“Merciless Indian Savages” America 250 Through an Indigenous Lens

What does America 250 mean when seen through the eyes of the first peoples of this land?

A conversation on the legacies of colonialism, resilience and the ongoing contributions of Native people and nations

The United States’ 250th anniversary is a complex moment for the first peoples of this land, marred by brutal histories.

It’s also an opportunity – to provide an accurate reflection of our communities’ past, present and future.

Join us this month as ICT explores America 250 with in-depth coverage from across Indian Country, culminating with a July 2 virtual discussion featuring Indigenous scholars and leaders.

The Past

How Native nations experienced the founding of the United States, and how language, policy, and violence shaped those early relationships.

The Present

The enduring impact on tribal sovereignty and representation — and how it has shaped and fueled Indigenous activism, advocacy, and grassroots organizing today.

The Future

What a more truthful, inclusive national narrative could look like, and how Indigenous perspectives are essential to shaping the next 250 years.

Moderator

Jourdan Bennett-Begaye

Diné | News Director, Digital — ICT

Jourdan Bennett-Begaye is the managing editor of ICT, formerly Indian Country Today, and previously served as executive editor — the first woman to be the chief news executive and top editor of the 44-year-old newspaper. She is a Diné citizen of the Navajo Nation and serves on the Indigenous Journalists Association board of directors.

Panelists

Philip J. Deloria

Leverett Saltonstall Professor of History — Harvard University

Philip J. Deloria is the author of Playing Indian, Indians in Unexpected Places, and Becoming Mary Sully. He received his Ph.D. in American Studies from Yale University and has taught at the University of Colorado and the University of Michigan. He has served as president of the American Studies Association, the Organization of American Historians, and the Society of American Historians, and is an elected member of the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Charitie Ropati

Yup’ik & Samoan | Engineer & Indigenous Climate Justice Advocate

Charitie Ropati is an Indigenous climate justice advocate, scientist, and water engineer from the Native Village of Kongiganak, Alaska. A graduate of Columbia University’s School of Engineering, she has worked on water infrastructure for rural Alaska Native communities. She was named a Champion for Change by the Center for Native American Youth, recognized by the World Wildlife Fund as a Conservation Leadership Awardee, and serves as a Climate Advisor to the UN Secretary-General. She is the North America Regional Facilitator for the Youth Climate Justice Fund.

Se-ah-dom Edmo

Shoshone-Bannock, Nez Perce & Yakama | Executive Director, Seeding Justice

Se-ah-dom Edmo is the Executive Director of Seeding Justice, a nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, that builds collective power by transforming philanthropy and funding movements in pursuit of justice and liberation. She previously served as Sovereignty Program Director at Western States Center, where she convened the coalition behind Oregon’s Tribal History/Shared History legislation establishing Indigenous history education in K–12 schools. She is an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow, and her ancestors are from Celilo, one of the oldest known settlements in the West.