Symposium

Native American & Indigenous Issues Symposium: Reimagining Kinship

Poster for the Harvard University Native American Program’s “Native American & Indigenous Issues Symposium.” The background is a blue-to-purple gradient with floral patterns. At the top is the Harvard University Native American Program logo. Centered text reads “Native American & Indigenous Issues Symposium.” Below, illustrated figures of Indigenous people in diverse traditional regalia stand across an outline map of Massachusetts. At the bottom, text reads “Reimagining Kinship: Consultation & Partnership”

The HUNAP Native American & Indigenous Issues Symposium showcases examples of Academic and Native Nations collaboration and envisions future partnerships. The symposium also highlights the important history and impact of King Phillip’s War/Metacom’s Rebellion in honor of the 350th anniversary of the start of this conflict. Registration for both days required. 

Symposium Day 1

  • Date: April 1, 2026
  • Location: The David Rubenstein Treehouse, 20 Western Ave, Boston, MA 02134
  • Schedule (Eastern Time):
    • 5:30–6:00 PM: Opening Remarks
    • 6:00–7:00 PM: Keynote Address — Linda Coombs (Aquinnah Wampanoag)
    • 7:00–7:15 PM: Break
    • 7:15–9:30 PM: Opening Reception (immediately following the keynote)
  • Admission & Registration: Free and open to the public; registration required

Symposium Day 2

  • Date: April 2, 2026
  • Location: The David Rubenstein Treehouse, 20 Western Ave, Boston, MA 02134
  • Schedule (Eastern Time):
    • 8:30–9:00 AM: Breakfast
    • 9:00–9:15 AM: Opening Remarks
    • 9:15–9:20 AM: Transition
    • 9:20–10:20 AM: Keynote Address — Christine DeLucia, Associate Professor of History, Williams College

    • 10:20–11:35 AM: Panel 1

      Braided Histories + Archive Access: Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Harvard Divinity School, and Harvard Library: This panel will explore the relationship between Harvard University and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Focused on two projects, the Braided Histories Course taught in the Harvard Divinity School and an Archival Research Project through the Harvard Library. Braided Histories is a co-lead course with Professor Ann Braude and Majel Peters, exploring the connection between Harvard University and The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. The Archival Research Project began by focusing on fishing and hunting rights for The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and has expanded its focus. The goal of the project is to make accessible archival material related to the Tribe.

      Moderated by Tiya Miles, Michael Garvey Professor of History and Radcliffe Alumnae Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study 

      Panelists:

      • David Weeden, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
      • Majel Peters, Chair, Mashpee Tribal Historic Preservation Commission; Mashpee Project Lead, Tribal Archives Preservation and University Access Project (TAPUA), Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
      • Saffron Sener, PhD candidate, Harvard Department of History
      • Sarah Martin, Harvard Library Associate University Archivist for Community Engagement

    • 11:45 AM–1:00 PM: Panel 2

      Community Health Action Research at the Tribe (CHART): Reimagining American Indian Behavioral Health Services through a Tribal-Academic Partnership: This panel will focus on research done in collaboration between Professor Joseph Gone and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. The research focuses on behavioral health services and mental health access. The panel will discuss both the process of their work, the collaborative process, and results so far.

      Moderated by Sahir Iqbal, Fellow in Anthropology, Harvard University 

      Panelists:

      • Joseph Gone, Harvard University Native American Program Faculty Director; Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (Anthropology); Faculty of Medicine (Global Health and Social Medicine), Aaniiih-Gros Ventre
      • Rachel Wilbur, Assistant Research Professor in the College of Medicine at Washington State University
      • Michele Scott, Tribal Councilor, Mashantucket Pequot Nation
      • Shaquanna Sebastian, Digital Communications Manager, Mashantucket Pequot Nation

    • 1:00–2:00 PM: Lunch

    • 2:00–3:15 PM: Panel 3

      Indigenous Perspectives: Best Practices for Collaboration: This panel will explore best practices of Academic and Native Community partnerships from an Indigenous perspective. It will focus on trust and relationship building, defining mutually beneficial partnerships, challenges and barriers, examples of success stories, etc.

      Moderated by Meredith Vasta, Collections Steward, Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology at Harvard University, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians 

      Panelists:

      • Mary Amanda McNeal, Mellon Assistant Professor in the Department of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
      • Kimberly Toney, Coordinating Curator of Native American and Indigenous Collections, Brown University, Hassanamisco Band of Nipmuc
      • Loren Spears, Executive Director of Tomaquag Museum. Narragansett Tribal Nation
      • Paula Peters, Public Relations and New Media Pundit, SmokeSygnals, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
    • 3:15–3:30 PM: Closing Remarks
  • Admission & Registration: Free and open to the public; registration required