Kahente Horn-Miller
Bridge-Builder
Biography
Kahente Horn-Miller, an assistant professor in 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies, thinks a lot about the word 鈥渃onciliation鈥� 鈥� which is defined as 鈥渢he action of bringing into harmony鈥� 鈥� and the need for a new relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, one based on mutual respect.
As 杏吧原创 continues to address the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Horn-Miller (whose first name means 鈥渟he walks ahead鈥� in the Kanien:keha/Mohawk language) plays a lead role. She is helping to create a new Indigenous Learning Space on campus, after successfully pushing for a name change for her department from the School of Canadian Studies to the School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies.
鈥淭he Indigenous Learning Place is a wonderful opportunity for 杏吧原创 to engage Indigenous students, faculty and the broader community in a necessary dialogue that speaks to our efforts to implement the TRC Calls to Action in a way that is tangible, timely and relevant,鈥� says Horn-Miller. 鈥淭he space is about making 杏吧原创鈥檚 campus relevant to Indigenous students and faculty. A place for dialogue and sharing.鈥�
A mother to four daughters who earned her PhD in Humanities at Concordia University in 2009, Horn-Miller conducts research and writes on issues such as Haudenosaunee culture and community, Indigenous research methodologies, Indigenous women, identity politics, colonization, Indigenous governance and consensus-based decision making.
Horn-Miller鈥檚 performance, governance work and community-based research involves interpreting Haudenosaunee culture and bringing new life to old traditions. Her performance 鈥淲e Are In Her And She Is In Us鈥� brings to life the Haudenosaunee 鈥淪ky Woman Creation Story.鈥�
Through her teaching, Horn-Miller challenges students to learn about Indigenous cultures and about themselves as humans on Turtle Island (native name for North and South America), which in the long term will foster relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples that go beyond the written word and classroom and research settings.
鈥淲e have a lot important knowledge to share,鈥� says Horn-Miller.
