The University of Nebraska State Museum will host artists and knowledge holders from the Hopi and Zuni Tribes as part of a panel during the annual Claire M. Hubbard First Peoples of the Plains Lecture. The presentation, (Re)Connections Through Time, will be 5 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center.
The event will feature a short documentary film screening followed by the panel discussion as the Hopi and Zuni representatives share experiences of reconnecting with ancestral collections held in museums and their hopes for the future. The event is free to the public. Tickets can be acquired online via the Ross and the museum's websites, or a link to a free online live stream of the event is on the museum's website.
“The purpose of the Hubbard Lecture series is to advance the understanding and appreciation of the cultural heritage of the First Peoples of the Plains,” said Susan Weller, director of the University of Nebraska State Museum. “We’re honored to have these artists and tribal knowledge holders join us to share their insights and experiences."
The annual Hubbard Lecture: First Peoples of the Plains is made possible by support from Dr. Anne M. Hubbard and the Claire M. Hubbard Foundation. The 2024 lecture is also supported by the Mellon Foundation.
Carrie Heitman, associate professor of anthropology in the School of Global Integrative Studies, received a grant from the Mellon Foundation in 2022. The film premiered on Nov. 13 at the Tewa Community Development Center in Polacca, Arizona.
Heitman will be joined by six other panelists for the post-film discussion. The other members include:
- Curtis Quam, a member of the A:shiwi (Zuni) Tribe, leads the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center where he has worked for more than 20 years.;
- Alex Seowtewa, an A:shiwi (Zuni) elder and religious leader, as well as a US Navy Veteran. He is also a certified cultural monitor and a member of the Zuni Cultural Resource Advisory Team;
- Octavius Seowtewa, an A:shiwi (Zuni) scholar, elder and religious leader who supervises the Zuni Cultural Resources Advisory Team, providing guidance on Zuni ancestral lands and cultural objects;
- Karen Charley, a member of the Hopi Tribe (Butterfly/Badger clans) and is the community lead for Hopi (Re)Connections Through Time project. She is known for creating beautiful hand-coiled pieces like canteens, seed pots and wedding vases; and
- Daniel Byers, founder and director of Skyship Films. His award-winning films and photographs have been featured in hundreds of film festivals and publications around the world.
More information about this event can be found online.
