The University of Idaho Argonaut

Angelique EagleWoman, law professor at the University of Idaho College of Law, has been chosen to be the keynote speaker at the Ninth Annual Distinguished American Indian
Speaker’s Series.
The topic for this year’s speaker series is the relationship between Native Americans of North and Central America and the effect the proposed 700-mile border fence between Mexico and the United States will have on that relationship.

EagleWoman will present her article “Fencing off the Eagle and the Condor, Border Politics and Indigenous People” Nov. 18 in the UI College of Law Courtroom.
“I want to highlight the commonalities between indigenous peoples within the Western Hemisphere and bring the indigenous perspective on the U.S. proposed border wall to light,” EagleWoman said.

Native Americans of the western hemisphere see one another as relatives, and the border wall creates a physical boundary in the middle of those relations, EagleWoman said. Her presentation will discuss other obstacles that face Native Americans on both sides of the border and how contemporary U.S. policies seek to fence off
the two.

The Distinguished American Indian Speaker’s Series started in 2000 when the American Indian Studies Program was started. Its purpose is to challenge widely held stereotypes and prejudices and to promote an appreciation of Native American cultures and traditions by bringing distinguished Native American speakers.
Speakers through the years have covered a variety of topics such as the Nez Perce Treaty of 1855 and basket weaving.
“In 2006 we turned it over to NASA,” said Rodney Frey, professor of American Indian Studies and anthropology.
“We are always looking for interesting ideas,” Frey said.

EagleWoman said she was very honored to have been chosen as the keynote by the American Indian Studies.
The speaker’s series is usually held in October either before or after the Tutxinmepu Powwow.
“Since the powwow has moved to the spring, we can’t do it then as we have the film series,” Frey said.
The purpose of setting the speaker series for Nov. 18 is to coordinate with the American Indian Student Development Conference put on by Steve Martin, director of the Native American Student Center, on Nov. 19-20.

“There are so many things happening in Indian Country,” Frey said. “It’s fun to bring it to the Palouse.”
The Distinguished American Indian Speaker’s Series will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 18 in the UI Law School Courtroom. A question and answer session and reception will follow EagleWoman’s presentation. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Rodney Frey at rfrey@@uidaho.edu or visit http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~rfrey/aistspeak.htm.