Dr. Lee Hester, "Pretindians and Modern Culture"

The Institute of Native American Studies and the

Department of Philosophy present a lecture by  

  Dr. Lee Hester 

"Pretendians and Modern Culture: 

A Rambling Native American Narrative

on Cultural Imposters

 

Dr. Hester is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation and as a professor and Director of American Indian Studies at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, he is one of the leading Native American philosophers in North America. He received his PhD in philosophy from the University of Oklahoma and his dissertation was awarded the best dissertation of the year by the Woodcraft Circle of Native Writers. Prior to USAO, he held a post-doctoral position, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He is the author of Political Principles and Indian Sovereignty and numerous journal articles on Indigenous philosophy. He is the founder and editor of Ayaangwaamizin: The Indigenous Journal of Indigenous Philosophy.

 

Abstract for “Pretendians and Modern Culture: A Rambling Native American Narrative on Cultural Impostors”

Like most Indian narratives, this talk probably speaks to other topics as much as it does to its stated ones, either proving everything is related or the author cannot keep on topic. How things are said are at least as important as what is said in this presentation. As a traditional American Indian narrative it is very much not standard Euro-American Philosophy. The author hopes it may provide the audience with an alternative method of approaching philosophy, one which is somewhat more personal and engaging, but hopefully still providing some insights that are practical and useful in everyday life.

This event is part of the Scott and Heather Kleiner Lecture Series.