Regna Darnell facts for kids

Regna Darnell, born on July 10, 1943, in Cleveland, Ohio, is an American-Canadian anthropologist. She is a professor of Anthropology and First Nations Studies at the University of Western Ontario. There, she helped create the First Nations Studies Program.

Who is Regna Darnell?

Regna Darnell is a well-known anthropologist from both America and Canada. She studies human cultures and societies. Her work includes studying the Plains Cree people in northern Alberta. She also worked with First Nations communities in southwestern Ontario. Besides this, she has researched the history of anthropology itself. She is famous for her many important contributions to this field. She has received many awards for her excellent work.

Her Education Journey

Regna Darnell went to Bryn Mawr College. She earned her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree there in 1965. She studied both Anthropology and English. Later, she continued her studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in 1967. Then, she completed her Ph.D. in 1969. In 2009, the University of Waterloo gave her an honorary degree called a D.Litt. She was a student of a famous anthropologist named A. Irving Hallowell.

Her Career and Work

Professor Darnell has done a lot of research and fieldwork. She worked in places like Saskatchewan, Northern Alberta, and British Columbia in Canada. She also did research in West Africa and Southern Ontario. Her career has focused on several key areas. These include language, Indigenous Knowledge, and how societies change. She also studied traditional medicine and the history of anthropology.

From 1969 to 1990, she worked at the University of Alberta. She became a full professor there in 1979. After that, she moved to the University of Western Ontario. She led the Anthropology department from 1990 to 1993. In 1992, she became the Director of the Center for Research and Teaching of Canadian Native Languages. She also taught in Women's Studies and Feminist Research.

Darnell has also been involved in other important groups. She worked with the Center for the Study of Theory and Criticism. This was a partnership with McMaster University from 1994 to 2010. She also worked with the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry since 2006. In 2000, she was a Bicentennial Professor for Canadian studies and Anthropology. This added to her experience at Pierson College.

Awards and Recognition

Regna Darnell has received many important awards. In the early 2000s, she won the Hellmuth Prize. She was the first woman to ever receive this award. In 2004, she got the Gene Weltfish Award. This award recognized her service and contributions to anthropology.

The University of Western Ontario gave her the Distinguished University Professor Award in 2005. This award celebrates professors who have shown great excellence in their work for many years. Also in 2005, she received the Franz Boas Award. This is a very high honor from the Anthropological Association. It is given for outstanding service to anthropology.

The American Philosophical Society chose Darnell as a member in 2004. This was for her excellent work in linguistics and anthropology. In 2007, she received the Premier's Distinction Award for Social Science and Humanities. Most recently, she won the 2021-2022 Lifetime Achievement Award. This was from the American Society for Ethnohistory.

Groups and Societies

Regna Darnell has been a leader in many important groups. She served as president for several societies. These include the Society for Humanistic Anthropology. She also led the American Society of Ethnohistory. And she was president of the Northern American Association for the History of the Languages.

In 2002, Regna led the American Anthropological Associations Centennial Executive and Advisory Commissions. She also served two terms as president of the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association. From 2011 to 2015, she represented faculty on the UWO Board of Governors. She is one of five fellows for the Royal Society of Canada. She is also a member of the American Philosophical Society.

Her Books

Invisible Genealogies (2001)

This book explores the history of anthropology in North America. It looks at how the field developed in universities. The book also examines how anthropology connects with Indigenous people in North America. It discusses the ideas of famous anthropologists like Franz Boas.

Edward Sapir: Linguist, Anthropologist, Humanist (2010)

This book is about the life and work of Edward Sapir. He was a famous linguist and anthropologist. The book describes his research methods and findings. It also shares Darnell's own thoughts and experiences related to Sapir's work.

Theorizing the American Tradition (1999)

This book is a collection of articles. More than 25 well-known anthropologists contributed to it. It shares modern ideas about how anthropology has helped us understand the world. The book covers the history of anthropology, linguistics, and Native American history.