The Fr. Sorin Reading room buzzed with energy. Directors, sponsors, Notre Dame students, staff, and colleagues gathered with excitement and the spirit of friendship. By 5:30 p.m., over 50 guests eagerly awaited the start to Kaitlyn B. Curtice’s book session, “Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day”.
How can we lean into a life of activism and resistance while maintaining a healthy and holistic lifestyle? This was the center of the book reading and talk by author Kaitlin B. Curtice, an indigenous author, poet, storyteller, and public speaker, as she read selections from her book Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Everyday.
Throughout these readings Curtice shared her philosophy rooted in the indigenous spirituality of her people, the Potawatomi. She discussed how the trail of death and the colonization of the United States have led to the disembodiment and disconnection of many who live and work in this country. Moreover, she argued, a return to indigenous spirituality - including reconnection to the land and acknowledgement of the contributions of our ancestors - is central to restoring and supporting bodies, minds, and spirits for the important work of resistance.
After the official reading, Curtice stayed to sign books and speak with those who attended. She remarked on the challenge of fitting indigenous spirituality in overtly religious or faith-based conversations, noting that indigenous spirituality is not a religion in traditional terms. Curtice expressed gratitude for the invitation from the Ansari Institute and appreciation for recognizing the complexity of a vocabulary not fully equipped to include indigeneity.
The Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore was honored to host the event and to make the book available for purchase. The second floor space transformed to accommodate catering, seating, a speaking podium, and sponsorship signage. "This kind of gathering is exactly what our principal architect and design team envisioned at the beginning of the bookstore redesign", says Colleen Jones, the trade book manager of 35 years at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore.
The Ansari Institute was grateful to co-sponsors this conversation with the Indigenous Faculty and Staff Employee Resource Group, the Native American Student Association, the Native American Law Student Association, the American Indian Catholic Schools Network, and the United Religious Community.
“Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day” is available at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore.