University of Wyoming

August 3 – 6, 2016

Laramie, Wyoming

 

Conference Theme: “Deconstructing the Equality State: Remnants of Colonialism, Trauma, and Invisibility”

The state of Wyoming is known as the Equality State, a moniker that belies a much less beautiful truth. The history of this land encompasses the stories of multiple bands and Indigenous tribes, the shifting borders of colonization and frontier wars, the growth of immigrant populations, and the subjugation of several native peoples. This history is not well known because the story of this land is the story of the cowboys of the collective American imagination, which is a colonial narrative of the conquering white male. This invisibility of women of color in Wyoming leads to a sense of disconnect to our home and our history and a continuation of abuse across the centuries. The trauma that lingers in the native peoples of Wyoming is a constant retelling of the pressure to give up traditions and lifeways and assimilate, often at the threat of violence. This onset of trauma resonates through the generations and replays itself as self-harm. These cycles affect native communities and communities of people brought to our state to toil toward the betterment of a society in which they could not truly participate.

The 2016 MALCS Summer Institute will showcase new historical research on the centrality of multiple identities and experiences in Chicana, Latina, Afro-Latina, Native American and Indigenous women in global, colonial and post-colonial engagements, emphasizing entangled histories and comparative and cross-cultural analyses. This scholarship redefines national and collective communities in the American West.

Potential areas of interest include:

• Colonization and decolonization
• Cultural and Cross-cultural practices
• Narratives of violence, trauma, and Hate Speech in mixed-blood and Indigenous youth
• Addressing the colonial legacy
• Racism and whiteness
• Indigenous and traditional knowledge
• Contemporary Indigenous politics
• Oral traditions, stories and history
• Community work and community development projects
• Media and technology
• Language recovery and revitalization
• Nationalism, citizenship and border crossings
• Issues of national identity, race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality and ability
• Land reclamation, use and environmental protection
• Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health

Submission Requirements:

For individual speakers: a 200-word proposal and a 1 page CV

For full academic panels: a 200-word panel rationale, plus name of each panel participant along with their individual short bio.

For roundtables and workshops:  a 200-word proposal with names of each moderator along with their individual short bio.

Please include any AV needs for individual speakers, panels, and workshops.

All panel/workshop participants must pay for their MALCS membership and conference registration fees.

Send all submissions to: gro.sclamobfsctd-2e8fe2@6102sclamoywu/archive-2017

Deadline for submissions: March 15, 2016

Extended Deadline: April 15, 2016

Acceptances of papers to be announced: April 4, 2016

Acceptances of papers submitted by April 15 to be announced: May 2, 2016

Statement of Resolution and Respect: MALCS is open and affirming to those who identify as women and gender-non-confirming people.