September, 2005
The Women's Studies Program at SCSU seeks nominations for the second annual Ingrid Washinawatok El-Issa Service Award for outstanding students in community services. Last fall, with Vice President Richard Farricielli's assistance, we were able to establish this service award in the Women's Studies Program in memory of Ingrid Washinawatok El-Issa (1957-1999), a sister, hero, and warrior of all times. The first recipients of this award were Nancy L. Parsons (student) and Barbara A. Gurr (faculty).
A member of the Menominee Nation, Ingrid Opetaw
Metaehmoh (Flying Eagle Woman; www.flyingeaglewomanfund.org) Washinawatok El-Issa was among
the most promising Native American leaders of her generation. As
activist, writer, public speaker, educator, and director of a philanthropic
foundation (Fund for Four Directions), she dedicated her life to the cause
of Indigenous peoples around he world. A devoted mother and wife, Ingrid
was also a prominent leader of the 36,000-member Native American community of
New York City, co-founder of Indigenous Women's Network (http://www.indigenouswomen.org/),
and chair of the Indigenous Caucus in the UN. She was, too, a recipient
of numerous awards and honors. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchu Tum calls Ingrid her "sister, mentor, and
teacher," and to Noeli Pocaterra,
Vice President of the National Assembly,
In February 1999, she visited the Uw'a Indians of Colombia with two companions, Laheenae Gay and Terrence Freitas, in order to establish an Indigenous education program for Uw'a children. As Ingrid and her companions were leaving to return home, they were kidnapped on the day of their return and killed by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) eight days later, on March 4, 1999.
The world, Indigenous and beyond, still mourns the loss of Ingrid, but with this memorial service award we will help keep her spirit alive. We invite nominations. Nominees should demonstrate, first and foremost, evidence of and commitment to community service and, then, academic performance of a GPA 3.0 or more. Faculty and community references are welcome. The award ceremony will take place at the conclusion of the keynote event and before the reception in the Women's Studies conference, on Saturday, October 29. Our conference this year also honors Indigenous women: "Asian and Pacific Women: Indigenous and Diasporic" (October 28 and 29, 2005). We also hope to make this award part of the SCSU university-wide honors convocation, at the end of each spring semester.
We thank you in advance for your effort in helping us keep a heroic sister's memory and legacy alive.