Akwesasne receives a visit from special guest author Sally Roesch Wagner

The Akwesasne Library and Museum hosted a meet the author on Nov. 6 with Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner, nationally recognized lecturer, author, and performance interpreter of woman’s rights history and the executive director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation, which is dedicated to recognizing the contributions of Matilda Joslyn Gage to the woman’s rights movement. Dr. Wagner is also the author of She Who Holds the Sky: Matilda Joslyn Gage, (Sky Carrier Press, 2003) the story and journey of a forgotten woman’s rights activist, and “Sisters in Spirit: Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Influence on Early American Feminists, (Native Voices, 2001) which documents the influences of native women on early woman’s rights activists.

Dr. Wagner spoke on the topic of Haudenosaunee women influences on Matilda Joslyn Gage during the 1800’s with women from Akwesasne and other guests. The high role women held in Haudenosaunee society inspired early woman’s rights activists like Matilda Joslyn Gage to speak for themselves and for equality.

“Sally Roesch Wagner mentioned in her talk that she was surprised to read that Matilda Josyln Gage speaking out on Native sovereignty in the 1800’s and I think that it was surprising to hear Sally Roesch Wagner do the same in 2009,” said Sue Ellen Herne, program coordinator “She is not from the culture and I think it is a good thing that she is taking up that responsibility.”

Native people have been commonly misrepresented by the works of non-Native scholars and Dr. Wagner brings a fresh approach to her scholarship that respects the Haudenosaunee’s unique place in history.

“It is a real revelation to see the world through your eyes,” commented Dr. Wagner in response to non-Native scholars using the Native perspective.

Photo by Mary La France