The IAIA Research Center for Contemporary Native Arts (RCCNA) and the IAIA Student Success Center (SSC) invite you to Pathway to the Stars, a full day of fostering community connections on Thursday, October 23 from 9 am–8 pm. From Haudenosaunee star knowledge to student voices shaping the future, Pathway to the Stars brings together IAIA students, staff, faculty, knowledge keepers, and educational and cultural practitioners—each deeply committed to strengthening Indigenous centered research, art practice, and educational excellence. excellence. This event is free and open to the public, and many panels will be available via livestream on our website. Registration is required for the evening presentation.
Agenda
9:00–9:15 am: Welcome Remarks and Land Acknowledgement—IAIA Auditorium
Refreshments provided by the SSC
Opening Remarks:
Mary Deleary (Chippewas of the Thames First Nation), PhD, IAIA RCCNA Director
Allison Schumacher-Smithkier, JD, IAIA Associate Dean of Students
9:15–10:00 am: Inside IAIA RCCNA: Developing a Community-Centered Space—IAIA Auditorium
Panel discussion on IAIA RCCNA vision, programs, and collections
Moderators:
Blue Tarpalechee, PhD (Mvskoke), Assistant Dean and Director of the Native American Cultural Center at Stanford
Mary Deleary, PhD (Chippewas of the Thames First Nation), Director of IAIA RCCNA
Panelists:
Felipe Estudillo Colon, Provost at IAIA
Ryan Flahive, Archivist at IAIA RCCNA
Tatiana Lomahaftewa-Singer (Hopi and Choctaw), Curator of Collections at IAIA MoCNA
Maia Filippi, Artist-in-Residence Manager at IAIA RCCNA
10:00–10:45 am: Leading from Community: Resilience and Responsibility in Higher Education—IAIA Auditorium
Moderator:
Blue Tarpalechee, PhD (Mvskoke)
Panelists:
Shelly C. Lowe, PhD (Navajo), President of IAIA
Samuel Santos, Jr., PhD, Vice Provost at Stanford
Jack Soto, MSOD (Diné and Cocopah)
10:45–11:00 am: Coffee Break — Student Success Center
11:00 am–12:00 pm: From the Soil to the Sky: Future Forward Environmental Research & Stewardship—IAIA Auditorium
Moderator:
Melanie Kirby (Tortugas Pueblo/Mestiza), IAIA Land-Grant Programs
Panelists:
James Calabaza, Trees, Water, & People
Bryce Townsend (San Felipe Pueblo), Black Mesa Farms
12:00–1:15 pm: Community Lunch and Talk — IAIA PAFC Gymnasium
Menu: Red Chile Cheese Enchiladas, Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas, Spanish rice, calabacitas, pinto beans, garden salad with herb vinaigrette and ranch, fruit salad served with sour cream and onions
Talk by Samantha Doxtator (Haudenosaunee, Wolf Clan)
1:15–2:15 pm: Indigenous Community-based Research—IAIA Auditorium
Graduate student presentations from Summer 2025 Journey Home Internship
Projects:
Retracing the Roots and Routes of Wampum: A Modern Haudenosaunee Women's Experience — Sayokla Kindness Williams (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin), IAIA MFASA Student
Strengthening and Strategizing Internal Leadership Capacity for the Hopivewat Learning Center — Colleen Lucero (Hopi), IAIA MFACA Student
2:15–3:00 pm: Journey Home Internship Experience—IAIA Auditorium
Undergraduate student reflections from Summer 2025 Journey Home Internship
Moderator:
Angelica Gallegos, Assistant Professor of Museum Studies and Director of IAIA Balzer Contemporary Edge Gallery
Students:
Midnight Lujan (Taos Pueblo)
Kashelle Brandon (Navajo)
Kimberley Bicenti (Tohono O’odham)
Celia Calabaza (Jicarilla Apache)
Honey Wilson (Cherokee)
Isabella Mondragon (Chickasaw)
3:00–3:30 pm: Wellness Break
3:30–4:30 pm: Creative Currents—IAIA Auditorium
Moderator:
Arista Slater-Sandoval, MFA, Chair and Assistant Professor of Studio Arts, IAIA
Panelists:
Melanie A. Yazzie (Diné), Professor of Art Practice, University of Colorado-Boulder
Khalil Hudson (Tlingit/Haida), Associate Professor of Film Production, IAIA
Pat Pruitt (Laguna Pueblo), IAIA Student
4:30–5:00 pm: Break
5:00–6:30 pm: Community Dinner—SSC and Auditorium Lobby
Family-style potluck hosted by IAIA RCCNA and SSC
Open to the public
6:30–8:00 pm: Evening Keynote Presentation—IAIA Auditorium
Presented by Samantha Doxtator (Haudenosaunee-Wolf Clan)
Topic: Indigenous Astronomy: As Told by the Haudenosaunee
Register here:
https://iaiaacademics.wufoo.com/forms/q1frrz9m0q2ysat/
For questions, contact Mary Deleary at
bWRlbGVhcnkgfCBpYWlhICEgZWR1. For disability accommodations, contact IAIA ADA Office at
YWRhb2ZmaWNlIHwgaWFpYSAhIGVkdQ== or (505) 424-5707.
https://iaia.edu/event/pathway-to-the-stars/
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