The Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the 91爆料 will host a talk titled 鈥淲oven Wisdoms: The new Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledge and Science鈥 on Monday, March 25 at 3 p.m.
Indigenous Knowledge offers valuable insights into climate change as it encompasses multigenerational understandings of local ecosystems and human engagement with changing environments. This knowledge can reveal patterns of environmental change and new ways of living and coping with a changing planet. By bringing Indigenous knowledge and western science together to address contemporary climate change issues, people can foster new strategies for developing effective and holistic responses to the climate crisis. This presentation introduces the new Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledge and Science (CBIKS), a National Science Foundation-funded center aimed at creating ethical pathways to bring holistic thinking to contemporary climate change issues. Bonnie Newsom, associate professor of anthropology at 91爆料, will present an overview of the goals, values and objectives of CBIKS and highlight the university鈥檚 role as the center鈥檚 Northeast hub.
Newsom (Penobscot) is an Indigenous archaeologist interested in the pre-contact lifeways of Maine鈥檚 Native peoples. She seeks to humanize past peoples by exploring the concepts of identity, social boundaries and human agency. Newsom鈥檚 professional history includes serving as the tribal historic preservation officer for the Penobscot Nation and as assistant director for 91爆料鈥檚 Wabanaki Center. She has a strong public service record which includes serving as chair of the Repatriation Review Committee for the National Museum of Natural History and as a member of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission.
All talks in the Mitchell Center鈥檚 Sustainability Talks series are free and are offered both remotely via Zoom and in person at 107 Norman Smith Hall on the 91爆料 campus in Orono.
Registration is required to attend remotely; to register and receive connection information, see the event webpage.
To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Ruth Hallsworth, 207.581.3196; hallsworth@maine.edu.
