Decolonizing the Music Room’s Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Asian (BBIA) Music Symposium is a gathering for BBIA people in music education, research, performance, and related fields to be in community, learn collaboratively, make music, and imagine a just future.
2025 Keynote Presenter
Brigetta Miller
Stockbridge-Munsee (Mohican), Menominee
Brigetta is an Associate Professor of Music at Lawrence University and is praised for her strong contributions in teaching both Music Education and Ethnic Studies. Professor Miller is an enrolled member of the Stockbridge-Munsee (Mohican) Nation and a descendant of the Menominee in Wisconsin. She received the 2022 Award for Excellence in Teaching, among the highest honors given at Lawrence. She currently serves as a representative on the NIEA (National Indian Education Association) Governance Committee.
Professor Miller’s research interests focus on contemporary issues facing Native American communities today, with an emphasis on decolonizing learning spaces through the lens of Indigenous knowledge systems and pedagogy in education. She pays particular attention to empowering others to identify the Native American narrative often invisible in school curriculum and popular culture. Deepening understanding about race and ethnicity, structures of colonialism in higher education, and embracing connections across academic disciplines are important components of her work.
This year’s BBIA Symposium will be held at the Big Ten Conference Center.
For travel/lodging info, click here.
Updates coming soon!
Symposium Planning Committee
Lorelei Batisla-ong, PhD
Dr. Christopher Mena
Ashley Shabankareh
Lorenzo Sanchez-Gatt
Brandi Waller-Pace
*We understand the complexity of racial, ethnic, and cultural categorizations that make up an individual’s identity. However, we also understand that there are times where specific identity groupings, particularly those of marginalized groups, can be insulated from oppressions if an individual possesses certain markers of privilege (e.g. White passing). The purpose of this gathering is to provide a space for those of us who cannot navigate music education spaces being seen as white individuals; who have been discriminated against because of the color of our skin; and who continue to suffer the constant stress that is cause by simply being a Black, Brown, Indigenous, or Asian individual in music studies. Our intention is not to gatekeep, but rather to create a safe space where we can discuss our unique experiences in our predominantly White profession without having to worry about the comfort of our White colleagues. Before registering, please consider how your experiences relate to what we are trying to accomplish with this meeting. If your experiences do not reflect the perspectives we are trying to elevate, please understand that we still love you… we just need a space where we can heal through loving ourselves.