Chief Oren Lyons, distinguished member of the United Nations Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders on Human Survival, lectures on “The Doctrine of Discovery and a Value Change for Survival: The Politics of Religion, Native Nations and Nature” at 7:30 p.m. on April 17 at Garrison Theater, Scripps College Performing Arts Center, 231 E. 10th St.
Lyons, faithkeeper, traditional chief for the Onondaga Nation, Iroquois Confederacy, is co-editor of “Exiled in the Land of the Free.” He has unparalleled expertise in Native American history, global indigenous rights, and international environmental causes. He is professor emeritus of American studies at the State University of New York, Buffalo.
“Scripps College is honored to welcome Chief Lyons,” said Lori Bettison-Varga, president of Scripps College. “He has shown visionary leadership on the most critical issues of our time. Chief Lyons’ willingness to share his expertise on environmental and Native American issues with our campus and community are deeply appreciated.”
Lyons is the recipient of the Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor, the National Audubon Award, the first annual Earth Day International Award of the United Nations, and the Elder and Wiser Award of the Rosa Parks Institute for Human Rights. As faithkeeper for the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy, Lyons is responsible for maintaining the customs and traditions of his people while representing the Iroquois Confederacy to the world.
He appears in the documentary, “The 11th Hour,” which was produced by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film explores global warming’s impact on Earth by featuring interviews with world renowned politicians and environmental activists, including former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, physicist Stephen Hawking and Lyons.
Joanne Shenandoah, a Grammy-award winning performer will sing during the opening ceremony to welcome Lyons. Shenandoah, a member of the Wolf Clan, Oneida Nation, Iroquois Confederacy, has performed at such prestigious venues as the White House, Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden. She has collaborated with Pete Seeger, Neil Young, Willie Nelson and Rita Coolidge, among others. She has received more Native American Music Awards – 13 so far – than any other Native American artist.
The Humanities Institute organized a series of spring lectures and film screenings titled, “Continuing Invasion: Resistance, Resilience, and Re-invention Among North American Indigenous Peoples.” The speakers challenged the distorted depictions of Native peoples in mainstream and scholarly written works. Lyons’ lecture marks the closing of this series. For more information about the Humanities Institute, call (909) 621-8237.