March was filled with academic excursions reminiscent of my last two years in graduate school. After the Sovereignty Symposium at the OU School of Law and then the Native Crossroads Film Festival at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History on the 7th my friend, Surviving Summer and I went to the University of Central Oklahoma to see our fellow Chahta LeAnne Howe give a reading from her new book Choctalking on Other Realities.
But before I write about LeAnne Howe and her impact upon the story of my life, first I must talk about The University of Central Oklahoma. I spent 2002-2003 taking graduate coursework here. I must admit that it didn't have the impact on me that attending OU did, but it was still a place of learning to return to. I was studying special education and I really don't recall that much about that experience. I vividly remember traveling to UCO's history department one day to discuss seeking a Masters Degree in History only to be told by the rude professor that "You should just read a book instead."
I quit halfway through a degree program for a Master's in Special Education, after teaching special education I decided that I no longer desired the expertise in the field. Yet, I continued to teach this subject area for an additional four years. Now, looking back I can see the impact as I am a strong advocate for special needs students as a parent and a teacher. I'm a firm believer in individualized education as opposed to the one size fits all approach.
The best advice I had while at UCO was to not teach forever. She (I can't even remember the professor's name now)- told us that we should only teach special education for five years and then cycle out for a few years and do something else, so we could return fresh and not burnt out of the profession. This is the best career advice. I followed it. Now I'm looking to return to teaching, but with a new perspective and more education than ever before.
UCO was the historic home to the "Normal School" where teachers were educated. The legacy remains in this historic building.
I've always appreciated the open feel to UCO's campus, plus there usually is a place to park at this school (unlike OU). The enrollment and price is reasonable and I really did enjoy my year I spent at UCO.
Surviving Summer attended the lecture with me. It's nice to have real friends who will actually go places with you. This mural could use some decolonizing, we live in a state based upon giving land to Native people then how the land was taken from them. The land runs are glorified to the detriment of the people who were disenfranchised and lost their sovereignty.
In Spring of 2013, I wrote my Master's thesis on the work of LeAnne Howe and Allison Hedge Coke who happens to teach at UCO. I wrote of their contemporary incorporation of the ancient mound builders in their poetry and novels. So, I was eager to attend this reading.
This is a lesson that The University of Oklahoma could learn from UCO. Clearly defined visitor parking. OU is horrible for parking.
I'm afraid photography of speakers and people reading is not the easiest task and most of the images would not make the speaker pleased. I do have a couple of frames that I will share. Now, of course my photography of events such as these will improve significantly with the 85mm lens. LeAnne Howe read from her memoir "Choctalking on Other Realities." I enjoy all of her writing. Shell Shaker fascinates me and Miko Kings I draw personal connections to. But this was Summer's first time to hear her speak so I'm glad I could introduce a fellow Choctaw Ohoyo to her writing.
I feel as if Howe's writing incorporates and embraces Choctaw Nationalism in her storytelling. We need our tribal identity to remain a tribe. We need a sense of unity and sovereignty to continue to grow.
I ran across Allison Hedge Coke while I was researching the mound builders for my thesis last year. I was fascinated by the idea of the northern mound builders and this vast empire of ancient people who resided throughout the northern midwest, into the great plains and throughout the eastern woodlands. She wrote a book of poetry called Blood Run as a work of activism to promote a sacred, ancient site near Sioux Falls South Dakota. Here is some more information about the Blood Run site.
It was an enjoyable evening. I'm not finished with my Native Lecture series. I attended a lecture at Cameron University a couple of weeks ago that I've yet to post about.
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