WCU to host 14th annual Rooted in the Mountains Symposium
Western Carolina University will host the 14th annual Rooted in the Mountains Symposium, a two-day event aimed at exposing attendees to the interwoven relationships between climate, health, traditional knowledge and the indigenous worldview.
The event, which will take place Sept. 26-27, at the Bardo Arts Center, promises to expose participants to the indigenous worldview, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all living things and their environment.
The symposium was founded with the intention of bringing indigenous perspectives on critical issues like climate change and health into the public forum. Lisa Lefler, founder of the Rooted in the Mountains Symposium, said, “14 years ago we knew indigenous people were already talking about climate change and how it impacts our lives and health as well as mental health and we wanted to start discussing these topics in a public forum so others who may not already be familiar with these paradigms would be introduced to these ways of viewing the world.”
The event seeks to provide a platform for these perspectives to be shared, particularly among those unacquainted with them such as students and other community members. The theme for this year is inspired by WCU’s campus theme which focuses on mountain living. It will explore what the mountains teach people. The symposium encourages participants to think about the mountains not as a backdrop to their lives, but as teachers that offer insight into how to live sustainably in harmony with nature.
Kyle Whyte is this year’s keynote speaker. Whyte, a University of Michigan professor and internationally respected scholar in environmental justice, is currently a U.S. Science Envoy for President Joe Biden’s administration and serves on the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council and the National Academies' Resilient America Roundtable.
His presentation and discussions will provide a unique perspective on the role of traditional knowledge in addressing climate change. As an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Whyte’s insights will draw on both his academic expertise and his indigenous heritage. The event will also feature various panels discussing Cherokee Artisans and What the Mountains Have Taught Them, Climate Change, Cherokee Choices Youth Culture Summer Camp, and Cherokee Archaeologists: Kituwah Lifeways and Change.
WCU's Cherokee Studies and the College of Health and Human Sciences are also involved in the event. The collaboration reflects the Cherokee belief that all things are interconnected, bringing indigenous knowledge into various disciplines on campus and in the world. Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian tribal members, including panelists, will also share their work in fields such as health, environmental science and sustainability, further highlighting the intersection of traditional knowledge with modern-day challenges.
Attendees can expect to gain new perspectives on the relationship between the earth and humanity. Past participants have often remarked that the symposium changed their worldview, particularly in connecting dots between climate change, health and indigenous knowledge.
A highlight of the event is the reception on Thursday evening, when the North American Indian Women’s Association will serve traditional Cherokee and indigenous hors d'oeuvres on the Apodaca Science Building rooftop with Enrique Gomez, Jane Eastman, Thomas N. Belt and Brett Riggs will discuss Cherokee cosmology.
The event is open to the public, but registration is required. Regular registration is $159, while discounts are available for students, tribal elders and WCU faculty and staff. For more information or to register, visit learn.wcu.edu/rooted or contact WCU’s Educational Outreach at 828-227-7397.
