Ned Blackhawk delivers keynote address at IAGS

Genocide Studies affiliate Ned Blackhawk (History and American Studies), delivered a keynote address at the annual gathering of the International Association of Genocide Scholars held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. With the conference theme of “Genocide Studies and Indigenous Peoples,” this year’s IAGS examined the place of Indigenous peoples within the emerging field of genocide studies.

Hosted by the University of Manitoba—home to the recently established National Research Centre on Residential Schools—this year’s conference included sessions led by Indigenous scholars and leaders from across the Americas, including keynotes by Professor Amy Lonetree of UC-Santa Cruz as well as the Bolivian Vice Minister of Decolonization, Felix Cardenas Aguilar. A daytrip to Sagkeeng First Nations explored the site and legacies of former Canadian residential schools and introduced conference participants to the vibrant cultural and linguistic practices of this Anishinaabe community, which hosted the association members at their Turtle Lodge. A tour of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights (see photo of conference participants within the museum’s archives) also examined the relationship between settler colonial genocide and Canadian First Nations communities.

Professor Blackhawk’s presentation, “The Question of Genocide and Praxis of Native American Studies,” assessed the limited presence of American Indians within the historiography of genocide studies and drew upon his participation in the Northwestern University John Evans Study Committee, which recently published its findings regarding Colorado Governor John Evans’ involvement with the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. An appointment within the Lincoln Administration, Evans helped to found Northwestern and Denver universities, and the town of Evanston, Illinois is named after him as is Colorado’s Mt. Evans.

- See more at: YGSNA faculty coordinator, Ned Blackhawk (History and American Studies), delivered a keynote address at the annual gathering of the International Association of Genocide Scholars held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. With the conference theme of “Genocide Studies and Indigenous Peoples,” this year’s IAGS examined the place of Indigenous peoples within the emerging field of genocide studies.

Hosted by the University of Manitoba—home to the recently established National Research Centre on Residential Schools—this year’s conference included sessions led by Indigenous scholars and leaders from across the Americas, including keynotes by Professor Amy Lonetree of UC-Santa Cruz as well as the Bolivian Vice Minister of Decolonization, Felix Cardenas Aguilar. A daytrip to Sagkeeng First Nations explored the site and legacies of former Canadian residential schools and introduced conference participants to the vibrant cultural and linguistic practices of this Anishinaabe community, which hosted the association members at their Turtle Lodge. A tour of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights (see photo of conference participants within the museum’s archives) also examined the relationship between settler colonial genocide and Canadian First Nations communities.

Professor Blackhawk’s presentation, “The Question of Genocide and Praxis of Native American Studies,” assessed the limited presence of American Indians within the historiography of genocide studies and drew upon his participation in the Northwestern University John Evans Study Committee, which recently published its findings regarding Colorado Governor John Evans’ involvement with the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. An appointment within the Lincoln Administration, Evans helped to found Northwestern and Denver universities, and the town of Evanston, Illinois is named after him as is Colorado’s Mt. Evans.

- See more.