Linking Evergreen and Hawai’i Through Indigenous Arts
A delegation from the University of Hawai’i at Hilo and Hawai’i Community College (HawCC) came to The Evergreen State College February 28 to March 3 to continue conversations about modeling an indigenous arts program under consideration, after Evergreen’s Indigenous Arts Campus and Native Programs curriculum.
"We’re honored to host our relatives from Hawai’i Island,” said Evergreen’s Vice President of Indigenous Arts and Education Tina Kuckkahn-Miller. “We consider them a sister institute and want to build upon a relationship that’s been growing for decades among the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest and South Pacific."
Top photo: Dr. Tangarō studying artifact wearing a ritual skirt at The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum in Honolulu Hawai’i.
Bottom photo: University of Hawaii scholar in residence Marques Hanalei Marzan presents Dr. Tina Kuckkhan-Miller with ceremonial gifts during “blessings” ceremony.
Photo by Hanalei Marzan
HawCC will host a 2019 indigenous arts summer symposium as the first step in gauging community interest and support. “The University of Hawai’i welcomes ways to study indigenous cultures as contributors to society instead of simple observations of their art,” said Gail Mililani Makuakāne-Lundin director of the UH System Office of Hawai’i Papa O Ke Ao.
"The proposed program will pilot a focus on indigenous arts in anticipation that it will grow into a two-year community college program with pathways to a four-year degree," said Makuakāne-Lundin.
Dr. Taupōuri Tangarō, professor of Hawai’i Life Styles at HawCC said, "We’re here at Evergreen on a mission. Evergreen has always inspired us and we’re here to celebrate this inspiration as we prepare to deliver our Hawaiian indigenous arts program for the advancement of indigenous well-being."