Western Carolina University

4th Annual Symposium Integrating Indigenous Knowledge,
Language, Health, and Environment
September 20-21, 2013
WCU Health and Human Sciences Building
4121 Little Savannah Road
Cullowhee, NC 28723

Rooted in the Mountains is designed to raise awareness of the intersection of health, language, environmental, and indigenous issues with the stewardship of Appalachia and its resources. Those who are interested in how the continued destruction of mountain landscapes affects us should attend, as well as those who would like to learn more about Native ways of understanding these issues. Participants will depart with a new sense of urgency and tools to use in valuing our common ground.

On Friday, September 20, participants will view the film Tapped and have a facilitated discussion about issues related to water in our region. Friday's agenda also includes Appalachian keynote speaker Ron Rash, author of the novels Saints at the River and Serena, as well as Mountain Music Night, a concert featuring Sheila Kay Adams, The Downhome Divas, and Ian Moore & the Secondhand String Band.

On Saturday, September 21, Native American keynote speaker Rodney B. Lewis will share the story of his battle to secure the water rights of the Gila River Indian Community. Rod worked tirelessly in litigating and ultimately negotiating the single largest Indian water rights settlement in the history of the United States.

Registration is free for all WCU faculty and staff, and free to all students – WCU and others. Early registration for other participants is $75 if registering before August 25, $125 after.

REGISTER ONLINE

For more information about the symposium contact:
Pamela Duncan at 828-227-3926
pyduncan@wcu.edu

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Sponsors

Western Carolina University - Educational Outreach - Cherokee Studies – English Department
Sequoya Distinguished Chair
John A. Parris and Dorothy Luxton Parris Distinguished Professorship in Appalachian Culture
Mountain Heritage Center
The Center for Native Health, Inc.
Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River (WATR)
Tom Hatley Consulting 
Culturally-Based Native Health Program
The Canary Coalition
The Little Tennessee Land Trust
The Tuckasegee Community Alliance Chapter of the Western North Carolina Alliance
The Wilderness Society

This symposium is dedicated to the memory of two mountain people of Jackson County, NC:

        
Jean Nations Lefler      Dale Nations