Lecture: The Planetary Consequences of Columbus’ “Discovery”

A KU professor of indigenous studies looks at how ancient tribal prophecies point to current global crises.

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What are we celebrating on Columbus Day? What can we learn from this event?The arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492 has been celebrated and vilified. All agree that this event marked the beginning of a new era with vast consequences for both the Indigenous population and the rest of the world. On Sunday, October 12 at 3:30 at Plymouth Congregational Church, Dr. Michael Yellow Bird, K.U. professor of Global Indigenous Nations Studies, will speak on the planetary consequences of Christopher Columbus' "discovery" of the "new" world. Ancient Arikara tribal prophecies help explain that current U.S. and global crises are an expected outcome of human activities such as greed, hate, fear, craving, war, racism, patriotism, colonialism, hubris, and lies. Fortunately, these narratives point to the various paths that can be undertaken, individually or collectively, to avert the present calamity. Professor Yellow Bird is a citizen of the Sahnish and Hidatsa First Nations. He currently is co-editing, with Dr. Angela Cavender Wilson, For Indigenous Eyes Only: The Decolonization Workbook. His research interests focus on Indigenous Peoples, U.S. foreign policy, oral histories of Native Vietnam combat veterans, the effects of colonialism and methods of decolonization, Indigenous men, human rights, and Indigenous political prisoners and prisoner rights. He has conducted research that has supported the empowerment of numerous tribal communities, served as a rapporteur for the health and human rights working group during the Indigenous Peoples International Day at the United Nations, and has been a featured speaker, both nationally and internationally, on topics important to the well being of Indigenous communities. Dr. Yellow Bird's talk is sponsored by the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice.

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