UIS celebrates American Indian Heritage Month

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “Hopi Running” as part of American Indian Heritage Month. Matthew Sakiestewa Gilbert, assistant professor of American Indian studies and history at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will lead the discussion.

WHEN: Monday, November 5, 2012 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: This talk will discuss Hopi running past and present and the ways Hopis have used running to combat obesity, diabetes, and to further Hopi culture on the Reservation. Hopis are historically known for their ability to run great distances in record time.

Sakietewa Gilbert is enrolled with the Hopi Tribe from the village of Upper Moencopi in northeastern Arizona. Centering his research and teaching on Native American history and the history of the West, he examines the history of American Indian education, the Indian boarding school experience, and American Indians and sports.

Sakiestewa Gilbert received his Ph.D. and M.A. in history from the University of California, Riverside, and holds a M.A. in theology from Talbot School of Theology/Biola University.

This event is being co-sponsored by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Mahatma Gandhi Fund.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speakers Series events and more information, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries. All events are free and open to the public.