Today, Native American students comprise more than 16 percent of the student population with Native students representing nearly 50 tribes nationwide. Wide Range of Political, Social, Cultural Issues Hozhoni Days starts with its annual speaker series, All Our Relations, which this year will bring such speakers as Conroy Chino, winner of numerous national journalism awards, to discuss reconciling tradition and career in the modern world. Other speakers cover issues from tribal sovereignty and intellectual rights to the fight against racial stereotypes in sports mascots, and a presentation aimed at preserving the ancient practice of Hopi Hair Whorls. The students have developed the lecture series to offer intellectually stimulating and informative speakers who can discuss many of the issues that concern Native peoples today and that affect Native peoples relationships with other cultures, said Wanbli Ota Indian Club sponsor Sean Cridland. Any one who has an interest in learning more about Native American cultures and the societal and political forces that are shaping them today will find the lectures enlightening and educational, he added.
All lectures are free and open to the public.
A schedule of speakers follows. The Miss Hozhoni Pageant also returns to Hozhoni Days. The contest selects a student to represent Fort Lewis College s Indian community at special events throughout the year. The contest is both a fun and serious challenge for contestants, who are asked to discuss current events, make fry bread in the traditional way and to present themselves in their regalia in front of an audience. More than 1,500 dancers, drummers, singers and other participants from throughout the United States and Canada are expected to attend the three-day event in the FLC gymnasium.