502: Ensuring Authenticity in Art, Words, and Actions
4:15-5:15pm
General Track 2
Ki Ngot-Ki Nish
Mtg Rooms 1&2
So many times we see non-Native-made beadwork and art items being sold at powwows. We read about "Pretendians" who have benefited from claiming Native identity. We see those who claim to walk the red path and live the good life doing things that do not align with our teachings.
How do we face a future where we are not only revitalizing and reclaiming our traditions but also protecting the next generation from those who are self-serving or exploit the culture for profit?
Jodi Biimskanodin Branton will discuss personal experiences with all of these and how the local communities handled them.
This presentation seeks to ensure future generations put culture over profit and to stay strong when facing adversity or uncomfortable situations within their communities.
Lead By:
Jodi Biimskanodin Branton (Aamjiwnaang First Nation) Cultural Consultant, Awishinaabe
Biimskanodin has been an educator for over 20 years and shares her knowledge, experience, and passion for her Anishinaabe culture through workshops, presentations, and the creation of educational materials. She has a BA in American Culture and History from the University of Michigan and an M.Ed specializing in curriculum development and instruction from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. She has taught at every level of education and held various educational roles in her home nation of Aamjiwnaang as well as at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC.