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Barry J. White, longtime lecturer in the Department of American Studies, died Jan. 27 after a long illness. He was 60.
A member of the Turtle Clan of the Seneca Nation of Indians, White was born and raised on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation. After earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UB, he taught Native American studies and other courses in the Department of American Studies for more than 30 years.
White’s research interests included contemporary representations of indigenous peoples in films, historical still photography of the Iroquois, the repatriation of Haudenosaunee sacred objects and remains, and cross-cultural training in human relations.
His work in cultural diversity training focused on agencies involved in implementing the Indian Child Welfare Act. He also conducted seminars and distance learning conferences for educators of the Seneca community.
Donald Grinde, professor and chair of the Department of American Studies, had known White for 40 years.
“He will be missed very much,” Grinde said of his longtime friend and colleague. “He was a warm and friendly person, a good colleague, and students thought of him as an excellent instructor and person.”
Grinde noted that in addition to teaching, White was committed to serving as a liaison between the reservations around Western New York and the broader Western New York community.
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