The Office of the U.S. Speaker Program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) hosted a virtual panel discussion in the spirit of the Biden Administration’s 2022 Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month on empowering the next generation of indigenous leaders. It was done in partnership with Embassy La Paz and Embassy Guatemala City and featured experts who have dedicated their professional lives to issues facing indigenous communities including access to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, mathematics) education, environmental stewardship, and economic opportunity.
U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, William Popp, opened the discussion by emphasizing the importance of multi-country dialogues by stressing that Guatemala is one of Latin America’s most diverse and populous countries. The Embassy prioritizes the inclusion of indigenous voices, both in external engagement and internally through the Embassy’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Council. U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, a.i in Bolivia, Jarahn Hillsman, spoke about indigenous representation, noting that Embassy La Paz supports indigenous communities through cultural preservation projects that serve as a tool for economic development and historical preservation, such as Qhapac Ñan, an Incan road system embraced by the region’s indigenous peoples as part of their patrimony.
Karen Diver, the senior advisor for Native American Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, moderated the discussion.
Tarissa Spoonhunter, associate professor of American Indian Studies at Central Wyoming College and a member of Blackfeet and Arapahoe Nations, spoke about her approach to STEAM education in her community. Michael Dockry, assistant professor of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, shared insights on how he blends indigenous and Western ecological practices to protect natural resources and promote sustainability. Finally, Charity Qalutaq Blanchett, a member of the indigenous Alaskan Yup’ik tribe and the founder of The Dipping Spoon Foundation, discussed how she uses her organization as a platform for celebrating native culture through the universal language of food.
Embassies and American Spaces in Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, and Venezuela also hosted viewing groups, and people from across the Americas and beyond participated in the discussion online. Dozens of questions came in from viewers, including those on topics that addressed access to technology and STEAM education in indigenous communities, careers and leadership opportunities through environmental conservation, and shared experiences between U.S. and Canadian native tribes and indigenous groups throughout Latin America.
To see more information about the program, visit: https://eca.state.gov/native-american-heritage-month
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