North American Hand Talk Workshop
WACD | Noon, Kaufman Hall
North America is home to approximately six-hundred Indigenous spoken languages and variations of pictographs and sign languages. In this workshop, we will review why Native Americans use pictographs and sign language and enjoy a fun linguistic immersion experience without spoken word. Finally, we will discuss how sign language can be incorporated into dance choreography and theory.
Dr. Makha Blu Wakpa—an enrolled citizen of the Itazipcho Lakota from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe—is the Director of The Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians’ Education and Cultural Learning Department. In this position, he manages the California Department of Education’s American Indian Education Center grant and coordinates with tribal organizations, school districts, and universities. Makha holds a Ph.D. in Education and an M.A. in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona, Tucson. Previously, he worked as the Director of the San Francisco Bay Area-organization, Sacred Sites Protection & Rights of Indigenous Tribes. His scholarly, professional, and personal interests are in employing culturally-responsive education to strengthen the wellbeing of Indigenous peoples, nations, and our mother earth. Makha is married to Dr. Tria Blu Wakpa, an
Assistant Professor at UCLA, and the father of their two daughters.
This event is presented by the UCLA Department of World Arts & Cultures/Dance.
Event Date: Thursday, Feb. 14, Noon
Venue: Kaufman Hall, Room 208
Price: Free
Kaufman Hall is located in North Campus off of Sunset Boulevard.
Parking is available in lot 4.
Stay engaged. Use #UCLAarts to stay connected.
