Re: Mesoamerican Cultures and their Histories

From: Stephanie Wood [[email protected]]

Hello colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a great summer fellowship opportunity for U.S. h=
igh school teachers who are interested in film and who might appreciate Mex=
ican history.  The Wired Humanities Projects at the University of Oregon is=
 organizing and hosting a four-week summer institute, "Mesoamerican Culture=
s and their Histories: Spotlight on Oaxaca!" in Oaxaca, Mexico, from July 6=
th through August 1, 2014.  You can be one of 27 teachers and/or 3 graduate=
 students (who are training to be teachers) to be chosen for this special e=
xperience, which comes with a $3300 stipend paid to you from a grant provid=
ed by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Our four week program includes units on archaeology, ethnohistory (rooted i=
n indigenous-authored manuscripts), ethnobiology, community and urban arts =
today, and film.  Our film week will be led by filmmaker Gabriela Mart=EDne=
z, who will show two of her own films and several others.  Her latest film,=
 Keep Your Eyes on Guatemala, takes a look at the post-genocide situation i=
n that country and the significance of testimonials, archival documents, an=
d forensic archaeology for seeking justice. Another recent film treats the =
role of women in the teachers movement in Oaxaca in 2006.

The idea is to develop a curriculum unit for your own classroom use and for=
 sharing with other teachers, while also doing readings, hearing presentati=
ons, and taking fascinating educational excursions in and around Oaxaca.  O=
axaca, with its rich pre-Columbian past, is also special as a place where i=
ndigenous cultural survival is especially notable today.

Ideally, you will leave Oaxaca with a passion for the region, its peoples, =
and their histories. The institute is a unique educational opportunity. You=
r teaching will be enriched.  Please
review our website <http://blogs.uoregon.edu/mesoinstitute/>, which contain=
s all the information you need to apply, and please spread the word among y=
our colleagues.  For questions, we welcome you to contact Stephanie Wood, D=
irector ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>), or Ronald Lancaster,=
 Master Teacher ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>).

Thank you!
Stephanie Wood, Ph.D.
Latin Americanist historian, and Director, Wired Humanities Projects,
College of Education, University of Oregon

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