Luhui Whitebear Examines the Legacy of Anti-Indigenous Rhetoric in the Fabric of the Nation, Thursday

Language holds power. It puts forth the words that define our lived realities, shape our futures, and tell the stories of our past.

An upcoming lecture by Dr. Luhui Whitebear at the Corvallis Museum will address the ways in which the language in the Declaration of Independence continues to impact Native Americans today. Within our country’s founding document, Native Americans are referred to only as “merciless Indian savages”.

This language, according to Dr. Whitebear, enshrines anti-Indigenous rhetoric into the very fabric of the nation. Often justified and oversimplified as “phrasing of the time” or as being about King George versus Native American people, these three words shaped the future of the United States’ relationships with Tribal nations through national values, norms, laws, and policies that continue to impact the experiences of Native American people today. This talk will discuss these complexities and ask what we can do to reshape our collective futures in ways that reconcile the lasting impacts.

Luhui Whitebear is an enrolled member of the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation, and is an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Indigenous Studies at Oregon State University. Whitebear sits on the Corvallis School Board and has a background in community engagement and advocacy at the local and state level. She is a four-time OSU alum and spent a decade working for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s higher education program before returning to OSU as professional staff then teaching faculty.

The lecture will happen on Thursday, October 8, at 10:30 am at the Corvallis Museum. The event is free and open to the public with a $5 suggested donation. Registration is on the Benton County Historical Society website: https://bentoncountymuseums.org/events/the-legacy-of-anti-indigenous-rhetoric/

The Benton County Historical Society connects communities to the past through exhibitions, collections, educational programming, and public engagement that explore the diverse histories of Benton County and the surrounding region.

Website: www.bentoncountymuseums.org