October 4, 2024
Colloquium Topic: Indian 201 - Getting Deeper in the Weeds with the American Indians
The origins of Native inhabitation in North America, the fate of Indians after the European invasion, treaties and status of Natives in modern society will be major topics. The concept of “Indian Land” and the 1830 Indian Removal Act will be discussed. Native wisdom including Sequoyah and the Cherokee Syllabary will be included. Native religions and practices that clashed with Christianity are a focus.
Colloquium Speaker: Dennis E. Seymour, Ph.D.
Dennis E. Seymour, Ph.D. was born Dennis Edwin Banks in Flint, Michigan, and his father is full Eastern Band Cherokee from Madison County, North Carolina. His Mother is German and English from Ohio, with a reported Iroquois ancestor several generations back. Dennis was adopted when he was five but has always identified his race and heritage as Native American. He has been an activist for Indigenous causes throughout his life.
Dr. Seymour moved to Maryland in 1960 with his Mother and graduated from High School in Howard County. He received an Associates Degree from Catonsville Community College (his proudest moment), two Bachelors degrees from the University of Maryland, a Masters Degree from Johns Hopkins University, and a Doctorate from Southwest University.
He was employed as a Maryland State Trooper for sixteen years and owned a Private Investigative firm for twenty years after that. He has been a Professor for the Community College of Baltimore County, a Department Chair and recently retired as the Dean of the CCBC School of Business, Education, Justice, and Law. He is a faculty advisor to the Indigenous Cultures Club and serves on the Native American Studies Program advisory board.
Dr. Seymour has been a member of the Baltimore American Indian Center for over twenty-five years and chaired five Baltimore PowWows that were held at CCBC Catonsville. He recently served on the Board of Directors of the Baltimore American Indian Center, the serves on the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs Advisory Board, the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs Education Committee and is the Chair of the Baltimore American Indian Center Heritage Museum.