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The Camden Public Library, as a part of the Camden Conference Community Events Series, presents Professor Carter Jones Meyer for her talk, “Democracy and Native America: Indigenous Voices from the Front”.
This event will take place on Sunday, February 9 at 3:00 PM in-person ONLY at the Camden Public Library, in anticipation of the 38th Annual Camden Conference “Democracy Under Threat: A Global Perspective.” Refreshments will be provided.
The theme of the 2025 Camden Conference focuses on threats to democracy around the world. But what about in the U.S.? Can democracy itself become a threat, especially to the way of life of indigenous peoples?
Since the nation’s inception, Native Americans have had their lands, their cultures, and their sovereignty threatened by a U.S. Government seeking to impose its own ideas of liberty, equality, and justice, principles that were often already deeply imbedded in Native cultures and governance. The paradoxes that emerged through these encounters are undeniable, and have not been lost on Natives themselves, who have continually reminded the Government of that fact.
“Democracy and Native America: Indigenous Voices from the Front” will explore some of these paradoxes in U.S. history through the voices of Native leaders who have been on the front lines in protecting their way of life from “democratic” incursions. In the process, they have often drawn from indigenous knowledge to point out the shortcomings of American democratic principles as well as to suggest ways by which a more vital, inclusive democracy can be realized.
Carter Jones Meyer, Professor Emerita of History at Ramapo College of New Jersey, most recently taught Native American history at the University of Southern Maine. Her research and teaching have focused on late nineteenth and early twentieth century American cultural history, with a specialty in the history of the American West and Native history.
Her scholarly papers have been presented before such leading professional organizations as the American Historical Association, The American Studies Association, and the Western History Association. Among her publications is the seminal Selling the Indian: Commercializing and Appropriating American Indian Cultures. She holds the B.A. in American Studies from Skidmore College, and the A.M. and Ph.D. in American Studies from Brown University.