Office: 116B Imholte Hall
Phone: 320-589-6214
E-mail: pelletja@morris.umn.edu
American Indian Studies Major Co-Coordinator
Faculty Profile for Julie A. Pelletier:
Degree:
Ph.D. in Anthropology from Michigan State University, M.A. in Anthropology from
Michigan State University, B.U.S. from University of Maine at Fort Kent
Awards: UMM Alumni Association Teaching Award
Current areas of inquiry:
Dr. Pelletier’s research involves questions of identity and she has conducted fieldwork with the Ojibwa in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan since 1995 as well as more recently in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Her current work focuses on identity and Indian gaming; she has also published in the area of decolonizing pedagogy.
Areas of expertise:
Dr. Pelletier specializes in indigenous cultures, with a particular focus on American Indian peoples, especially of the Great Lakes. She teaches a variety of courses in cultural anthropology, on American Indian topics, and in the area of medical anthropology.
Why I chose to teach at UMM:
I chose UMM for two reasons. First, I believe in the value of a liberal arts education and am happy to participate in that effort at UMM. The second reason has to do with the unique history of UMM as a former Indian boarding school. The history led to the institution of an Indian tuition waiver, a commitment that UMM continues to meet to the largest minority group on campus. It is deeply satisfying to teach in such a diverse setting, with students who bring to the classroom a desire to learn about anthropology and about American Indian cultures.
