October 6, 2023
The understanding of Native Americans historically and currently is generally based upon myths portrayed in movies, books, and television. Most people have never met a Native American nor heard from a Native living in modern America. “Indian 101” was developed to address many modern myths and misconceptions about the Indigenous people who have inhabited North America for tens of thousands of years.
The origins of Native inhabitation, the fate of Indians after the European invasion, and the status of Natives in modern society will be discussed. Topics of special attention will include Native physical appearance, blood quantum, Pow Wow, drumming, treaties, reservations, the Indian Industrial School movement, Christian mission schools, Maryland Indian tribes, and the status of Native Americans today.
Dennis E. Seymour, Ph.D. was born Dennis Edwin Banks in Flint, Michigan, and his father is full Eastern Band Cherokee from Madison County, North Carolina. His Mother is German and English from Ohio, with a reported Iroquois ancestor several generations back. Dennis was adopted when he was five but has always identified his race and heritage as Native American. He has been an activist for Indigenous causes throughout his life.
Dr. Seymour moved to Maryland in 1960 with his Mother and graduated from High School in Howard County. He received an Associates Degree from Catonsville Community College (his proudest moment), two Bachelors degrees from the University of Maryland, a Masters Degree from Johns Hopkins University, and a Doctorate from Southwest University.
He was employed as a Maryland State Trooper for sixteen years and owned a Private Investigative firm for twenty years after that. He has been a Professor for the Community College of Baltimore County, a Department Chair and recently retired as the Dean of the CCBC School of Business, Education, Justice, and Law. He is a faculty advisor to the Indigenous Cultures Club and serves on the Native American Studies Program advisory board.
Dr. Seymour has been a member of the Baltimore American Indian Center for over twenty-five years and chaired five Baltimore PowWows that were held at CCBC Catonsville. He recently served on the Board of Directors of the Baltimore American Indian Center, and serves on the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs Advisory Board, the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs Education Committee, and is the Chair of the Baltimore American Indian Center Heritage Museum.