The Power To Expand Histories By Amplifying Perspectives of Native American Leaders
Nicole Anderson Cobb is an educator, consultant and playwright.
By Nicole Anderson Cobb
Earlier this year, I was awarded an artist-in-residency at Allerton Park & Retreat Center where a colleague and I examined the history of the park and 19th century settler-Native American relations.
Yet, after spending two weeks in New York City in July 2022 as an Auburn Seminary/ APRIL Collidge Scholars, our Allerton project “Beyond (Land) Acknowledgement” expanded even more.
I spent time with Native American scholars, artists and activists who appreciated our work, impressed upon me the importance ofI continuing to seek Native scholars/thought leaders to inform this work.
After the NYC residency, I reached out to Native-led organizations like the Redbud Resource Group and began attending their trainings and workshops to expose myself to the perspectives of Native thinkers and educators.
Additionally, I also began studying the Potawatomi language with Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center educators as Potawatomi (or “Bodewadminwen”) is one of the most prominent groups in my area historically and across the Midwest.
It has been a profound experience: being welcomed to learn Potawatomi within the Potawatomi diaspora; and learning about language, history and culture/cultural concerns of contemporary Potawatomi community members.
Despite the fact that I am a non-Potawatomi participant and the language is challenging, I am so grateful to be in the class. It is an honor to learn my first indigenous American language.
Additionally, studying Potawatomi language and culture allowed me to challenge harmful historical narratives being represented in some school textbooks in my community.
Thus, I am deeply grateful to my Auburn Colloquium Colleagues and Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center educators for gently reminding me to make room for Native communities themselves in my work— spurring me to deeper allyship between African American and Native American educators.
Migwetch!
““It has been a profound experience: being welcomed to learn Potawatomi within the Potawatomi diaspora; and learning about language, history and culture/cultural concerns of contemporary Potawatomi community members.” —Nicole Anderson Cobb @sandals60617 #PowerToChangeStories”
Nicole Anderson Cobb is an educator, consultant and playwright working with her collaborator Latrelle Bright preparing for an additional public performance of “Beyond Land Acknowledgement” at the Allerton Mansion at the Allerton Park & Retreat Center in April 2023. https://twitter.com/sandals60617 https://www.facebook.com/nicole.a.cobb1/about ; https://www.instagram.com/nicole.a.cobb1/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-anderson-cobb-ph-d-2639aa8/; https://newplayexchange.org/users/63302/nicole-anderson-cobb