Mitchell Center to host talk on braiding Indigenous knowledge and science

Event has passed

    The Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine will host a talk titled “Woven Wisdoms: The new Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledge and Science” on Monday, March 25 at 3 p.m. 

    Indigenous Knowledge offers valuable insights into climate change as it encompasses multi-generational understandings of local ecosystems and human engagement with changing environments, according to a news release from UMaine.

    This knowledge can reveal patterns of environmental change and new ways of living and coping with a changing planet. By bringing Indigenous knowledge and western science together to address contemporary climate change issues, people can foster new strategies for developing effective and holistic responses to the climate crisis. This presentation introduces the new Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledge and Science, a National Science Foundation-funded center aimed at creating ethical pathways to bring holistic thinking to contemporary climate change issues.

    Bonnie Newsom, associate professor of anthropology at UMaine, will present an overview of the goals, values and objectives of CBIKS and highlight the university’s role as the center’s North East hub.

    Newsom (Penobscot) is an Indigenous archaeologist interested in the pre-contact lifeways of Maine’s Native peoples. She seeks to humanize past peoples by exploring the concepts of identity, social boundaries and human agency. Newsom’s professional history includes serving as the tribal historic preservation officer for the Penobscot Nation and as assistant director for UMaine’s Wabanaki Center. She has a strong public service record which includes serving as chair of the Repatriation Review Committee for the National Museum of Natural History and as a member of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission. 

    All talks in the Mitchell Center’s Sustainability Talks series are free and are offered both remotely via Zoom and in person at 107 Norman Smith Hall on the UMaine campus in Orono. 

    Registration is required to attend remotely; to register and receive connection information, see the event webpage.

    To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Ruth Hallsworth, 207.581.3196; hallsworth@maine.edu.

    The Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine aspires to be a leader and valued partner in understanding and solving problems related to the growing challenge of improving human well-being while protecting the environment. We collaborate with diverse stakeholders and bring together faculty and students from many different fields. By connecting knowledge with action, we seek to create a brighter environmental, social and economic future in and beyond Maine.

    About the University of Maine: As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe — from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an environment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts/ and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts/.

     

    Event Date: 

    Mon, 03/25/2024 - 3:00pm

    Most Popular