The realities of Native American struggles

When Dr. Courtney DeMayo approached her history student, Alex Hampton, about giving a presentation during the Lichtman-Behm Genocide Lecture Series this month, he jumped at the chance. This year's topic -- the genocide of Native American people -- is personal for Alex. He's researched the condition of reservations and presented his findings at the Student Research Conference last year. But it's more than a passing research interest for this junior.  His grandmother on his dad’s side is full-blooded Native American – half Cherokee and half Blackfoot. That makes him one-quarter Native American.

As part of the lecture series, Heidelberg will welcome more than 1,000 middle school and high school students to hear the keynote speaker, Chief Billy Friend of the Wyandotte Nation. Faculty members are preparing a series of mini-sessions to get the young students ready for the keynote. For the first time, a student -- Alex -- also will deliver one of the mini-sessions.

Read more about his personal connection here.

Details about this year's Lichtman-Behm Lecture Series events are here.