The 61st Annual Western Social Science Association (WSSA) Conference San Diego, CA Conference Abstracts 1 AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES Stephen Brown California Baptist University Stephenie Howard, Howard University Cudore L. Snell, Howard University Shirin Sultana, Howard University “The Impact of Social Isolation of Black Women” This paper contributes to the grand challenge of social work to eradicate social isolation by presenting the findings of a secondary data analysis on social isolation among young Black women. The primary goal of the study is to identify the range, scope, and impact of social isolation experienced by young Black women. Secondary aims are to inform the cultural sensitivity of Erikson’s psychosocial stage model of development. The results of the regression analysis indicated that higher life satisfaction is a function of family intimacy, church intimacy, and marriage or cohabitation. These findings point to both facilitative and risk factors for psychosocial outcomes among young Black women. They also support the environmental explanation for isolation among young Black women, suggesting that they seek intimacy but are disadvantaged by the lack of opportunities for intimate connection with others, particularly outside the context of family and church. Importantly, consistent with the imperative to bridge research and practice, this paper expounds on implications for social work education and practice that emerge from the research findings. Theodore Ransaw, Michigan State University “Black Fathers as Literacy Coaches: Conscious and Unconscious Strategies that Black Fathers Use When they Read to their Children” Despite the fact that fathers can play an important and independent positive role in their children’s literacy development, many are uncertain about their ability to support their children’s learning, and are often uncertain where and when to start. Supporting fathers in their children’s literacy development is a worthy endeavor since fathers are more inclined to use alternative and engaging print-related literacy activities with their children including newspapers, magazines, maps as well as computer generated writing activities. This chapter will explore four key roles that Black fathers play in their children’s literacy development: providing literacy opportunities, showing recognition of their children's achievements, interacting with their children through literacy activities, and being a literacy user role model. Valerie Taylor, University of Nevada Las Vegas “I Wish They Had Taught Me... An Ethnographic and Phenomenological Case Study of the Hidden Curriculum Impacting Women and Girls of Color” 2 AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES This conceptual work identifies the specific gaps that girls and young women of color encounter, knowingly or otherwise, as they navigate through both K-12 and postsecondary educational institutions. Ethnographic and phenomenological methods were used to investigate and explicate participant’s understanding of their individual experiences in their educational trajectories. The K-12 participants were able to articulate a clear understanding of the gaps in their curriculum which included the lack of cultural inclusivity, teacher denial and rejection of culturally responsive curriculum, tokenization of holidays that celebrate diversity by administrators or teachers. Surprisingly, while much is made of the development of leadership skills, the postsecondary education participants who were also able to identify the lack of culturally responsive curriculum in their own K-12 experiences, were not similarly able to recognize the gaps of leadership education curriculum within their degree programs. This conceptual work is in conversation with the literature that identifies the needs of students in the classroom to be connected to curriculum, community and family while developing leadership skills. The U.S. Department of Education and scholars Crenshaw, Evans-Winters, Morris, identify girls and young women of color as facing additional challenges absent for their counterparts. The larger implications identify the need for more teachers of color at both the K-12 and postsecondary levels and mentors who deviate from the traditional teaching models. Additionally, emphasizing culturally responsive curriculum, including leadership education and critically conscious teachers of color with diverse backgrounds will more effectively address the needs of girls and women of color in all learning environments. 3 AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES Cheryl Louise Redhorse Bennett Arizona State University Leo Killsback Arizona State University Christina Andrews, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, ASU “Uhpan Hih, Going Home: Preserving the Hia-Ced O’odham through Federal Recognition” My presentation will focus on the Hia-Ced O’odham legal journey. I will start by giving a brief background of who the Hia-Ced O’odham are and their short-lived timeline from federal recognition under the Tohono O’odham Nation, to creation of a district, and dissolving of the very same district. Next, I will discuss whether the Hia-Ced O’odham have an Indian Land Claims Act case with legal remedies. I will later examine the social and political differences between the Hia-Ced O’odham and the Tohono O’odham. Afterwards, I will identify challenges the Hia-Ced O’odham would have splintering from the Tohono O’odham Nation and how the Hia-Ced O’odham would overcome these challenges. Thereafter, I will look at how the San Juan Paiute Tribe splintered from the Navajo Nation, and how the Navajo Nation opposed it. I will conclude with whether the Tohono O’odham Nation would support the Hia-Ced O’odham being federally recognized separately. Robert Bell, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire “When Water Becomes A Commodity: The Impact of the Diversion of Great Lakes Water on American Indian Nations” With two of the states that are members of the Great Lakes Compact now viewing the water contained in the Great Lakes as a commodity for sale rather than a resource to sustain life the livelihood of the American Indian Nations living in the region have become threatened. The Governors of the eight states that comprise the Great Lakes Compact are seriously looking at diverting and selling the water in the Great Lakes to the Southwestern United States, without taking into consideration the importance to the life, well being, and scared connections to the American Indian Nations in the Great Lakes region. They are not a part of the governing body and are not consulted on the topic of diverting the water from the Great Lakes to other parts of the United States. They are not given a place at the table thus making it difficult to have their voices heard. The Chippewa, Odawa, and Ottawa Nations of Wisconsin and Michigan have been actively speaking and consulting with the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body to make their thoughts on the diversion of Great Lakes water known. With the Governors of Wisconsin and Michigan already giving a green light to business concerns to use large amounts of water from Lake Michigan, has caused concern among these nations about the future of the water contained in the Great Lakes. It is a new threat to the American Indian Nations residing in the Great Lakes region of the United States. 4 AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES Lindsey Jo Boehm, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire “The Keystone XL Pipeline: Controversy and Consequences” In March of 2017, President Trump announced his administration’s approval of a construction permit for the highly-debated Keystone XL Pipeline. The pipeline will carry crude oil from Canada to Nebraska and cross historical tribal lands along with several waterways that American Indians depend on for survival. Some of the most at-risk sites in the path of the Pipeline include the Fort Belknap Reservation, the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, and the Ogallala aquifer. Leaks and spills are an unavoidable consequence of creating pipelines and the Keystone Pipeline system has already spilled more than 10 times since 2010. While millions of Americans could be affected by a major spill, American Indians will feel the most direct repercussions and their treaty rights will be violated by the project. Now, as pre- construction begins, there has still not been a comprehensive analysis of the effects a leak or spill will have on tribal water systems and cultural sites. Additionally, consultation with affected tribes as required by the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act has been lackluster at best. Although TransCanada already has the necessary federal permits to move forward with Keystone XL, American Indians are fighting on the ground and in the courts to protect their treaty rights. Conditions outlined in the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty and subsequent acts of congress, along with Federal Trust Responsibly and the previously mentioned NEPA and NHPA, will be important tools for American Indians to protect their environment and rights. Sean Patrick Eudaily, University of Montana Western Steve Smith, Missouri Southern State University “Territoriality and Sovereign Advantage: public lands, treaty rights, and the contentious politics of the American West” This paper examines the territorial basis of claims to sovereignty by various actors in the contemporary era. These claims shift the question of sovereignty away from state institutions and toward the problem of territory. We argue