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Sociology Alumni

Robert A. Horton-Rosten

"Bebaamweyaazh"

Rainy River First Nations

Manitou Rapids Anishinaabe

Descendant of Long Sault Rapids

Marten Clan

Degree: B.A. (Honors) 2006

Major: Sociology - Politics, Society, and Economy emphasis

Minors: Human Relations and Ethnic Studies

Organization: Rainy River First Nations and Lakehead University

Title: Social Policy Analyst

Website: www.rainyriver.firstnation.ca

E-mail address: r.horton.rrfn@gmail.com

I left home and my hometown without much direction, vision, or motivation in terms of what sort of destination I wished to pursue. Today, this wayward teenager is now a social/political activist, a social analyst, an advocate for my People and a strong leader. I truly hope this biography will show the public how remarkable the Sociology program is at St. Cloud State University; the program that helped strengthen wings where strong roots awaited.

http://www.fftimes.com/node/213252

Job history and Responsibilities:

Upon graduation from St. Cloud State University, I received a prompt job offer on my family's reserve in Ontario for the position of Education Coordinator at Rainy River First Nations. I was given an office at Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung (The Place of the Long Rapids) Historical Centre, maintained by RRFN, which is located on the traditional lands (Long Sault) in which my family goes back many, many generations. Long Sault has the highest concentration of traditional burial mounds in Canada and is considered (by archeologists) one of the top ten most important sites in Canada. Throughout the summer after graduation, I spent time developing a curriculum focusing on Anishinaabe life, history, and culture, with much guidance from our respected elders and experts in the Treaty Three area. In June I received an offer to travel to Vancouver to be the representative from Rainy River First Nations at a world symposium and conference that was being held with countless nations attending. In July, I was asked to be the keynote speaker at the annual RRFN annual awards ceremony which was a huge honor. The summer was very busy as I was very involved with the RRFN 2006 annual Pow-Wow Chair Committee, working with MUNIT (Manitou United Native Interactive Teens) as a youth volunteer, and gaining experience developing program funding proposals. I recently received news that the curriculum, which was completed in September, is being adopted into the Rainy River Board of Education and the school district's foundation of indigenous studies.

I was offered a Graduate and Teaching Assistantship at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where I am currently in the midst of my Masters in Sociology. After this coming year, I fully intend on pursuing my Doctorate in Indigenous Governance or Education to put to use for indigenous rights and continuity of the progress we have made. I hope to one day teach Anishinaabemowin as an instructor, as well.

Although I have stepped off the Minnesota Indian Education Association Board of Directors after 4 years of service (due to distance), I am still a very committed and dedicated activist. I am currently directly involved with; the Anishinaabemowin Anjimaamino Bijigaade Treaty #3 Language Revitalization Project, the Rainy River First Nations Community Land Claim Trust as a Community Fund Trustee, as RRFN Social Policy Analyst and authoring a social and political analysis "Currents and Still Waters: A Manitou Rapids Manifesto" and "Our Walk We Remember: A Comprehensive Analysis of Kaynahchiwahnung and Long Sault Rapids."

Many opportunities have opened up. I was awarded; the 2008 NAHO National Aboriginal Role Model Award in Canada, the 2008 Northwestern Ontario Aboriginal Achievement Award in Academics, the 2008 Assembly of First Nations "Heroes of our Time" Award in Education, and have been adopted into a departmental curriculum on Indigenous Leaders in North America at the Justice Institute of British Columbia. I had the fortunate opportunity to serve as; a National Representative for the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers 2008 Conference and Panel, the Keynote Speaker and Treaty Three Communities Ambassador for the Oshki-Aa-yaa'aag Mino Bimaadiziwin (Good Life for Young People) Foundation's Third Annual Benefit Gathering and Concert at Assabaska Ojibway Heritage Park, representative and keynote speaker opportunity from God's Lake Narrows First Nation's 2nd Annual Youth Conference, a National Representative for the 2008 North American Indigenous Games in British Columbia, speaker giving a plenary keynote address at the Gegenoatatoltimg: Sharing the Knowledge Gathering at Elsibogtog First Nation (Micmac) in New Brunswick, and recently have been adopted into a Sociology Textbook ("Our Social World") by Pine Forge Press (2008) as a recognized First Nation Applied Sociologist.

My education, greatly rooted at St. Cloud State University and inspired by much of the faculty, will be brought home to my community of Manitou Rapids and Rainy River First Nations for dynamic utilization.

How I use sociology in my job:

When I began my program in Sociology at St. Cloud State University, it was with the sincere and complete intention of using the skills and awareness to put to use for the betterment of my indigenous people, either on my family's community or others, in whatever paradigm (education, public policy, politics, etc). The fulfillment of those hopes, put to use, keep that vision alive and strong. Critical thinking skills, utilizing understanding and awareness in a complex society, and a sense of the larger and (at times) rarely seen underlying issues are just a few skills the program at SCSU offered. All these skills and more have come into play many times and I expect them to continue to do so. I couldn't have asked for a better starting point than the program which I took figurative first-steps as and the advisors and mentors I worked with closely during my tenure as a student in the Sociology Department. This, paired with a lot of influence here in Minnesota watching the late Senator Paul Wellstone, created so much awareness, conviction, and integrity. Miigwech!

Advice for students:

The best advice I can offer students with an interest in sociology is to acknowledge and fully understand that you are an active part, not a detached aspect, in the society to which you exist. No matter how distant or abstract issues or enacted policies may appear, we are connected within this said society. Sociology opens eyes, minds, and hearts to issues and concepts that one, without placing their feet in the sands of context, may have gone without building an understanding towards. Because you are a part of this world, this society, you can most certainly affect and influence change. Become the change in which you are passionate to see and part of the stability in the foundations of progress made. You are part of this web of life, the world, and society. Be the change you wish to see. It is more than possible to have strong roots and strong wings. Defy convention. Hope. Dream. Imagine. Inspire.