Monday, January 23rd, 2017 
LMC Event Center, D106
12:30 – 1:30

YOU ARE INVITED TO:
THE FIRST PHILOSOPHY TALK of 2017:

Lessons from NoDAPL: How to Be An Ally In Indian Country

Andrea Sullivan-Clark, recent UW Philosophy PhD and member of the Muscogee Nation will be speaking.

Initially, the events at Standing Rock received little uptake in the mainstream media, and while most participants consider the US Army Corps of Engineers’ denial of easement a victory, it seems to be a short-lived one at best.  The comments of the newly elected Governor of North Dakota during his first day in office (Dec. 15th), coupled with an incoming federal administration that has ties to the companies supporting the pipeline project, demonstrate the tenuous future of the NoDAPL.

Given the delay in reporting by the media, those wanting to provide assistance should be informed and ready to act. Yet, even amongst those wanting to assist, the worry is how to participate in a culturally appropriate manner.

Looking at the strategy and successes of NoDAPL and its non-native supporters, I argue that those wishing to support the protection of the environment can contribute in relevant ways by understanding and adopting what it means to be an ally in Indian Country.

Andrea Sullivan-Clarke is a Consortium for Faculty Diversity Postdoctoral Fellow at DePauw University for 2016-2017.  This spring she will teach Native American Philosophy, Feminism and Science, and Ethical Issues in Indian Country.

A member of the wind clan of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma, Andrea is interested in issues involving identity, sovereignty, and cultural preservation.