The New Jersey Historical Commission is seeking proposals for the 2021 New Jersey History Conference scheduled to take place virtually Friday, November 12, 2021.
This year the conference is dedicated to exploring Indigenous life in New Jersey. The land known has New Jersey has been the home of the Lenape people for over 14,000 years. The removal and forced displacement of Indigenous communities by European colonizers resulted in a historic diaspora. The conference will explore the history, cultural heritage, and contemporary issues facing Indigenous communities through the lens of New Jersey studies.
The New Jersey Historical Commission is seeking proposals that address topics such as:
- Native American history prior to and after European colonization
- Indigenous approaches to archeology
- Laws and treaties; language and language revitalization; economics and trade; residential schools; Native Americans and slavery; environmental justice; land acknowledgements; governmental recognition; NAGPRA; civil rights and the American Indian Movement
- Indigenous foodways and food sovereignty; cultural practices including music, art, dance, literature and theatre; oral history projects and museum exhibitions
- Explorations of indigeneity
- Contemporary issues such as Native American mascots, depictions in the media, education, land sovereignty, repatriation, and approaches to decolonization
Topics related to the broader Mid-Atlantic region will be considered. the Conference Planning Committee will also consider topics related to general New Jersey history.
The deadline to submit a proposal is June 28, 2021. More information on submission and proposals can be found here.