Social documentarian Matika Wilbur to deliver Carleton convocation on dismantling Native American stereotypes
Wilbur is a critically acclaimed social documentarian belonging to the Swinomish and Tulalip peoples of coastal Washington.
Matika Wilbur, critically acclaimed social documentarian belonging to the Swinomish and Tulalip peoples of coastal Washington, will deliver the final Carleton convocation address of the Fall 2024 term on Friday, November 8 from 10:50 to 11:50 a.m. in Skinner Chapel. Her talk is titled, “Changing The Way We See Native America: Dismantling Native American Stereotypes.” There will also be a book sale available before convocation in the Chapel lobby, from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Wilbur is the creator of Project 562, her crowdfunded initiative to visit, engage, and photograph people from over 500 sovereign Tribal Nations in North America. The project is her fourth major creative venture elevating Native American identity and culture. In 2023, Wilbur’s book adaptation of the initiative, Project 562: Changing The Way We See Native America, was published with praise from There There author Tommy Orange, was long-listed for the Andrew Carnegie Medal, and was a New York Times Bestseller.
Wilbur also currently hosts the podcast All My Relations, which invites guests to delve into a different topic facing Native peoples today and explore the connections between land, creatural relatives, and one another. The podcast has been downloaded three million times.
Wilbur has given over 300 keynotes at such places as TED, Harvard, Yale, and Google. In November 2023, Wilbur released her curriculum, A Visual Learning Guide To: Transform. Indigenize. Decolonize., in partnership with the National Education Association; it was adopted by more than 200 classrooms in its first five months of existence.
Carleton convocations are free and open to the public. Find upcoming events and archived recordings (including in podcast form) on the convocations website. For more information, including disability accommodations, call 507-222-5461 or email nponder@carleton.edu.
After each convocation address, Carleton hosts a luncheon with the speaker. Convocation luncheon is held in the Alumni Guest House Meeting Room (unless otherwise noted) from noon to 1 p.m. and is generally limited to 35 people. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP on the convocations website.