Winona LaDuke • 2011 Commencement • Hampshire College

What wisdom does one of the world’s leading environmental activists offer to a graduating class stepping into an uncertain future? At Hampshire College’s 2011 Commencement, internationally recognized environmental activist Winona LaDuke delivers the keynote address, sharing insights drawn from her decades of work at the intersection of environmental justice, Indigenous rights, and sustainability advocacy. As a prominent Anishinaabe activist known for her work on land rights, renewable energy, and environmental protection, LaDuke brings a distinctive voice to this milestone moment for graduates, likely challenging them to consider their role in addressing the environmental and social justice issues of their generation.

Her address adds to Hampshire College’s tradition of featuring speakers who push graduates toward engaged, purposeful action, offering a commencement message rooted in environmental consciousness and Indigenous perspective rather than conventional career-focused advice.