Where Two Worlds Meet: Lac du Flambeau

When:
May 15, 2019 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
2019-05-15T10:00:00-05:00
2019-05-15T12:00:00-05:00
Where:
Mercer Library
Cost:
$35 with $5 discount if registration is received by May 1, 2019

I hope that students will come to have a greater perception of and empathy for people of differing racial/cultural backgrounds with a view toward bringing about a better understanding and acceptance of others and differing ways of life.

Course description:

Cultural exclusivity is nothing new, nor is it relegated to any particular geographical area, but when cultures meet the result is often confusing and disorienting.  This class explores the divergent cultures of people living on “the border lines,” people who live in two worlds so to speak, on a daily basis. The class will focus on the community of Lac du Flambeau with its rich Ojibwe Indian history and traditions and “the other,” non-Indian people who have made Lac du Flambeau their home.  Applications will be made and discussed as they relate to differing multicultural living circumstances as well; all with a view toward better understanding one another.

Course structure:  The course will be given in _4__ sessions, each _120__ minutes long, covering the following topics:

  1.  Introduction and brief discussion of cultural background of participants.

Focus: Lac du Flambeau, its history and present reservation land base; as well as

hunting, fishing, winter spearing, spring spearing, and other traditional activities.

  1.   DVD “People Like Us” (Social Class in America).  Discussion. Application.
  2.  Review.  Continued focus on Lac du Flambeau and its cultural diversity.

DVD  “ Enduring Ways of the Lac du Flambeau People.”  Discussion of DVD

  1.  Introduction of “the other:” i.e. Non-Indian people living within the boundaries of

the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation.  McMansions, Float Boats, Jet Skis and

One Hundred Year Old Family Legacies.

Possible Additional Activity:  Informal tour of Lac du Flambeau with priority of

visitation given to Tribal enterprises such as the George Brown Museum & Cultural

Center. No charge except for normal admission charge to the Museum and Cultural

Center.

Requirements: Readings from The Journey Home (Gail Guthrie Valaskakis and Gregg John Guthrie) and a few other sources to be distributed in class.

Instructor: Gregg Guthrie is a member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.  He resides on the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation. He has served as Treasurer on the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Council, as a Supervisor on the Lac du Flambeau Town Board, and on the Wisconsin State Historical Society’s Board of Curators as well as on the Board of Directors for both the Lac du Flambeau Historical & Cultural Society and the George W. Brown Jr. Ojibwe Museum & Cultural Center.  He is a recipient of a Local History Award of Merit for distinguished service to history from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and is currently recognized as a Curator Emeritus of the Society. He is a co-founder of the Wisconsin Native American Show & Sale and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Waasaaganing Indian Bowl Living Arts & Cultural Center. Guthrie received a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from UW Madison, Master of Divinity Degree from Western Seminary. He has taught in public school and churches and served as a pastor and chaplain of American Legion Post 318. He is a Marine Corps veteran.