Carlisle, PA, is a significant place of remembrance for many Indigenous People and Communities. Whether you are traveling to Carlisle, PA, for the first time or visiting again, this episode includes 10 elements to be mindful of as you travel to Carlisle.

Song credit: You Came True by Frank Waln

Dr. Darren Edward Lone Fight, a proud member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation and Citizen Mvskoke Creek, is the Founding Director of the Center for the Futures of Native Peoples (CFNP) at Dickinson College. He also serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of American Studies, where his work is instrumental in shaping the understanding and appreciation of Indigenous histories, cultures, and futures.

Dr. Lone Fight's academic journey began at the University of North Dakota, where he completed his undergraduate studies in Philosophy and Religion. He continued his education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, earning his MA and PhD in American Studies. His dissertation, titled "Indigenous Impositions in Contemporary Culture: Knotting Ontologies, Beading Aesthetics, and Braiding Temporalities," reflects his deep commitment to exploring Indigenous epistemologies, aesthetics, and temporalities through a multi- and inter-disciplinary lens​.

Before his tenure at Dickinson College, Dr. Lone Fight served as visiting faculty in the Department of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora at Tufts University helping to establish their minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies. His academic and professional career is dedicated to advocating for Indigenous rights and knowledge systems, as well as fostering meaningful dialogues between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities​.

As the founding director of the CFNP, Dr. Lone Fight has been pivotal in its mission to advance the understanding of the Indigenous boarding school experience, promote the study of North American indigeneity, and facilitate a robust national conversation on Native American issues. Under his leadership, the center has become a beacon for Indigenous scholarship and activism, thanks in part to a charitable grant he authored and received from the Mellon Foundation​.

Dr. Lone Fight's personal history is deeply intertwined with his professional pursuits. His grandfather, former Tribal Chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes, Edward Lone Fight, played a significant role in reforming former boarding schools to better serve Indigenous communities—Darren was born in Salem, OR while his grandfather was reforming the Chemawa school. This legacy of transformation and advocacy is reflected in Dr. Lone Fight's approach to the CFNP, where he seeks to repurpose institutions of historical harm into spaces of healing and empowerment for Native peoples​.

In his vision for the CFNP, Dr. Lone Fight emphasizes the importance of looking forward while acknowledging and reconciling with the past. He is committed to involving Indigenous scholars, artists, and leaders in shaping the center's direction, ensuring it remains a dynamic and inclusive space for all who engage with it​.

Dr. Cheromiah is from the Village of Paguate located on the homelands of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico. Her names are Kah-ow-dthu-ee and Sippun (Inupiaq name) and her clans are shaska sinah hanu (Roadrunner & Turkey People). She is the Granddaughter of five relatives who attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School: Mary Bailey Seonia (enr. 1885) | Howice Seonia (enr. 1895) | Benjamin Seonia (enr. 1904) |Charles Brown Analla (enr. 1914) | William Seonia (enr. unknown) | and she honors Lewis Tewanima (enr. 1907). Because of them, she is in Carlisle, PA today. She believes one of the greatest gifts she has as an educator, mentor, and sister is the ability to build the confidence of People through storytelling, kind words, and digital media. Amanda cares deeply about giving back to her Indigenous Community and transforming spaces through visual narratives and Indigenous-focused scholarship and methodologies. Dr. Cheromiah earned her PHD in higher education from the University of Arizona (Tucson) in 2021. Dr. Cheromiah has served for the Center for the Futures of Native Peoples since May 2024. Authenticity is important. Learn more about Dr. Cheromiah at amandacheromiah.com, connect with her on TikTok | Instagram | X | LinkedIn @drcheromiah.

Resources

Dickinson College Land Acknowledgement

https://www.dickinson.edu/homepage/1513/land_acknowledgement

Learn more about Clark Tenakhongva at https://tenakhongva.com