Native women from Haskell Indian Nations University are finding a voice and becoming part of the larger conversation on violence against women in the Lawrence community.
Haskell Faculty Michelle Sturges-Brown and Sierra Two Bulls took place in the community production of “The Vagina Monologues: Liberated Sisters,” a play that began with interviews collected the the playwright Eve Ensler and has since turned into a larger movement taking place on Valentine’s Day each year to bring awareness to violence against women — and vaginas.
This year’s production of “The Vagina Monologues” was directed by Sadie Barbee who included two original monologues from interviews she had with women in the Lawrence community. Barbee also included a monologue “Crooked Braid” written from interviews with Lakota women performed by Sierra Two Bulls who is Oglala Lakota. Barbee thought it was important to have actors representing their own communities according to Sturges-Brown.
Haskell students showed their support for their teachers throughout the showings for the week, and especially during the dress rehearsal where HINU students and faculty made up over a third of the audience.
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