First and Forced

This FIG emphasizes Native American and Pacific Island peoples’ lives while exploring the ways indigeneity, race, and gender shape our world.

College Connections Faculty:  Brian Klopotek

I am an associate professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies and
director of the minor in Native American Studies.  I grew up mostly in
Wisconsin, and I came of age during the intense tribal treaty fishing
rights battles there, which had a deep and abiding impact on me.  I went
to college at Yale, where I earned a BA in 1994.  Because I didn't have
a single Native American faculty member as an undergraduate, I decided
to become a professor myself to help fill that gap for others. I earned
my PhD in American Studies from the University of Minnesota in 2004,
working with many beloved Native and non-Native faculty members while I
was there. I have been here in Kalapuya territory since 2003, where I
am happy to be surrounded by friends and relatives.

I have written one book, called Recognition Odysseys: Race,
Indigeneity, and Federal Recognition Policy in Three Louisiana Indian
Communities, a project that drew my interest because of my own Choctaw
heritage from Louisiana.  I have co-edited another book, called Indian
Subjects: Hemispheric Perspectives on the History of Indigenous
Education. In addition to teaching a wide range of classes at the UO
related to Native American studies and ethnic studies, I also do all
kinds of service work and research, like all professors at research
universities. I love what I do for a living.  

Outside of class, I love spending time with my wife and four sons (ages
12, 13, 14, and 15), rooting for the Green Bay Packers, playing Rocket
League, and losing at competitive sports.

I look forward to our FIG this year! We'll be focusing on the
intersections of Native studies, gender studies, and ethnic studies,
with significant attention to violence against Native women. In
addition to our scholarly discussions, our FIG is a place for Native
students (and others!) to connect with each other and get oriented to
life as a Duck.   

ɫatwa qʰweXqʰweX!
(Go Ducks! in Chinuk Wawa)

 

FIG Assistant: Katie Lor

Katie Lor is a junior at the University of Oregon, majoring in Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM) with a focus in Public Health and Health Policy and a minor in Ethnic Studies. Katie's pronouns are She, Her, and Hers and she is a first-generation born-and-raised Hmong American. Her parents came to the U.S. in the 1980s as refugees and have been living in Oregon ever since, in the city of Boring (the most exciting place on Earth).

With her major and minor, she plans on participating in ensuring health care is accessible, affordable, equitable, and equal for communities that are disadvantaged. She spent the summer of 2016 studying abroad in Thailand and Cambodia in order to broaden her global understanding and aid her in her future endeavors.

Besides being a FIG Assistant, Katie is also the President of the PPPM Student Community Organization, a Career Ambassador/ Peer Advisor/ Career Education Team Manager at the Lundquist College of Business Career Services, and an Intern for United Way of Lane County.

Outside of school and work, Katie likes to spend her free time reading her favorite books (Throne of Glass Series and The Hunger Games Trilogy), singing, drawing, and watching her favorite TV shows (Scandal, Doctor Who, and Supernatural). She loves food and is a strong believer in the saying: "The way to a person's heart is through their stomach."

Summer Assignment:

Read two short essays written by University of Oregon undergraduates Lorraine Goggles (Arapahoe/Shoshone) and Cholena Wright (Klamath) for classes in 2016. Lorraine’s essay will introduce you to some legal issues for tribes that we will be discussing this term in our FIG, and Cholena’s will introduce a discussion of Native feminist perspectives on tribal pageants.  In addition, please watch the following short youtube videos to introduce you to issues of domestic violence and the law, as well as to powwow pageantry.  These are just a couple of ways of exploring the intersections of indigeneity, race, and gender in our world.

goggles-_policy_review-_soc_480.docx

cholena_wright_wgs410-pageants.docx

“‘Above the Law’: Responding to Domestic Violence on Indian Reservations,” PBS NewsHour, 22 November 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnrxIQU98Dg

 “Danielle Ta'Sheena Finn Takes 2016 Miss Indian World Crown,” Morning Brew, 3 May 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqe5MXsck1k

“2016 Miss Indian World Contestants,” Gathering of Nations Powwow, 29 April 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EkJYzUpjIk

Week of Welcome:

Our FIG will meet on Friday, September 23rd at 10 AM in Columbia 150! Please arrive around 10 minutes early, as we will be moving to another location shortly after 10!

Are you looking for future classes related to your FIG?

The courses below are related to the focus of your FIG and are a great way to keep exploring the subject matter that you dove into your first term at the UO. Many of these courses satisfy general education requirements.

  • WGS 101: Intro to Women & Gender Studies
  • WGS 303: Women and Gender in American History
  • ES 101: Intro to Ethnic Studies
  • ES 199: Race, Ethics, Justice
  • ES 330: Women of Color Issues
  • ES 399: Race and War