The Nevada Humanities recently announced the 2022 Major Project Grant recipients, and six University of Nevada, Reno entities were among the chosen projects. The College of Liberal Arts and the School of the Arts came away with four grants in support of public humanities projects during 2022. The Department of Gender, Race, and Identity, the Department of History, the John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art, and the School of the Arts have some fascinating projects lined up in the next year to explore and educate on indigenous culture.

The Department of Gender, Race, and Identity was awarded $6,000 for the project, Decolonizing Methodologies in Practice. This event will feature an Indigenous scholar in conversation with Indigenous Peoples for local communities, students and the public. A talk and two workshops led by Dr. Linda Tuhiwai Smith (néeMead) will demonstrate the University’s and the College’s commitment to serving Indigenous students and the community.

“This grant brings prestigious Maori scholar, Dr. Linda Tuhiwai Smith to campus. She is the author of the seminal book, “Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples,” that has inspired generations of scholars and community researchers to institute decolonizing methodologies in their work, and center indigenous knowledge systems as valid ways of knowing,” associate professor of gender, race, and identity Debra Harry, said. “Her visit will help us fully understand what decolonizing methodologies really means and how to take practical steps toward decolonizing our work.”

The Department of History was awarded $5,250 for, Telling Our Stories: Empowering Indigenous Youth and Communities Through Storytelling. This will be a Shared History initiative – a program in the department that incorporates oral, public and digital history while connecting the student experience with real historical projects in the local community.

Telling Our Stories provides an opportunity for Indigenous middle and high school students from Nevada to develop (hi)story-telling, research and leadership skills through a week-long, residential workshop. Students and Indigenous undergraduate mentors will learn to serve as community creators of cultural products rooted in the humanities.

The John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art was granted $4,500 for, Following the Box. This exhibition incorporates a variety of media, photography and performance art based on artistic responses to 1940s photographs of West Bengal, India. The photographs were taken by a U.S. service member during World War II and resurfaced at an estate sale in Chicago decades later. Following the Box explores historic imagery and the role of arts in fostering social memory across cultures.

“Following the Box is an exhibition that creates dialogue between cultures and periods, exposing our visitors to not only engaging ideas but also to the richness of Indian culture,” director of the John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art Vivian Zavataro, said.

Finally, the School of the Arts received $5,250 to implement a Sweet Honey In The Rock Residency. Sweet Honey In The Rock, the renowned a cappella ensemble, will participate in a three-day residency on campus as part of the 61st Performing Arts Series season. Through this residency, the community will experience programs related to social justice through music, African American history, contemporary Black American experiences and American Sign Language.

“This visit comes at a time in our country when we are being called repeatedly, to speak out and stand up in support of equality, access and racial justice,” program manager, special events for the School of the Arts Shoshana Zeldner, said. “This residency will build bridges between communities. Through new partnerships with local gospel choir members, the Tongan youth choir, and University vocal students and faculty, we will build relationships between diverse constituencies while creating music together.”