Winona State University will host “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: What is it? What does it mean?” with Kay McGowan and Faye Givens in celebration of Native American History Month at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, in East Hall, Kryzsko Commons.
Adjunct professor of anthropology and sociology, McGowan has represented the interests of indigenous peoples at the United Nations as the vice-chair of the National Indian Youth Council. In 2012 and 2013 she went to the United Nations in Geneva to testify on water as a human right and the Boarding School issue.
McGowan’s identical twin, Givens, serves as Executive Director of American Indian Services. The two have collaborated in creating the documentary, “Indian Boarding School: A Survivor’s Story,” which offers an effective tool for survivors and families to understand and deal with their inter-generational trauma.
This event is sponsored by WSU’s KEAP Diversity Resource Center, Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical and the WSU Equity Theme Team.
The 2015-16 University Theme, Equity as a Human Right: Building Inclusive Community, is about upholding people’s rights, valuing diversity, challenging intolerance, and making institutional change around issues of social justice. For WSU and its communities partnering around a university theme has proven to be an effective strategy for bringing faculty, staff, students, and community members to the engagement table. The year-long focus will enable students, faculty, staff, and members of the wider Winona and Rochester communities to explore the intersections of identifies, cultures, and abilities.
For more information, contact Alex Hines at ahines@winona.edu
