Kwanamii: Reframing Giving Back to Indigenous Knowledge

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: Paths to Relationality, Reciprocity, and Restoration in Indigenous Education: Theories and Practices

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to highlight Quechan veteran stories to explore relationships among the Kwanamii (warrior spirit), nation-building (giving back), and postsecondary education. This project was a collaboration between the Quechan Nation, American Legion Post 802, Tomás Karmelo Amaya Productions and myself as the researcher that lead to the finding that Kwanamii was about being protectors. In the last line by Gordon, he mentions fighting in court. In reality many of Indigenous students go to college to serve their community. To fight for land, for culture, for traditions, for language, for water, for every aspect of being Indigenous. Kwanamii still exists, but I believe we have been calling it giving back and nation-building.

Author

• Jameson David Lopez, University of Arizona