VSU Prepares for Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month: Exploring Amazon Culture

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages proudly presents Hispanic Heritage Month: Exploring Amazon Culture and Celebrating the 400th Anniversary of Don Quijote.


Documentary Screening: Trinket and Beads / Student Panel Discussion
Screening of the documentary Trinkets and Beads followed by a panel discussion with students of Dr. Ari Santas and Dr. Christine James of the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department. Tue., Sept. 20, Odum Library Auditorium, 7-9 p.m.

Lecture Presentation by Moi Enomenga
Moi Enomenga is a Huaorani Indian, who has gained a measure of fame for his role in The New Yorker feature articles about the Huaorani and their struggle against the oil companies. Moi is the main character in the book Savages by Joe Kane, and played a prominent role in an NBC documentary telling of his struggles to protect Huaorani land. Moi is also featured in the award winning documentary Trinkets and Beads. The Huaoroni people have inhabited the headwaters of the Amazon for millennia, living as hunters and gatherers, with no contact from the outside world until as recently as the late-1950's. Numbering approximately 1,200 individuals, the Huaorani continue to maintain a largely traditional lifestyle based in the rainforests of the headwaters of the Amazon. Moi is now an ecotourism coordinator, and a Huaorani leader. Moi will discuss life in the Amazon, current issues within the Amazonian region, and what Americans can do to help preserve this special region of the world.
Sun., Sept. 25, Whitehead Auditorium, 7�9 p.m.

Documentary Screening: Trinket and Beads
Presentation of the documentary Trinkets and Beads, followed by a discussion with Moi Enomenga.
Host: Dr. Susan Wehling, Modern and Classical Languages
Mon., Sept. 26, Annette Howell Turner Center For The Arts, 527 N. Patterson St., 7-9 p.m.

Abundancia and Spirituality
Meet Moi in a casual environment as he describes the Huaoroni lifestyle and current issues in the Amazon.
Host: Dr. Susan Wehling, Modern and Classical Languages
Tue., September 27, Hildegard's Caf�, 101 E. Central Ave., 7-9 p.m.

Amazonian Myths and Culture / Poetry and Discussion
Dr. Juan Carlos Galeano, Professor of Spanish at Florida State University, will read poetry and discuss Amazonian culture and myths in his work. Professor Galeano is a critic, translator, and poet. His published works include Amazonia (poetry, 2003), Los muertos y los vivos (translation of selected poems by Sharon Olds, 2001), El pollo sin cabeza (translation of selected poems by Charles Simic, 1999), Polen y escopetas (criticism on Colombian poetry of violence, 1997), and Baraja inicial (poetry, 1986). Host: Dr. Sandra Walker, Modern and Classical Languages. Wed., Sept. 28, Bio/Chem Building, Room 3009, 7-9 p.m.

Celebration with Moi
Anthropology Honor Students are planning a participatory event with the Huaoroni and the Valdosta Community. Come join us for food, dance and fun.
Hosts: Dr. Matthew Richard, Department of Anthropology, Criminal Justice and Sociology, and Dr. Susan Wehling, Modern and Classical Languages
Thur., Sept. 29, McKey Park, Located in front of Valdosta Middle School track, 5�7 p.m.

Hispanic Heritage Art Show
Including the works of Latin American artists, Mar�a Baraybar, Gaby Zapien, M�nica R�os, and Dr. Luis G. Bejarano.
Coordinator: Karin Murray, Department of Fine Arts Oct. 3�31, Annette Howell Turner Center For The Arts, 527 N. Patterson St.
Opening Reception Oct. 3, 5-7 p.m.

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrates Amazon Day
Enjoy local musicians, booths, and displays by various groups including, Telamon, the Philosophy Club, the Anthropology Club, Center for International Programs, Latin American Student Association, the Sierra Club, and Modern and Classical Languages. Featuring "Mariachi Juvenil America." The group was founded by the Paisano brothers in 1994 and are now one of the most well-known mariachi bands playing Mexican rhythms in Georgia. Featuring "Sabor Latino!," the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College student dance troupe, directed by Angel Aguilar.
Wed., Oct. 5, Palms Quad, 10 a.m�3 p.m.

Rainforest Ecology
Dr. Brad Bergstrom, Department of Biology, has traveled to the Amazon and will present a discussion on the subject of Rainforest Ecology.
Tues., Oct. 11, University Center, Room 1193, 7�9 p.m.

FREE Salsa Classes!
Learn how to dance salsa, merengue and cha-cha-cha with Dr. Ellen Friedrich, assisted by student Jessica Soady and The Latin American Student Association.
Wed., Oct. 12, 19, 26, Old Gym Studio, 8-9:30 p.m.

National Spanish Honor Society Initiation Night
Sigma Delta Pi
Host: Dr. Luis G. Bejarano, Modern and Classical Languages
Tue., Oct. 18, West Hall, Room 120, 6:30 p.m.

Amazonian and Quicha Culture
Dr. Michael Uzendozki, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Florida State University, and author of The Napo Runa of Amazonian Ecuador will speak on a broad range of topics about the Amazon, including birth, personhood, �shape-shifting,' marriage, ceremonial festivals, Quichua ethnopoetics and the indigenous uprising of 2001. Drawing on insights from the theory of gift and value, Uzendoski argues that Napo Runa culture personifies value by transforming things into people through a process of subordinating them to human relationships.
Host: Professor Rebecca Galeano, Modern and Classical Languages. Thur., Oct. 20, Bio/Chem Building Auditorium, 7�9 p.m.

Music and Culture
Francesc de Paula Soler workshops. Call Dr. Ellen Friedrich for workshop times.
Sun., November 6

Don Quijote
Francesc de Paula Soler, representing the cultural heritage of Spain, will lecture on author Miguel de Cervantes and his classic work Don Quijote de La Mancha.
Hosts: Dr. Eneida Pugh's Don Quijote Seminar class. Mon., Nov. 7, Bio Chem Building, Room 3009, 5:30 p.m.

Guitar recital by Francesc de Paula Soler, "The Poet of the Guitar"
Francesc de Paula Soler, known as "The Poet of the Guitar," has been hailed by critics as one of the most notable names in the guitar world.
Host: Dr. Ellen Friedrich, Modern and Classical Languages. Tue., Nov. 8, Bio/Chem Science Auditorium, 7:30�9 p.m.

FILM PRESENTATIONS:
Motorcycle Diaries- The dramatization of a motorcycle road trip Che Guevara took in his youth that showed him his life's calling� a coming of age film.
Host: Dr. Amy Aronson-Friedman, Modern and Clasical Languages. Mon., Oct. 10, Powell Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

Man of La Mancha- A great musical about Don Quijote, with Peter O'Toole, Sophia Loren, and James Coco.
Host: Dr. Sandra Walker, Modern and Classical Languages. Mon., Oct. 24, Powell Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

La Ley de Herodes- The fable of a junkyard attendent turned mayor in a little town lost in the Mexican desert, who gradually realizes how far his newly acquired power and corruption can get him. Host: Dr. Luis G. Bejarano, Modern and Classical Languages. Mon., Oct. 31, Powell Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

EVENTS AND NOTES OF INTEREST

� Copies of the book Savages are on sale at Hildegard's Caf�, downtown Valdosta.

� Special guest Javier Orozco, from the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, will appear at various events to speak with students interested in Mexico Study Abroad.

� Dr. Judy Kimerling, author of the best-selling Amazon Crude, will be a guest speaker at the VSU Women's Studies Conference March 30-31st, 2006.

SPONSORS:
Generous funding has been provided by the Georgia Humanities Council and the following Departments at VSU: Philosophy; the Speaker/Lecture Series Committee of Senate; Office of Equal Opportunity and Multicultural Affairs; Biology; Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice; the Dean's Office of the College of Arts and Sciences; and the Department of Modern and Classical Languages.

For more information, please contact Dr. Susan Wehling at 333-5948, Dr. Matthew Richard at 333-5943 or Dr. Ellen Friedrich at 333-5948.