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The Second Convocation of American Indian Scholars
September 16-19, 1971 at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic
Studies.
The situation TODAY among our people is of an emergency nature.
For these reasons:
- There is no effective means of communication between Indian
people, the tribes, and the organized groups. There is no
recognition on the part of urban groups that Indian life was
and remains in the Native TRIBE. There is little or no understanding
on the part of the Tribes, as to just exactly what the urban
groups can do in order to help the People, and to develop
Indian programs working together with the Tribes.
- Organized groups are being set up without the slightest
consideration as to their need, their role, or their relevance
to Indian life. There must be some understanding of what can
be done, and what should be considered BEFORE it is done.
- There are fakes and frauds parading around the country.
Suddenly they are Indians—Indian LEADERS. They should
be fearlessly exposed, and a stop should be put to it.
- There are universities and private organizations setting
up Indian programs, and RECEIVING FUNDS for these programs
which do not benefit Indian people in any way. This is exploitation
of the Indian people, and it should be stopped. A Criteria
for funding Indian programs should be discussed, and some
understanding brought to such agencies as the Office of Education,
and Foundations as well, as to suggested ways of evaluating
proposed programs.
- Some way must be found to deal with the enormous problems
confronting us. There should be an exchange of opinion, an
understanding of conditions, and a realization that we are
together. What this means is that the MECHANICS OF UNITY should
be discussed, and some understanding should emerge about this.
- Certain very important questions are now arising, as a
result of the great upsurge and development in the life of
the Indian people… such development is taking place
in all directions and all at once. We are a small population
in this nation of immigrants, and should be able to find a
way to unite upon important and critical issues. Even a small
group can be extremely effective if they know what it is they
want, and are willing to fight for it with intelligence, expertise,
and care.
The Convocation cannot dictate policy. It should not and
will not. This is for the Tribes to do as to their own conditions
and responsibilities. This is for the valid Indian organizations
to do, in conformity with their aims and conditions of operation.
But it can indicate DIRECTION, show a number of possibilities,
discuss problems in an atmosphere of friendliness and mutual
concern… and come out with a better understanding and
some real foundation for unity.
The American Indian Historical Society, an All-Indian organization
of individual Indian scholars, professional people, students,
and Native traditionalists, has taken the initiative. The
Society has no axe to grind. It does not make any effort to
dictate policy, or to take the initiative away from tribes
and Indian groups. We can only raise questions, bring people
together who ordinarily would not be brought together under
strict Indian auspices, and find some DIRECTION for all of
us to CONSIDER. [pp. 12-14m 1971 program]
Indian Voices: The Native American Today: The Second Convocation
of American Indian Scholars
American Indian Historical Society, Indian Historian Press,
San Francisco, 1974
Table of Contents:
The Blessing
Water Rights: Life or Death for the American Indian
William H. Veeder
Goals and Perspectives of the American Indian in Education
William Demmert, Roger Buffalohead
Education and the American Indian
Bea Medicine, Moderator
Curriculum Development
Solomon Cook, Moderator
Land Use and Economy on Indian Reservations
Richard Wilson, John Echohawk, Christine Webster, Rod Hodge
Health Professions and the American Indian
Lionel deMontigny, Moderator
Museums and the American Indian
Frederick Dockstader, Moderator
The Indian Claims Commission
Brantley Blue
The second Convocation was restricted to Indian participants,
with only one exception. Mr. William H. Veeder, specialist
in Indian water rights, was invited to an emergency session
on this question. This Convocation was called in response
to the desperate struggle of the Indian people to protect
their rights, most particularly in the area of natural resources.
It was felt, also, that the Convocation should be convened
in order to stir up ideas and independent thought in education,
curriculum development, health professions, and a number of
other areas of serious concern.
It should be emphasized that the participants were individuals,
invited because of their involvement in some aspect of Indian
affairs. They do not speak for their tribes, or their organized
groups. They speak as individuals with some authority, as
a result of their close connection with and activities in
the Indian world.
[p.vi, Indian Voices: The Native American Today: The Second
Convocation of American Indian Scholars, American Indian Historical
Society, Indian Historian Press, San Francisco, 1974.]
The Convocation Participants
Herbert Bacon, Cherokee, educator, Oklahoma
Earl. J. Barlow, Blackfeet, educator, Montana
Edna Belarde, Tlingit, graduate student in education
Brantley Blue, Lumbee, Commissioner, Indian Claims Commission
Beryl Blue Spruce, M.D., Pueblo, practicing physician, Michigan
Wesley Bonito, Apache, tribal education committee Arizona
Kay J. Braach, Gros Ventre, student University of Montana
Bobby Dean Brayboy, Lumbee, Public Health Service
Buffalo Tiger, Miccosukee, chairman, Miccosukee Tribe, Florida
W. Roger Buffalohead, Ponca, Acting Director, Department of
American Indian Studies, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Solomon Cook, Ph.D., Mohawk, principal, Salmon River School,
N.Y.
Jeannette Henry Costo, Cherokee, Publications editor, American
Indian Historical Society
Martina Costo, Cahuilla, educator, 4th grade teacher
Rupert Costo, Cahuilla, President, American Indian Historical
Society
Shirley J. Crow, Crow-Pawnee, Eastern Montana College, senior
Vine Deloria, Jr., J.D., Standing Rock Sioux, attorney, author
William G. Demmert, Jr., Tlingit-Sioux, educator and administrator
Lionel H. deMontigny, M.D., Chippewa-Cree, Public Health Service
Adolph Dial, Lumbee, North Carolina, Professor, Pembroke State
College
Frederick J. Dockstader, Ph.D., Oneida-Navajo, Director, Museum
of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, New York
Alice Echohawk, Pawnee, editor, Tribal Spokesman
John E. Echohawk, J.D., Pawnee, attorney
Jack M. Edmo, Shoshone-Bannock, Planning Director, Bannock-Shoshone
Reservation, Fort Hall, Idaho
Kesley Edmo, Bannock-Shoshone, undergraduate Animal Science,
University of Idaho
Lorraine P. Edmo, Bannock-Shoshone, tribal newspaper editor
Gloria J. Emerson, Navajo, Assistant Director, Ramah Indian
School, N.M.
Henry Gatewood, Navajo, District Superintendent, Chinle School
District No. 24
Ned. A. Hatathli, Ph.D., Navajo, President Navajo Community
College
Ronald A. Hodge, Pequot, attorney
Ted Holappa, Chippewa, Director, University Institute in American
Indian Studies
Walter Boyd Hollow, Assiniboine-Sioux, biology and medicine,
graduate student
Regina Holyan, Navajo, educator
Chester B. Irgens, Blackfeet, student, Eastern Washington
State College, sociology
Ted James, Paiute, tribal chairman, Pyramid Lake Tribe
Basil H. Johnston, Ojibway, educator
Samuel Kerns, Lumbee, student, history, Pembroke State University,
North Carolina
Kirk Kickingbird, Kiowa, attorney
James King, Creek
Charles J. Kingswan, Winnebago, pre-medical student, University
of Montana
King D. Kuka, Blackfeet, University of Montana, fine arts
William J. Lawrence, Chippewa, law student
Eugene Leitka, Cree-Seminole, candidate, Ed.D., educational
administrator, research
Rodney Lewis, Mohave-Pima, law student
Joseph Little Coyote, Northern Cheyenne, Native historian
Linda Lomahaftewa, Hopi, artist, educator
Ed McGaa, Oglala Lakota, attorney, author
Bea Medicine, 30, Standing Rock Sioux, educator, anthropologist
Bette Crouse Mele, Seneca, R.N.
David J. Miles, Nez Perce, educator
Larry G. Murray, Eastern Shoshone, educator
Mary F. Nelson, Colville, educator, arts
Richard Nichols, Santa Clara Pueblo, undergraduate student
Morgan Otis, Kiowa, educator
Frances Paisano, Nez Perce, educator
Alice Paul, Papago, educator, early childhood
Benjamin Pease, Jr., Crow, educator
Charles. A. Poitras, Jr., Sac and Fox, doctoral candidate,
education
David Poolaw, Kiowa, student
Anthony Purley, Laguna-Pueblo, Director American Indian Culture
Program, University of California, Los Angeles
Dennis Sun Rhodes, Northern Arapahoe, architect
Montana Rickards, Ph.D., professor, English
Jack E. Ridley, Ph.D., Western Shoshone, educator
Donald Ross, Brule Dakota, educator
Bud Sahmaunt, Kiowa, educator
Lilly L. Sahme, Nez Perce, student
Joe S. Sando, Jemez Pueblo, educator, native historian
Lester Sandoval, Jicarilla Apache, educator
Helen Redbird-Selam, Ph.D., Cherokee, educator, social sciences
Leroy B. Selam, Yakima, language specialist, writer
Ray Sells, Navajo, educator-administrator
Joseph E. Senungetuk, Eskimo, educator, author
Ronald W. Senungetuk, Eskimo, professor, arts
Leroy L. Seth, Nez Perce, tribal officer, educator, artist
Leroy N. Shing, Hopi, educator
Gwen Shunatona
Constance Smith, Crow-Sioux, student, education
Lotsee Smith, Comanche, educator, librarianship
Rodney F. Soonias, Cree Canada, educator
Peter Soto, Cocopah, educator
Phillip R. Spoonhunter, Northern Arapahoe, undergraduate student
Marion Sarain Stump, Cree-Shoshone, author, native historian
artist
Patricia A. Tallbull, Northern Cheyenne, student, education
William Thacker, Paiute, rancher, cattleman, education administration
Gerald Vizenor, Ojibway, educator-administrator, author
George B. Wasson, Coos-Coquille, educator-counselor
Christine Webster, Menominee, tribal activist, student
Arlene West, Northern Paiute, educator, political science
Barry White, Seneca, educator
John Kennardh White, Cherokee, doctoral candidate, education
Henrietta Whiteman, Southern Cheyenne, educator
Richard Wilson, Santee Sioux, Ph.D., candidate, educator
John Woodenlegs, Northern Cheyenne, traditional leader
Rosita R. Worl, Tlingit, Alaska, educator-counselor
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