The Whiteside Forum hosts its Spring conference, featuring “Human Rights: Indigenous People, Their Rights & Perspectives,” on Friday, April 11, 2014. The event takes place in the City of Morrison Community Room, at the Odell Public Library, 307 S. Madison Street, Morrison, IL. The general public is urged to attend this program. There is never a charge.
Registration begins at 7:00 p.m. The program runs from 7:30 to 9:45. The following panel members will make individual presentations, followed by a moderated question-and-answer period with the audience. This interaction is always thought provoking.
All Forum events are free and open to the public. Please join us! For more information about this event or the Whiteside Forum call 815-772-4949 or email ardami@mchsi.com.
“From Cannibals to Western World” is the topic for Bryce Elliot, who will speak about the (New Zealand) Maori. Elliot is a Computer Scientist, Rugby football player, and coach in Naperville, IL. He is from the North Island of New Zealand and grew up on a dairy farm. His best friend growing up was a Maori, and his brother is married to a Maori woman. Rugby is a team sport which Bryce has played all his life; it brings races together and builds life-long friendships. He will explain how Maori culture has influenced his life and his Country in a way that has not been so common in other places. Bryce now lives in Naperville, where he works in the computer/navigation/technology world. He continues to coach Rugby teams and referees matches.
“Coalescing a New Indigenous Citizenship: Bolivian Market Women” is the topic for Isabel Scarborough. She is Assistant Professor and Program Director of Anthropology at Parkland College in Champaign, IL. Scarborough will speak about the (Bolivia) Quechua. Her research addresses how indigenous market women are incorporating themselves into the global economy. She has also studied the historical struggle of Quechua women to claim full citizenship in the Bolivian Nation, up to the Evo Morales’ administration.
Both speakers are passionate admirers of the people they will address. They will be joined by Native American Beverly Jean Smith, who will tell us about her life growing up in the Leupp and Flagstaff, AZ, communities. The area represents the Naakaii Dine’e, Kinlichiinii, Todich’iinii, and Tsjejikini clans of the Dine (Navajo) Nation. “Dine Philosophy: The Foundation of My Perseverance” will be addressed by Smith. She is Assistant Director for Native American House, at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, IL.
