Paul René’s Background and Education for Consultation
Paul René Tamburro, PhD, MSW, MA
The name “Sunrise Drum” combines the Wôbenaki (‘People of the ‘Dawn’ or ‘Sunrise’) with Paul René’s last name <Tamburro> meaning “drum”. His Abenaki name translated to him by Cécile Wawanolet also contains the word ‘drum’: Môjassadop Spiwi Pakholigan – “Began with a Drum”. This name, given to him during his adolescent years while a participant in the East Coast “Powwow circuit” reflects the large amount of time spent sitting at the drum learning Northern, Southern and Eastern song traditions.
Paul René has combined many studies in his life in the hopes of finding ways to sustain and support First Nations / Indigenous languages and cultures. There are many people with Indigenous North American “blood”, tribal/ band enrollments, or DNA – but the languages and cultures are disappearing fast. For this reason, he has earned graduate degrees in anthropology, linguistics, and social work. Paul René has worked in the Indigenous world all of his life. His ancestry is mixed Amerindian, European and African.
In 2011 Paul René moved from Canada back to the USA. He had been teaching full time at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops BC, Canada where he was hired to work on an initiative to “Aboriginalize” the content in their social work program. From 1997 to 2000 Paul René was Director of the Reservation Based/Community Determined Program at The Evergreen State College in Washington State. In the early 1990s Paul René taught in the Anthropology and Social Work Program at Heritage University on the Yakama Nation in Washington State.
EDUCATION:
Ph.D. & MA, 2006 & 2003, Anthropology. Indiana University.
MSW, 1990, Salem State College, Salem, MA. Focus: Child & Family Services.
MA, 1982. Language and Linguistics, University of New Hampshire.
BA (BSW), 1980. Social Service, Minor, Sociology, University of New Hampshire (Durham).
American Indian Studies, 1974-1975. Unity College, ME. Community & Culture revitalization focus.
FIRST NATION ENROLLMENT AND EXPERIENCE:
Paul René & Andrea are enrolled in State recognized tribes, one in Vermont and one in Alabama:
the Nulhegan Abenaki (Paul René) http://www.abenakitribe.org/
the Piqua Shawnee (Andrea) http://piquashawnee.webs.com/.
Both Paul René & Andrea have done work with federal & state recognized tribes as well as non-tribal based community organizations & communities such as urban Friendship Centres, Métis organizations, nonprofit organizations serving Native Americans, powwow and cultural committees, mixed tribal social / cultural groups and “mixed race” Native groups such as Melungeon and US based metis.