Dept. of Anthropology to sponsor Shamanistic Research conference through Saturday

Today-Sunday, May 27-30 UAA Commons

UAA's Department of Anthropology and the Dean's Council, College of Arts and Sciences, is sponsoring the 9th biennial congress of the International Society for Shamanistic Research (ISSR) from May 27 through 30 at the UAA Commons. The conference theme is Traditional Belief and Healing Systems in a Changing World: an Interdisciplinary Approach. Sessions are planned on traditional beliefs as reflected in rock art and other archaeological data, on linguistic and ethnographic research on shamanism, on traditional shamanistic practices and on contemporary healing. For information on special speakers and Alaska participants, see the press release here.

Conference activities will include an exhibition of ethnographic films related to shamanism, and interaction with the ongoing cultural, educational and research activities of the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Native Alaskans as well as faculty and students of the University of Alaska will participate in the conference, and will significantly benefit from interaction with this international symposium.