to history, and that they must be recognized as cohabitants of the 21st century in order for the challenges facing native peoples to be met. Most noted for her opposition to the use of Native American mascots and imagery in sports, Teters first took on the University of Illinois use of a stereotyped Indian mascot for its sports teams. A founding board member of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media, she helped to launch a national debate on the subject.
Teters’ work and activism is the subject of the award-winning documentary by Jay Rosenstein, In Whose Honor?, which premiered on the PBS series “P.O.V.” in 1997.
“In Whose Honor?” takes a critical look at the long-running practice of “honoring” Native American Indians by using them as mascots and nicknames in sports. In this moving and award-winning documentary, Native Americans speak out about the hurtful and harmful effects of stereotyped sports images on both Natives and non-Natives alike.
This event is sponsored by the Carleton College office of college relations. For more information, including disability accommodations, call (507) 222-4308.