Dear Colleagues,

You may want to consider attending the following conference. I've found the level of scholarship and dialogue at the workshops impressive. Well worth the trip if you can make it.

32nd American Indian Workshop
"Approaching Native American Cultures from an Inter-American Perspective: Similarities and Differences"
March 31 to April 03, 2011
University of Graz, Austria

The 2011 workshop plans to examine Native American Cultures from an Inter-American vantage point, both from a contemporary as well as a historical perspective. Within the wider field of American Studies, Inter-American Studies is taking on the role of transcending national boundaries – both in Europe and the Americas – in order to establish new structures of research and teaching with the potential to revolutionize not only how we think about the Americas (including their relationships with Europe and Africa and their pre-Columbian worlds) but about the various disciplines involved, as the scholar Earl Fitz has pointed out (1). This redefinition of research areas – away from national connotations towards regional (hemispheric) denotations, should also lead to a discussion in the field of Native American Studies in terms of interconnectedness within the Western Hemisphere. By looking at similarities and differences of Native American Cultures both in North and South America, scholars can re-conceptualize the Americas through comparative research transcending linguistic, political, and geographical borders that divide the Americas, and thus also position Native American Cultures within a new field of research.

By an emphasis of an Inter-American perspective, this workshop wants to explore a new approach to Native American cultures, and thus offer the possibility of defining Native American cultures by an interregional and interdisciplinary approach in the context of two continents – often seen as one.

Contributions are invited which will address the following general themes:

1. Native American History from an Inter-American Perspective
2. Borders and Boundaries of the Continent/Continents
3. Inter-American Studies as an Approach to Native American Topics
4. Current Research

Please submit proposals for presentation, including a title, an abstract of up to 200 words, and a short bio, to Heidrun Moertl (heidrun.moertl@uni-graz.at) by October 1, 2010.

C.SAS Graz is looking forward to your participation and submissions!

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For the conference we were able to win the keynote speakers Simon Ortiz, Val Napoleon and Earl E. Fitz (via video message). Furthermore, Mohawk writer Maurice Kenny will do a reading and performer Art Napoleon will give us the honor. Further information about the keynoters and performers can be found on the conference website: http://www.uni-graz.at/en/aiw_2011

As far as the social and culinary program is concerned, we can already announce that the governor of Styria, Franz Voves, has generously agreed to sponsor the reception following the first afternoon of talks. On the second day the whole group will be invited to the city hall in the evening where the mayor is also treating us to a reception. A tour of the city of Graz will be organized for those who are still around on Sunday.

Basic information about the AIW 2011 (accommodation, travel info), as well as, the registration form (to be filled out by presenters as well as participants) can already be found online at: http://www.uni-graz.at/en/aiw_2011. Please note that the website will be continuously updated as new information becomes available. So check back every once in a while!

Note: to switch between the English and German version of the webpage please click on the little flag in the upper right hand corner, below the Uni Graz Logo.

C.SAS Graz is looking forward to your participation and submissions!

Univ.Ass. Mag. Heidrun Moertl (Ms)
Center for the Study of the Americas
University of Graz
Merangasse 18/II
A-8010 Graz
Austria
Phone: +43 (0) 316 380 8202
Fax: +43 (0) 316 380 9767
Email: heidrun.moertl@uni-graz.at
Web: http://www.uni-graz.at/csas