Four Talks on Indigenous Studies: Kyle Mays

Four Talks on Indigenous Studies: Feb. 14, Sonya Atalay | Feb 21, David Heska Wanbli Weiden | Feb 28, Kyle Mays | March 6, Eli Nelson

Urban Indigeneity and Dispossession: Remapping and Reclaiming Space

Presented by Kyle Mays, Associate Professor, Dept. of African American Studies, Dept. of American Indian Studies, & the Dept. of History at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The urban Indigenous experience has often been overlooked.  Moving from the post-World War II era to the contemporary moment of the Land Back Movement, this talk explores the ways Indigenous peoples have resisted urban dispossession.

What is urban indigeneity?  What are the modes of everyday resistance that working class, urban Indigenous peoples use to resist erasure and dispossession? 

Kyle Mays shows how Indigenous historical and contemporary activists have engaged in a variety processes of remapping dispossession in different cities.  By holding meetings, creating Indigenous centers, using aesthetic performances in urban areas, and carving out spaces for youth, they imaginatively reclaim US cities as Indigenous places.

Part of a series of talks on interdisciplinary Indigenous scholarship from MIT SHASS.  Attend any or all of the presentations, and enjoy refreshments and conversation with the scholars after the talk.

MIT SHASS is committed to making this presentation accessible for all community members.  Please reach out to Tracie Jones-Barrett, jonestd@mit.edu, with accessibility requests.