American Indian Graduate Magazine Winter 2006

The Traditions to Scholarships

American Indian

Graduate Winter 2006

Inside this Issue: • AIGC 2006 Annual Conference Walking in Two Worlds

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Table of Contents

The American Indian Graduate Volume 6, Number 1 A Publication of the American Indian Graduate Center 4520 Montgomery Blvd., NE Suite 1B Albuquerque, NM 87109 Phone: (505) 881-4584 Fax: (505) 884-0427

Volume 6, Number 1 • Winter 2006

5

From the President of the Board

Greeting from Shenan Atcitty President of the Board of Directors

6

A Personal Perspective

By Dr. Michael Pavel

8

All Native American High School Academic Team

By Marveline Vallo and Susan Duran

11

Honoring Vine Deloria, Jr.

By Dr. Daniel Wildcat

12

AIGC Fellows Update

By Susan Duran

Website: www.aigcs.org Publisher Joan V. Currier Acting Inerim Director

There Just Wasn’t Enough Time

Susan Duran Consulting Editor Jim Weidlein Production Editor

AIGC All Native American High School Academic Team Recipients Selected for 2006

Carolyn S. Tate Design & Layout AIGC Board of Directors Shenan Atcitty, President

A Modern Vision-Seeker

Diné

Elizabeth L. Washburn, Vice President Chickasaw

The Alumni Connection

David Mahooty, Treasurer Zuni

Joanne Sebastian Morris, Secretary

13 Through the Eyes of a Student

My Conference Experience

By Rahmatullah Cholas

Cayuga

David Powless Oneida

Kathryn W. Shanley

14 The Power of Vision

Sharing Our Stories to Inspire Change

Elizabeth L. Washburn

By D.J. Vanas

Dee Ann DeRoin, M.D.

15

A Special Meeting

Nakota (Assiniboine) Chickasaw Ioway Tribe of Kansas

Grayson B. Noley

The AIGCS Male Initiative

By Shawn Secatero

16

Council of 100

By Dr. Henrietta Mann

Choctaw

Melanie P. Fritzsche Pueblo of Laguna

Cover

Thinking Back, Looking Forward Continued on page 4

Photo art by: Louis Baca, Santa Clara Pueblo; Design and layout by: Andrea Multari, Whole Brain Design Cover Title: “Walking in Two Worlds”

The American Indian Graduate

Table of Contents

17

Accenture American Indian Scholarship Fund

Congratulations to the 2006 Recipients

18

The New Generation

A Champion for AIGC

19

By Christa Moya and Shawn Secatero

Community in Conference

AIGC Conference 2006

By Dawn Karima Pettigrew

21

Inside the 2006 Conference

By Susan Duran

24

A Lifetime of Greatness

By Dr. Henrietta Mann

Many People – One Voice

A Tribute to Vine Deloria, Jr.

25

One Participant’s Story

Sacred Space in the Land of Enchantment

26

Gates Scholars

By Gabriel Bell

33

An Act of Remembrance

By John Belindo

34

Giving Back – Completing the Circle

36

Honoring Past Council of 100 Co-Chair

By W. Richard West, Jr.

42

A Loss For Indian Country

By Susan Duran

Bell Advances Indian Country

Honoring Vine Deloria, Jr.

2005 – 2006 John Rainer Fellowship Recipient

The Life and Work of Vine Deloria, Jr.

In Memory of John Mohawk, Ph.D.

By Raymond F. Reyes, Ph.D.

Contact Us Mailing List: If you are not currently on our mailing list and would like to receive future issues, please call or write to the address below.

Advertising: To advertise in The American Indian Graduate, please contact Susan Duran at (800) 628-1920, or send an e-mail to: susan@aigcs.org Article Submissions: Submit all articles to Susan Duran, Consulting Editor, for consideration.

E-mail: susan@aigcs.org Reprints and Permissions: Reprints of published articles and/or artwork are prohibited without permission of the American Indian Graduate Center.

American Indian Graduate Center, 4520 Montgomery Blvd., Suite 1B, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 881-4584 phone, (505) 884-0427 fax Visit us On-Line! www.aigcs.org 2006 AIGC, Inc. All rights reserved.

Published submissions and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of AIGC, Inc.

The American Indian Graduate

“Walking in Two Worlds” conference participants

From the President of the Board

Greeting from Shenan Atcitty President of the Board of Directors

W

armest greetings—Honored Elders, Tribal Leaders, Scholars, Donors, Supporters, Students and Friends.

Norbert Hill provided visionary leadership overseeing the growth of AIGC, during the six years he served as Executive Director, and we are deeply appreciative of his service and commitment to Indian education, leadership and community development. He will be missed and we wish Norbert great success in all of his new endeavors.

It is my intent and vision to continue the stellar work of AIGC in partnership with the talented and dedicated staff, who are truly the heart and soul of the organization. As you know, in addition to administering graduate scholarships and fellowships, AIGC administers the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) component of the Gates Millennium Scholarship (GMS) program. Starting at the undergraduate level, the GMS program provides educational assistance to students of high academic achievement who meet specific financial aid requirements.

Each year, 150 of the nation’s top American Indian/ Alaska Native high school seniors are admitted into the GMS program. Over the 20-year tenure of the program, a cadre of over 3,000 of the nation’s top native scholars will have earned their undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate and/or professional degrees through the GMS program. Additionally, thousands of incredibly talented, “non-GMS” American Indian/Alaska Native graduate and undergraduate scholars will also complete their educational careers and will assume their place as professionals, within a vast array of career fields, both within and outside of tribal governments and Native organizations. This influx of Native scholars is unprecedented in the history of our people and one can only imagine the impact these students will have on the future of their tribes, their communities and the American Indian/Alaskan Native population as a whole—not to mention the impact they will have on the nation and, indeed, the world.

It is our sacred and moral responsibility to provide these scholars and future leaders with all the support and encouragement they need and deserve throughout their educational endeavors. The investment we make in our future leaders will have an incalculable return on the betterment of our people for generations to come. We must be mindful that our cur-

rent and future scholars are also looking to us to provide them with the cultural grounding and traditional knowledge that makes them truly unique among their non-native GMS and other academic peers.

Just as we stand upon the proud accomplishments of our fathers, mothers, grandparents and extended families, Shenan Atcitty we must provide steady footing and a strong foundation from which our children can grow and prosper.

My vision is that, within the nourishing warmth and safety of a cocoon formed by you; the Council of 100; surrounded and inspired by established American Indian and Alaska Native professionals in the American Indian Professional Association and guided and encouraged by graduate and post-graduate students, our cadre of thousands of AIGC scholars and fellows can reach their full potential.

They will become empowered and enabled to lead us and their children, our grandchildren, into a prosperous and spiritually grounded future that will warm the hearts of our ancestors—for our ancestors will see and know, that above all else, we preserved our cultural identity, grew our intellectual capacity and maintained our pride and honor as Native people in a world that sorely needs our leadership, now more than ever before.

Come and invest with us in our most precious resource and let us truly give back as we move forward. Our ancestors did that for us and it is the least, yet most important, thing that we can do for our people and our future. It is our legacy, it is our destiny—and it is our sacred responsibility in the history of our people to do this.

Thanks to all of you who have supported, and continue to support, our mission of “building, promoting and honoring self-sustaining American Indian and Alaska Native communities, through education and leadership.” ✦

The American Indian Graduate

A Personal Perspective

There Just Wasn’t Enough Time

By Dr. Michael Pavel

A

IGC’s annual conference, “Walking in Two Worlds”, was out of this world! Held at the amazing Sandia Resort and Casino, AIGC put together a jam-packed agenda, featuring leading Native traditional elders, community leaders, scholars, grassroots program developers, undergraduate students, and graduate students from across the country. Sandia Resort and Casino is an extraordinary venue to have a conference, boasting stunning architecture, world class artwork, breathtaking views, a top level golf course, firstrate workout facilities and thousands of little machines going ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. It was fun and Sandia Resort and Casino’s staff provided top-level service to make it even ‘ fun’er’.

The conference organizers promised to put together a gathering, where high school and college students would have direct access to prominent Native Americans, and they scored a major success as many Native students took the opportunity to meet one-on-one with elders, scholars and community leaders before, during and after formal presentation times. Shenan Atcitty, President of the AIGC Board of Directors, welcomed everyone in a warm and inspirational way. Dr. Henrietta Mann opened our minds to the possibilities of “Walking in Two Worlds.” It was truly inspirational, literally. One Alaska Native woman in graduate school composed this poem after listening to Dr. Henri Mann (see sidebar).

Students were able to interact with prominent leaders because every one of the established people in their fields came with the intention of making themselves available to interact with the future of Indian country. And I got in on some of that action myself! It was an opportunity for me to say hello to Dan Wildcat, who co-authored the last book Vine Deloria worked on, Power and Place. When I introduced myself to Dan, he acted like he knew me and made me feel like somebody. It was an honor to everyone who had a chance to talk with, or get a book from, Dan during his book signing because they walked away feeling important. I had the unbelievable opportunity to visit with Rick West, Executive Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, and feel

The American Indian Graduate

Dr. Pavel (far right) and Floyd Westerman (center) with students and parents.

first hand what it is like to grow up to become one of the nation’s most important protectors of our ancestral past and tomorrow’s legacy. What an approachable and gracious man. That says something about our ancestors and certainly says something about the type of people we all should strive to become. Thank you, Rick.

I visited with Floyd ‘Red Crow’ Westerman and he treated me like a nephew. It was humbling having him personally share with me the incredible stories of how he met Vine Deloria and how Vine convinced him to tell the history of our people through song. I was a fly on the wall listening to Henrietta Mann and Floyd talk about the pains of growing old, while glistening with glee about the moments of their youth. Time after time, Floyd stole the moment with one of his masterfully delivered jokes (have him tell you the one about the old man and the talking frog!).

Every time I see him, I have to run up to Howard Rainer to say hi; just like I was 18 years old again and seeing him for the first time. He is simply one of the most inspirational speakers of our time and brought the house down in an astonishing presentation, during a luncheon honoring the Gates Millennium Scholars, which gave us a glimpse into the life and times of an incredibly talented group of Native students going on to college.

People were actually eating and serving themselves when Howard was scheduled to speak. Howard got up to the podium, faced the situation with the frank honesty that

A Personal Perspective Once, I Saw Our Path We are strong because We have lived through winter massacres, starved marches and influenzas, decimating.

We are strong because we caught fish, killed bear and buffalo and ate the goodness of our lands.

We are strong because we wade through their words, and ours, because we survive alcoholism, diabetes, poverty, abuse.

Why are we strong?

Because we have to be, because we were to get here.

We are strong because we made it this far, and we have grown longer legs to take the next big steps.

Success?

Is living off past strength to become strength of the future.

Is fighting back with healthy families, good dreams, strong selves.

Success?

Is grandchildren hugging grandmothers, the rich smell of smoked salmon, proud generations, toothless smiles.

It is a free flowing of our rivers, and of the rivers of our peoples.

It is our fist raised to the sky, while our feet grow deep, so deep, into this earth.

A. Noelle Phillips, 2006 Washington State University

he lives by, and said in the clearest and most passionate voice, “Ladies and gentlemen, I know it is going to be hard to compete with the pizza and talk to you while you are eating but I have something important to share.”

He then launched into telling us about the most influential people of his life, family from Taos Pueblo that made a profound difference by being deeply committed to their culture and community. He then pointed out a dozen people in the audience and listed their numerous accomplishments, showing all of us that to be great we had to recognize the greatness in others. I got up after his presentation and walked over to him and one of the elders from the Taos Pueblo to give both a hug; to say in some small way, thank you.

Another guest speaker at lunch, Dr. George Blue Spruce of Laguna/San Juan Pueblo (the first Indian dentist) motivated us with a stirring story of how one Indian dentist has grown into hundreds. What an amazing story. Another luncheon honored AIGC Fellows and Scholarship recipients and the guest speaker was Governor Joe Garcia of the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo and President of the National Congress of American Indians.

Governor Garcia gave a talk that provided all of us with a sense of security that we were in good hands. The presence of all these speakers gave testimony to the fact that there is a tremendous array of Native talent and leadership in the Southwest (and this coming from a Northwest Coast Indian J).

One afternoon, I sat in a Talking Circle that emanated truth, humility and integrity, as members of the circle shared their aspirations, fears and desires. Quietly walks in Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who sat next to his dear friend Henri Mann, who was facilitating the Talking Circle. He smiled at each of us in such a way that we became his relatives. When it came time for him to speak, we all became spellbound by his own story of courage and persistence and he gifted us with the feeling that we could be just like him. Imagine that…. we could, and should, dream of becoming the next generations of Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, one of our history’s greatest political voices. Wow! Then, one evening, Ben gave a keynote address that was one of the most powerful talks I have ever heard. This man is an American hero and his story of persistence and accomplishments rivals that of any political leader in the histories of our nations.

I introduced myself to Shenan Atcitty, President of the AIGC Board of Directors, during a pretty busy part of the her day, to ask if she knew my sister, Mary Pavel, because they are both lawyers in DC. “Yes!”, Shenan said, and then took the time to ask about my sister’s daughter, the family Continued on page 38

The American Indian Graduate

All Native American High School Academic Team

AIGC All Native American High School Academic Team Recipients Selected for 2006

By Marveline Vallo and Susan Duran

T

he AIGC All American High School Academic Team gives national recognition to American Indian/Alaska Native students who demonstrate superior success in academics, leadership and American Indian community service. The goal in recognizing these students is to motivate academic excellence and the pursuit of higher education among American Indian and Alaska Native students and prepare them to be future leaders and role models.

Each year, ten of the most outstanding American Indian/Alaska Native students, from across the country are selected to the All Native American High School Academic Team. Recipients are high school juniors and seniors, enrolled full-time in an accredited high school, who display exemplary academic, leadership and community service achievements. The students selected for this award receive monetary awards and are invited to be special guests at the American Indian Graduate Center’s annual conference in Albuquerque.

The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation, Inc. also believes that education of today’s youth is the cornerstone for tomorrow’s future and the American Indian Graduate Center is proud and honored to have the Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation as a sponsor of the All Native American High School Academic Team.

During the 2006 AIGC annual conference, “Walking in Two Worlds,” All Native American High School Academic Team recipients were especially honored to have their awards personally presented by President of the Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation, R. Guy Vickers. Mr. Vickers was also the keynote speaker for the luncheon honoring the All Native American High School Academic Team.

Congratulations to the 2006 AIGC All American Indian High School Academic Team: Madeline M. Anna (Choctaw-Cherokee) graduated from Liberty High School (which is ranked as one of the top 500 high schools in the country). She is a freshman

The American Indian Graduate

R. Guy Vickers congratulates All Native American Academic Team Recipient Craig Cheresposy.

attending Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, for the 2006-2007 academic year, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree. Madeline has been accepted into their College of Agricultural Sciences and plans to major in Landscape Architecture. She was also accepted into the Colorado State University Honors Program. She helped Madeline M. Anna create a mentoring and transition program for incoming freshman, is a Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Conference Ambassador and a very strong lacrosse player.

Nicholas C. Benally (Navajo) is our only high school senior on this year’s All American Indian High School

All Native American High School Academic Team Academic Team. He is a senior at Kirtland Central High School in New Mexico, where he carries a 3.88 GPA. Nicholas has received and Outstanding Achievement Award for the Upward Bound summer program, Native American Government Class and was the Business Professionals of America Chapter President, Kirt- Nicholas C. Benally land Central High School New Mexico Student Body Secretary and the 2006-2007 New Mexico Business Professionals of America State Secretary.

He also volunteers at the Save the Children Foundation as a tutor and mentor. Described as being motivated and dedicated, Nicholas has excelled in college-level history, reading, writing and critical analysis courses and runs cross-country.

Beau Biron (Cowlitz) graduated from Waldport High School in Waldport, Oregon.

He is attending Oregon State University and is majoring in Civil Engineering. His leadership roles include student government—Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms, member and Secretary of the Key Club and President Beau Biron of the Honors Society. Beau was the primary actor in the Lincoln County Methamphetamine Awareness Program, which is currently receiving airtime all across the state of Oregon. He also served the next generation of his community, as an assistant T-Ball coach, and is active in football, basketball and baseball, receiving many awards.

Lisa Byars (Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde Community) will be attending Penn State University-Altoona, seeking a Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology. She was captain of the Punxsutawney High School volleyball team and recognized as MVP, both as a junior and senior. Lisa is a member of the National Honor Society, a Homecoming Queen and was a Lisa Byars member of the Punxsutawney High School Math Team her junior and senior years. Her outstanding endeavor was completing, organizing and running a family readi-

ness program fundraiser for the military, in honor of her mother, who served in the U.S. armed forces for 19 years.

Lisa is described as very intelligent and creative, with a magnetic personality.

Craig Cheresposy (Pueblo of Laguna) will be attending the University of Arizona, seeking a Bachelors degree in Computer Science and Business Management. He graduated from Laguna-Acoma High School with a GPA of 3.89. Craig is a member of the National Honor Society and was recognized as a ‘Star Scholar”—top 10% in the State Craig Cheresposy of New Mexico. He was the 2004-05 Class President, 2005-06 Student Council President and Captain of both the varsity football and basketball teams. Among other activities, Craig volunteered at an orphanage and helped feed the homeless in Chile, South America, while staying with a host family. Family and friends describe Craig as ambitious, polite and cordial.

Laura J. Gravley (Muscogee-Creek) will be attending Stanford University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and International Relations, with a minor in Spanish. She was one of three awarded the Washington State Indian Association Merit Scholarship, is a National Honors Society member and has earned 12 varsity athletics let- Laura J. Gravley ters and several athletic awards, including ‘Most Inspirational’. Laura was the Washington Business Week Chief Executive Officer for March 2005, Yearbook Editor and National Honor Society Historian for 2004-05. She is committed to her community, as an Indian Education Elementary Reading Buddy, migrant summer school volunteer, soccer camp coach and family literacy advocate.

Laura is described as having ‘superb energy’, integrity and a great sense of humor.

Brittnea S. Nemecek (Choctaw) graduated from Allen High School in Allen, Oklahoma. She plans on attending East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma to pursue a degree in Nursing. Brittnea has chaired fundraisers for the American Red Cross, March of Dimes, Relay for Life and

The American Indian Graduate

All Native American High School Academic Team

The AIGC All American High School Academic Team gives national recognition to American Indian/Alaska Native students who demonstrate superior success in academics, leadership and American Indian community service.

Multiple Sclerosis and is described as being dependable, reliable and responsible. Brittnea also cares for elders, by coordinating activities such as nursing home visits, and has become known as an adopted granddaughter by many of those she visits. Among other outstanding awards, she is on the Governor’s Honor Roll, is active in FFA and an Brittnea S. Nemecek All Star basketball player.

Ryan J. Sierra (Cherokee) is attending Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. His plans are to major in Biology and minor in Cherokee Studies, with an emphasis in Cherokee Language. Ryan plans to transfer to the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center to continue his education as a pre-med student. Ryan is consistently on the Ryan J. Sierra Superintendents Honor Roll, is a member of the National Honor Society, Senior Class President and is concurrently reenrolled in college courses while attending high school.

He is known for his poetry, since he won first place in the Masonic Lodge poetry contest, and as an All District tight end and Captain of the Sequoya High School football team. Ryan volunteers for the City, Tribal Church, Children’s Hospital and drug-free basketball and is noted for possessing tremendous leadership skills.

Nolan Smith-Kaprosy (Bay Mills Indian Community) graduated from West High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with a GPA of 3.9. He will attend Yale University and seek a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, with a minor in International Studies.

Nolan placed 15th at the International DECA competition in Anaheim, California, was select- Nolan Smith-Kaprosy ed for the United States Senate Youth Program, served as National Honor Society President and Secretary, was Tennis Team Captain, Green Bay Intra-city Student Council Prsident and Writer/Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper. Most of his volunteer hours are spent at the Anna John Nursing Home on the Oneida Reservation. Nolan is intelligent, hard working and a pleasure to be around.

Yazzie K. Voigt (Navajo) has been accepted into the Honors College at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, where he will major in Computer Science.

He attended Prairie City High School in Prairie City, Oregon and finished with a 4.0 GPA. Yazzie has always been fascinated by electronics and was the only freshman member of ‘Stu- Yazzie K. Voigt dents Repairing Used Technology’. He was responsible for the construction of over 20 of the school’s new computers and is described as hard working, honest and caring for those around him. He was Prairie High School’s Team Captain for both football and basketball. ✦ Please visit www.aigcs.org for details on eligibility criteria and application procedure.

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The American Indian Graduate

Honoring Vine Deloria. Jr.

A Modern Vision-Seeker

By Dr. Daniel Wildcat

I

t was only fitting that this year’s annual conference of the American Indian Graduate Center, Walking in Two Worlds, would honor the late Vine Deloria, Jr. It would be difficult to imagine an American Indian whose own life’s work better embodied the vision of the AIGC than Vine. Can anyone think of a human being who did more to challenge us to “focus our intent, our spirit and our traditions to build a better tomorrow for Indian people”?

As Henrietta Mann, Richard West, John Belindo and Floyd ‘Red Crow’ Westerman reminded all of us with their good words and remembrances of Vine, his greatest accomplishment was that he stayed true to so much that we admire in our traditions: intellect, honesty, humility, resilience, respect, courage and certainly humor. Above all else, Vine embodied what it meant to be a good human being—in this he excelled.

Dr. Henrietta Mann recalled Vine Deloria, Jr. as aweinspiring, courageous and a force to be reckoned with when he wielded his razor-sharp wit. Vine had an ability to make people think, feel humility and laugh at the same time: it is a gift I wish more young Indians possessed.

Vine used his keen wit to skewer ignorance, bigotry and prejudice in American Society. Re-read ‘Custer Died for Your Sins’, ‘God Is Red’ and ‘Spirit and Reason’, and marvel at an intellectual who possessed humor and honed the ability to use it in ordinary language to address complex ideas and realities. Dr. Mann reminded all of us that Vine was a human being “who filled our spirits, but who sometimes danced out of step, to make us laugh and to show us there was another way of seeing the world.”

Richard West, Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian, echoed Dr. Mann’s remarks and reminded us that Vine affirmed throughout his work “the value and authenticity of Native knowledge and tradition.” Who better to remind us than Mr. West that, for Vine, Native peoples are not anthropological artifacts and stereotypes, but “complete and multi-dimensional human beings, not the ‘other’, but part of the ‘we’ of humankind and, finally, Native peoples with a spiritual center and practice that is vital and enduring”. Mr. West closed his remarks with a challenge: those of us fortunate to find paths illuminated by the spiritual and intellectual power of the person Vine

Dr. Daniel Wildcat

Deloria, Jr. “must have the courage to follow them – for the sake of all of those who follow us.”

Mr. John Belindo’s personal remarks and reminiscences about Vine reminded many of us of, and introduced a number of young Indians in the audience to, Vine’s charismatic leadership of the National Congress of American Indians during the mid-sixties. Mr. Belindo spoke eloquently and movingly about how one man – Vine Deloria, Jr. – would forever change his life. Belindo’s moving and at times emotional reflections on Vine made us remember, what we too often forget, one vision-seeking human being can make a difference in this world.

As the evening’s honoring of Vine Deloria, Jr. concluded with Floyd ‘Red Crow’ Westerman’s songs, inspired by Vine’s work Custer Died for Your Sins, I could not help but think of the many young Natives, like myself, who had been inspired by Vine. I thought of how he was so generous with his support and criticism, when both were well deserved. Ultimately, everyone’s comments regarding the man, Vine Deloria, Jr., reminded me of what I most treasured in my friendship with Vine.

One can be intellectual without being arrogant and possess humility without being weak – one should not worry about being a saint or a savior, but do their best to be a good human being. I think all would agree after the AIGC “ Honoring of Vine Deloria, Jr.” in Albuquerque on September, 22, that Vine left us a lot of good work to do as vision-seeking human beings. ✦

The American Indian Graduate

11

AIGC Fellows Update

The Alumni Connection

By Susan Duran Class of 1998 Alicia J. (Lechtenberger) Jividen (Cherokee), M.B.A., 1998, Western New Mexico University

Class of 2005 Gorotia Donia (Romero) Edwards (Nooksack) M.Ed., 2004, Western Washington University

“The American Indian Graduate Center enabled me to change my life. Through the money granted to me, I was able to graduate at the top of my class, with my Master’s Degree in Business Administration. I later went on to manage a million dollar budget, as Marketing Manager for a gaming company and, later still, to become a Senior Sales Executive for another major gaming company. Now however, I have changed my career and will graduate, in August 2006, as a Certified Fashion Designer, through the University of Nevada – Las Vegas. I now own my own company, Alicia’s Intimates, and design and retail women’s clothing. Please visit my web site: www.aliciasintmates.com. Thank you to the American Indian Graduate Center for empowering me to become the great business woman I am today!“

“For my graduate work, I completed a research project on transition services for students with learning disabilities. I am proud to announce that my daughter is now pursuing a graduate degree from Evergreen University.”

Class of 2002 Dr. Miranda Haskie (Navajo) Ed.D., 2002, Fielding Graduate University “Thank you for the scholarship! Through your commitment to Indian Education, one more Native American received her Doctorate.”

Class of 2005 Angela Wiley (Muskogee Creek), B.S., 2001, University of Oklahoma “I have completed the requirements for the master of human relations degree, so I will not be attending classes for Spring 2006. Thank you for working with me and I appreciate all the financial help AIGC has given me.

Because of AIGC, I was financially able to support my two children, attend college full-time, earn my master’s degree and earn a 4.0 GPA in my graduate studies. I will send an official transcript when the degree is confirmed.

Thank you very much!”

12

The American Indian Graduate

Class of 200?

Tracie Tuck-Davis (Chickasaw) CPA, MBA, Cameron University “Thanks for helping all the many students, who may not otherwise ever attend graduate school. Your assistance was critical and instrumental to me. Thanks again.”

(Tracie currently works with Lummi Nation Head Start)

Class of 2006 Randy M. Quinn (Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa) MBA, Duke University “I graduated from Duke University with an MBA, in May and will be heading for Dallas, Texas to begin the next phase of my career. My wife, Erin, who is six months pregnant with our first child, is excited about the move. I would like to express my sincerest appreciation to AIGC for all the help and care during the pursuit of my degree.” ✦

Notes: To insure that we have all your current information, please take a minute to visit our web site (aigcs.org) or send an email to (susan@aigcs.org) to update your information (be sure to include your previous address so we know we have the right individual).

We’re very proud of all our alumni, so… while you’re updating your information, please let us know what’s been going on with you.

Though the Eyes of a Student

My Conference Experience

By Rahmatullah Cholas

T

he 2006 AIGC Annual Conference truly had an impact on me. The conference focused on the important theme of “Walking in Two Worlds”. This is a subject with which I struggle; trying to understand how to balance living in mainstream society, while maintaining native traditions and identity. This conference touched on many different aspects of this topic and highlighted examples of people who have been able to give back to their Native communities, while achieving notable careers and positions in mainstream society.

Many sessions during the conference also dealt with some of the major issues facing Native communities, such as low educational rates, drug abuse and unemployment.

On the other hand, the conference also looked at positive aspects of Native culture. I particularly enjoyed the Native storytelling, like the story about the porcupine that killed a buffalo, wonderfully told by Ed Edmo! The Talking Circles

were also very inspiring and the GMS male initiative, where the Native male Gates Millennium Scholars shared their experiences of pursuing higher education, was truly a unique experience.

A main highlight of Karilyn Haozous and the conference for me was Ed Edmo meeting other participants, particularly other Native students. We went to workshops together and shared each other’s perspectives. We also had fun together during lunch and dinner and looking at the many different exhibitor and vendor booths.

Another major highlight was meeting the AIGC staff in person. Their enthusiasm, encouragement and spirit of service is so uplifting. They took care of us so well. Thank you! ✦

LEARN TODAY… LEAD TOMORROW Learning is not only attaining the basic mathematical skills or using the proper English for effective communication but also enhancing the life skills, personal growth, and leadership skills for our communities. Office of Indian Education Programs (OIEP) is a place where success and leadership are promoted through our K-12 educational program.

The OIEP operates 60 elementary and secondary schools, and 124 elementary and secondary schools, are funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs which operate as grant or contract.

Our schools are located on or near 63 Indian reservations in 24 states. If you’re an educator or a college student who is looking to return home, we invite you to explore the teaching opportunities with us. OIEP is the place where you can apply your expertise and share your knowledge with other Native American educators. The BIA-operated schools offer a base salary of $35,295 with excellent retirement benefits and insurance.

For an information packet, please contact:

OIEP Human Resources - Attn: Recruitment P.O. Box 769, Albuquerque, NM 87103 1-877-284-3822 • www.biaeducationjobs.com

The American Indian Graduate

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The Power of Vison

Sharing Our Stories to Inspire Change D.J. Vanas © 2006

I

would like to say ‘miigwetch’ (thank you) to all those who attended our recent Council of 100 National Conference at the beautiful Sandia Resort in Albuquerque, New Mexico. My mind and spirit are still on fire with excitement from the experience after hearing so many inspirational stories of struggle and success from so many wonderful people.

With a first class event and an all-star cast, the conference reminded me of our ancient prophets who fulfilled a very important role – they saw things not as they are, but as they could be! Through the presentations, workshops and discussions, the conference was filled with this power of vision. It was refreshing to me to be with so many that focused on what could be better in Indian Country – and how we could make it that way with education. After all, visions are regarded as powerful and sacred in our culture because they are what really move people to change and improve.

Medical studies have explored what it takes to truly create changes in attitudes and actions. When working with cases of very unhealthy people, they said, “If you continue to live like this, you’ll die in two years.” Do you think that was effective in changing people? A handful, motivated by fear, made temporary changes but most made none. A much better result came when the doctors said, “If you change the way you live, imagine how you’d feel, how you’d look, what kind of example you’d be setting for your kids.” Do you think this approach worked?

You bet it did! It took sharing a vision of what success looks like, feels like and tastes like. This is the key to change.

Across Indian Country we know that we’ve got problems on par with the scenario above – unhealthy situations including the meth epidemic, a crisis high school dropout level, violence, abuse and hopelessness infecting our communities. What will it take to change it? Not focusing our time and energy on criticism, highlighting the flaws or getting bogged down in the negative. What will create a change in the minds and hearts of our people is to inspire a new vision of what we could truly be and achieve as a people! I believe, like the American Indian Graduate Center and the Council of 100, that a key to opening the door to change is through the power of education. I also

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The American Indian Graduate

New Council of 100 Co-Chairs, D.J. Vanas and Henrietta Mann

believe the Council of 100 can play a vital role in creating this positive change.

My vision for the Council of 100, in 2006 and beyond, is to start actively sharing our stories with others – in person, in print and online. Share our successes, our failures, the wisdom gained through struggles, the fears overcome and the thrill of accomplishing big goals. This is not to inspire and impress others with what we’ve done, but to inspire and impress on others what they could do for themselves, their families and their tribal communities! Our oral traditions that taught lessons, values and virtues worked the same way – they inspired others to change, to live right and to succeed – by sharing stories. The Council of 100 can lead by example and play a critical role in this effort. We can make things better – and it can start with us!

I’m humbled, honored and look forward to serving as your Co-chair for the Council of 100 with a person I highly respect as an elder, a leader and a friend – Dr. Henrietta Mann. ✦ D.J. Eagle Bear Vanas (Odawa) is a nationally acclaimed motivational storyteller, success coach and the author of the celebrated book, The Tiny Warrior: A Path to Personal Discovery & Achievement and audio CD series The Warrior Within. D.J. uses traditional warrior concepts and wisdom to inspire people to achieve their best in life, school and career and owns Native Discovery Inc., a company dedicated to “building the warriors of tomorrow…today.” He can be reached at (719) 282-7747 or at http://www.nativediscovery.com

A Special Meeting

The AIGCS Male Initiative

By Shawn Secatero

A

s part of an American Indian collect and disseminate information Graduate Center program, among American Indian males, to a male initiative project was promote post-secondary endeavors, established this year, to promote, male role models and leadership retain and support American Indian development,” said Shawn. “We are males in college. The first of this projdefinitely excited about the positive ect series took place at the 2006 AIGC feedback that we are receiving about Annual Conference, “Walking in Two this project.”

According to the National Center Worlds”, as twenty American Indian Gates scholars shared their college for Educational Statistics, the number experiences and developed a network of American Indian males attending circle, as a means of offering support Walter Buffalomeat and Lyle Begay college is only forty percent (40%) and encouragement to one another. compared to the predominant sixty The Male Initiative was facilitated by Harvard Unipercent (60%) of American Indian female population versity doctoral candidate, Lee Bitsoi, graduate student, attending higher learning institutions.

“I feel that the session was great and we were able Eric Manuelito, Regional Coordinator at Futures for Children and Stanford University Graduate, and Shawn to get to know one another and share information”, says Secatero, a University of New Mexico doctoral student Walter Buffalomeat, a Gates Scholar and junior at the and AIGCS Coordinator of Student Services.

University of Oklahoma. “As Native scholars, this will “The purpose of the AIGCS Male Initiative is to definitely help us succeed in the future.” ✦

AIGC 2006 Annual Conference Rick West, National Museum of the American Indian, and AIGC’s Development Assistant, Leander Bekaye.

The American Indian Graduate

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Council of 100

Thinking Back, Looking Forward

By Dr. Henrietta Mann

W

hen I was asked, as one of the new AIGC Cochairs of the Council of 100, to write an article for the American Indian Graduate, many things crossed my mind.

I thought back to the inception of the Council, its ‘father’, Vine Deloria, Jr., and how proud his spirit must be to see the Council celebrating its 5th anniversary. I also thought about the remarkable diversity of tribal, traditional, professional and intelligent, outstanding men and women that make up the Council and how honored I am to have been asked to follow Vine’s path, not only in helping define the role of the Council as leaders, mentors and role models, but to continue Vine’s legacy of a passionate, lifetime pursuit of higher education for American Indian and Alaska Native youth.

Vine knew, from personal experience, that although it wasn’t always easy, Indian people could learn to “Walk in Two Worlds” and, with sufficient knowledge, could excel in both. Vine would have also been very proud of the number of Council of 100 members who attended the recent AIGC annual conference.

As a strong Cheyenne woman, mother, educator and Council of 100 leader, I know it is our sacred responsibility, to both our past and our future, to demonstrate, by example, how we can balance spirituality, cultural identity and higher education. The higher education of our youth is crucial. Succeeding generations must have the knowledge that will enable them to lead Indian Country forward and be a strong, united voice for indigenous people.

During the AIGC “Walking in Two Worlds” conference, I had an opportunity to meet and speak with students from across the nation. Their thirst for knowledge, both traditional and academic, is exciting and motivating… and their reason for attending the AIGC conference?…it helps satisfy both thirsts. I am sure that Vine was with us in spirit at the conference. After all, what better place for him to be ‘in his element’ could there be?

I have no doubts about the future of Indian Country. Like Vine, I believe that our presence and voices are growing larger and stronger, as today’s and tomorrow’s generations use the invaluable knowledge gained by ‘walking in two worlds’. ✦

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Henrietta Mann and Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell

Henrietta Mann

Accenture American Indian Scholarship Fund

Congratulations to the 2006 Accenture American Indian Scholarship Fund Recipients!

F

or the second year, Accenture has partnered with the American Indian Graduate Center to bring the Accenture American Indian Scholarship Fund to Indian Country. This year more than 140 students applied to the scholarship program, which seeks the brightest American Indian and Alaska Native students.

Applicants were evaluated based on academic excellence, demonstrated leadership ability, commitment to preserving and giving back to their American Indian communities and proof of enrollment in a federally recognized American Indian/Alaskan Native tribe.

“Accenture is honored to contribute to the higher education of these exceptional women and men,” said Randy Willis, senior executive sponsor of Accenture’s American Indian Interest Group. “While there were many deserving candidates, these students stood out as future leaders in the American Indian community.”

Six Accenture Scholars will receive undergraduate scholarships toward completing four-year baccalaureate degrees: • Laura J. Graveley, (Muscogee) of Okmulgee, OK, will attend Stanford University • Nolan Smith-Kaprosey, (Bay Mills Chippewa) of Fort Snelling, MN, will attend Yale University • Gary L. Richards Jr., (Oglala Lakota Sioux) of Pine Ridge, SD, will attend Creighton University • Brittnea S. Nemecek, (Choctaw) of Durant, OK, will attend East Central University • Jana V. Lekanoff, (Qawalangin) of Unalaska, AK, will attend Cornell University • Terra L. Branson, (Muscogee) of Okmulgee, OK, will attend Dartmouth College Four Accenture Fellows will receive graduate scholarships towards completing advanced or professional degrees: • Jon P. Swan, (Chippewa-Cree Rocky Boy’s) of Box Elder, MT, will attend the Harvard Kennedy School of Government • Jay H. Calhoun, (Cherokee) of Tahlequah, OK, will attend Dartmouth College • Jeri A. Azure, (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) of Belcourt, ND, will attend the University of North Dakota • Dana R. Arviso, (Navajo) of Fort Defiance, AZ, will attend the University of Washington

“Accenture is honored to contribute to the higher education of these exceptional women and men…”

In addition to the scholarships, these recipients will be eligible for summer internships with Accenture as first-year graduate students or junior-year undergraduate students.

The students were recently honored at a celebration event held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in Washington DC. Randy Willis kicked off the celebration with comments on leadership and determination and the importance of giving back to the community. The day was filled with interactive dialogue between the students and distinguished guest speakers from Accenture, NMAI and Congress.

As the students looked out onto a beautiful panorama view of the United States Capitol building, two members of Congress, U.S. Rep Norm Dicks from the State of Washington and U.S. Rep Dan Boren from the State of Oklahoma, stopped by to offer their personal congratulations and to share their thoughts on leadership with the group.

Several Accenture senior executives also shared in the festivities. Ed Fikse, Accenture’s U. S. Geographic Council Chair; and Stan Gutkowski, Accenture’s Managing Director Metro Washington DC Operations, shared their comments on leadership principles and practical advice on how the students can achieve their goals.

Virginia Elwell, NMAI’s Director of Development, shared her welcoming words along with a distinguished NMAI panel including Patsy Phillips, Helen MaynorScheirbeck and Jim Pepper Henry, who provided insight into where the NMAI is headed and personal stories of leadership and growth as American Indians in society.

Other Accenture featured speakers included Pedro Suriel, a senior executive and US Diversity lead for Accenture’s Government Practice, who shared new perspectives on inclusion and diversity and how the students can tap Continued on page 28

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The New Generation

A Champion for AIGCS

By Christa Moya and Shawn Secatero

“A

lways remember the people and organizations that helped shape the person you are, for it is these people who will forever be an invaluable asset in your future success.” As an Ambassador for the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars (AIGCS), Bron Deal has been inspired to “give back” and to contribute to Indian Country, by increasing awareness about the GMS scholarship.

“As a Gates Millennium Scholar, I have been blessed with this opportunity to reach my fullest potential and I want Bron Deal others to benefit, as I have, from the GMS scholarship.” Driven to help others reach their potential, Bron travels to surrounding high schools, college fairs and regional conferences, held throughout Oklahoma, to present information on the GMS program. Bron says, “I share information about the GMS nomination process, such as eligibility criteria, the importance of selecting a nominator and recommender and how to successfully submit a competitive scholarship application. More importantly, I share my own college experience with the students I meet in hopes that they will be inspired by my college journey.”

Bron also reaches out to potential nominators and recommenders, such as high school counselors, educators and other professionals who work directly with high school students and/or GED recipients regarding the GMS nomination process.

Bron Deal is a senior at the University of Oklahoma, where he is double majoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Bron was selected as a Gates Millennium Scholar in 2002. In addition to volunteer work for the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars, as an Ambassador, Born stays busy as the President of the Beta Epsilon chapter of the International Business Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi, a co-ed, professional organization rich with cultural diversity. Bron also donates many hours of volunteer service to the American Red Cross.

Bron has received a great deal of support from his family, the staff at AIGCS/GMS, the University of Oklahoma staff and the Chickasha Nation. “I owe much of my success to these people who supported me”, Bron

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said, “ I was raised to honor the people who have helped me be the person I am.

I especially want to credit my grandfather, Bill Graves, who instilled in me the values to work hard.”

During the American Indian Graduate Center’s 2006 “Walking in Two Worlds” conference, held in Albuquerque, Bron was honored as an “AIGCS Ambassador of the Year”. He was chosen based on his exemplary service to the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars, to the State of Oklahoma and to Indian country. Bron is a great role model for his fellow GMS Scholars and to the high school students to whom he reaches out. ✦

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Community in Conference

AIGC Conference 2006

By Dawn Karima Pettigrew

C

ommunity.

Communication.

Connections.

Camaraderie. These four “C’s” intersected, during the fall of 2006, at the American Indian Graduate Center Conference. For scholars, professionals and educators, this conference offered an opportunity to share our strengths, to develop academic strategies and to learn from one another. Participants gathered at the luxurious Sandia Resort and Casino to listen to dynamic presentations, hear fascinating speakers and to interact with intriguing vendors and media.

Community is a vital part of American Indian identity.

Elders, students and professionals from various backgrounds and nations joined in an inspiring community of people committed to American Indian education. The result? A powerful unity, rooted in the AIGC, which will resonate throughout Indian Country.

Communication represents an important foundation of a thriving community. Many wonderful conferences convene annually throughout Indian Country, yet the AIGC event allows scholars from dissimilar disciplines, professionals from particular fields and participants in an interesting array of occupations to interact. The result? A stunning fusion of diverse insights, distinctive experiences and different interests, which evokes innovative, interdisciplinary thought and action.

Connections help American Indians not only to survive, but to thrive. Since most of us define who we are by our relationships—to our family, to our clans, to our tribes, to our lands—connections are crucial assets to our lives.

The AIGC conference provides an environment that is conducive to networking. The result? Empowering those who are active in American Indian education to intro-

duce themselves to new contacts, refresh connections with acquaintances and to learn from others establishes important connections and influential networks.

Camaraderie proves to be an important component of this conference. Many American Indians in higher education and professional occupations identify with feelings of isolation. Higher education, high achievements and even honors may precede a sense of being “the only” or “the first” that can be daunting. The AIGC conference provides a place for professionals, scholars, elders, students and participants to encourage one another.

Sometimes, sincere empathy and someone who truly does understand is a major factor in ensuring continued success in academic and occupational endeavors.

As a first-time presenter and participant in the AIGC conference, I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere of Community, Communication, Connections and Camaraderie. Each of these four “C’s” features prominently in this annual gathering. Well-organized and well attended, this conference is a worthwhile celebration of American Indian education, identity, culture and tradition. ✦ Dawn Karima Pettigrew is Creek/Cherokee and belongs to the Panther/Tiger and Red Paint Clans. She is the host of Rezervations with Dawn Karima, a Native American talk show that airs on Native Voice One (www.nv1.org). She is the author of two novels, The Marriage of Saints and The Way We Make Sense and recently released a CD, The Worship of Angels. She is a correspondent for News from Indian Country.

Community is a vital part of American Indian identity. Elders, students and professionals from various backgrounds and nations joined in an inspiring community of people committed to American Indian education.

The American Indian Graduate

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A GRADUATE DEGREE IS YOUR PATH TO LEADERSHIP. UNC-Chapel Hill’s graduates return to their communities to become leaders in education, health care, business, science, law, public service, and the arts.

BE ONE OF THE LEADERS. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • Fellowships and funding for American Indian students • Exceptional research facilities and opportunities • Support from prominent faculty in American Indian Studies • Active American Indian student organizations • Intellectual, social and cultural activities including a national conference for American Indian scholars • Support from our state, home to the largest American Indian population east of the Mississippi River • Tours for students interested in attending Carolina • For more information, visit www.gradschool.unc.edu Please join us for the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School Fall Recruitment Event, Oct. 6-7, 2006.

Visit www.gradschool.unc.edu/airecruit.html for more information.

For more information, visit www.gradschool.unc.edu or contact Sandra Hoeflich, 919-962-6323 or shoeflic@email.unc.edu

Inside the 2006 Conference

Many People – One Voice

By Susan Duran

M

ore than 500 celebrities, students and alumni, business professionals, scholars, authors, musicians, artists, tribal officials, exhibitors and higher education officers gathered in Albuquerque for the American Indian Graduate Center’s 2006 Annual Conference, “Walking in Two Worlds”.

They came from as near as the University of New Mexico and, from as far as Alaska and Florida. They represented tribes from the Assiniboine to the Pueblo of Zuni and came in planes and vans, singly and by the dozen, encompassing all generations – from seventeen to ninety – across all professions. They came from all walks of life, from all over the country, to stand on equal ground, united for one goal – to reinforce and support the importance of higher education for Native American and Alaska Native students.

Over the course of two days, participants attended workshops and presentations covering many aspects of ‘Walking in Two Worlds’, ranging from the high school to college transition through surviving graduate school.

Enrico Cullen of Arts Engine, producers and distributors of the film “Arctic Son”

There were ‘Talking Circles’, facilitated by the AIGC Council of 100, luncheons that were used to acknowledge, honor and award students, a book signing, a heartfelt honoring of Vine Deloria, Jr. (founder of the Council of 100), a viewing of the movie, “Arctic Son”, and a closing banquet filled with music, laughter and celebration.

Networking was plentiful. Old friendships were renewed and new friendships were made. Students received an abundance of information from exhibiting universities and business recruiters and interacted with Native role models who have ‘walked in two worlds’ for many years, smoothing the path for those who follow.

It was a powerful, positive and learning experience that inspired and motivated.

Each conference participant left with something new; knowledge, friendship, a vision of the future for Indian country, or just a good feeling. Whatever it was, AIGC was proud to have been a small part of the process. ✦

Gates Scholars: Shawntay Lupi, Sara Buckman and Juanita Lt. Governor Alvin Warren, from Santa Clara Pueblo Toledo

The American Indian Graduate

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Faces of the Future

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The American Indian Graduate

Faces of the Future

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A Lifetime of Greatness

A Tribute to Vine Deloria, Jr.

By Henrietta Mann

L

ife can be challenging and I have encountered my share of challenges. The most demanding of them, to date, however, is condensing a lifetime of greatness into five minutes. Nonetheless, I add my humble commentary upon the life of one Vine Victor Deloria, Jr. to the others.

Vine was an awe-inspiring individual, who has always loomed large on the Indian and national horizon. There are many things about him that we must remember, which make us proud to be one of this land’s peoples. We must never forget that he was named by Time magazine as one of the eleven most influential religious thinkers in the 20th century and his Native primer, Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto, was named among the 100 best books of the 20th century.

Vine also received the 2002 Wallace Stegner Award from the Center of the American West, in Boulder, Colorado.

In 2005, Indian Country Today, selected this intellectual giant as the recipient of its 2005 American Indian Visionary Award.

Although Vine retired as a professor of Political Science at the University of Arizona and as a professor of History at the University of Colorado, we must never forget his significant contributions to the academic discipline of American Indian Studies. He left us with his views on education in Power and Place: Indian Education in America, the book he co-authored with Daniel Wildcat. His writings serve as the basic texts for courses that look at religion, history, politics and law.

Vine was a man of courage. He went where no other had gone before. The titles to his books indicate this: Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto Behind the Trail of Broken Treaties: An Indian Declaration of Independence We Talk, You Listen: New Tribes, New Turf God is Red: A Native View of Religion Red Earth, White Lies: Native Americans and the Myth of Scientific Fact He is the most powerful spokesperson of our time.

He assumed considerable and tireless responsibility for our welfare as residents of this “Great Turtle Island”.

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Henrietta Mann

He got the attention of the general public, by provoking them to re-think history and consider the savage impact of cultural imperialism on Native peoples. He was at his best when it came to correcting stereotypes and myths. America has never been the same since Vine began to publish his thoughts. What an enjoyable and highly informative ride he took us on.

His wit was razor sharp, particularly when it was directed toward his friends, one of whom is Rick West, the Executive Director of the National Museum of the American Indian. I listened and laughed as they bantered their way through many meetings of the Board of Trustees. Their museum association was lengthy, one being the Founding Director and the other a Founding Trustee. The museum itself stands as a symbol of Vine’s abiding commitment to our having a place to house our indigenous national treasures.

Vine also was relentless about securing American Indian religious freedom, especially when it came to carrying through the mandates of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 and protecting Indian sacred sites. He engaged in the war of words and was a force to be reckoned with when it came to protecting our environment and the sanctity of the sacred landscape our homelands. He wrote: Continued on page 35

One Participant’s Story

Sacred Space in the Land of Enchantment

By Raymond F. Reyes, Ph.D.

A

utumnal equinox is on September 22, the time when the sun crosses the equator, making night and day of equal length in all parts of the earth.

Indeed, it is a rare instance in the Earth Mother’s celestial journey of walking in the two worlds of night and day that light is in perfect balance with the shadow. In his book, For This Land: Writings on Religion in America (1999), Vine Deloria describes how, for tribal people, nature is an active force that demands our participation.

He goes on to profess how “the universe is a fabric, a symphony, a tapestry; everything is connected to everything else and everything is alive and responsible to its relationships in every way.”

Albuquerque, New Mexico was midwife to such a symphony on September 22-23, 2006, when the American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC) called to order its Second Annual Conference, “Walking in Two Worlds.”

Have you ever been at the right place at the right time, with the right people, for the right reason, without righteous indignation? I have! I might not win on the slots or ever have my name called at a raffle, but I was lucky enough to attend the AIGC Conference this year. As a middle-aged, Mexican Indian, who has worked the last 18 years at a “PWI” (Predominately White Institution) i.e., a private Jesuit, Catholic university in the Pacific Northwest I thought I had died and gone to heaven! Let me explain.

Floyd ‘Red Crow’ Westerman with students

(l. to r.) Rick West, Henri Mann and John Belindo

Rounding up to the nearest ten, I have worked in Indian Education for 30 years and, for eight of those years, I managed a regional Indian Education Technical Assistance Center that served 200 school districts in seven northwest states. A “BFO” (Blinding Flash of the Obvious) of my educational career is that I have attended a ton of conferences and, without doubt, the AIGC Conference was by far the proverbial impeccable best. The people, the program and the participation created a different time zone, where the synergistic convergence of past, present and future was manifested in the Land of Enchantment.

I was graced with the opportunity to witness an intergenerational dance of cultural resilience, intellectual acumen, empathetic insight and prophetic vision.

The oldies but goodies, i.e., the wisdom keepers holding the institutional memory of tribal issues and Indian education, like Dr. Henrietta Mann, Rick West, Floyd Red Crow Westerman and Sam English, were interacting with the current “indigenous intelligentsia” and the future leaders of Native America. An impressive number of American Indian undergraduate and graduate students, representing diverse academic disciplines from colleges and universities throughout the United States, shared their passion, idealism and wit. The genius Continued on page 39

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Gates Scholars

Bell Advances Indian Country

By Gabriel Bell

A

ho — Greetings from Arizona! I am a Gates Millennium Scholar from “Cheyenne-Arapaho Country.” You might ask what I am doing in Arizona, considering the fact that most Cheyenne-Arapahos are from western Oklahoma. Good question…. and I’m glad you asked. It was the Gates Millennium Scholarship (GMS) that brought me into the west. Allow me to share my story with you.

My name is Gabriel Bell. I realize that is not the most “Indian-sounding” name but, for the record, my grandmother’s name is Salome Whiteshirt Matanane and she is from Concho, Oklahoma, home of the CheyenneArapaho Tribe. She currently resides with her husband, Juan Matanane (my grandfather), in McLoud, Oklahoma, along with my mother, Rosa, and sister, Christina Matanane. McLoud is home to me, too, as it is where I did much of my growing up.

In 2002, my twin brother, Michael Bell, and I graduated from McLoud High School at the top of our class, with honors as American Indians. That’s right, I have a twin brother. The beauty of being twins is that we were able to encourage one another throughout our years at McLoud High. But, I attribute much of our academic success to the discipline my mother instilled in my brother and me at a young age.

Upon graduation, the overwhelming thoughts concerning college had begun to alarm me. Coming from a family that experienced a devastating divorce and adversity on many fronts, our family had no way of financing higher education for my brother and me, which is the case with many families in America. The American Indian Graduate Center’s Gates Millennium Scholarship program was able to step in, fill the gap and provide the means to cover the much-needed expenses. In short, GMS has affected our lives in ways I may never fully realize.

I first heard about AIGC’s GMS program through my high school career counselor, who had approached me one day with the Gates Scholarship opportunity. Needless

to say, I welcomed it with open arms. Following nominations from our counselor and recommendations from our employer, my brother and I were well on our way to becoming GMS recipients. By the end of the summer, Michael and I were both accepted as “Gates Scholars.”

Receiving the scholarship was, no doubt, a lifechanging event. Initially, the questions were, “Where am I going to college?” and “What am I going to do?”

While choosing a university can be a daunting task, we were resolved in our decision to attend Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU), a four-year, private, liberal-arts university in Shawnee, Oklahoma. In addition to the facts that OBU was close to home and the student-toinstructor ratio was perfect, the university has always been well known for its academic strength. As a matter of fact, U.S. News has ranked OBU the 2nd comprehensive university in the western region, for a number of years. With those qualities, OBU was the perfect option.

So, in the fall of 2002, we enrolled at OBU and pioneered our journey into higher education as Gates Millennium Scholars.

I am happy to report that, after four years of hard work, I graduated from OBU with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mathematics this past May. Obtaining my undergraduate degree has been my most valued achievement to date. But I don’t believe my academic career is over yet. I am just beginning to realize my true potential has no bounds. It is not a question of whether or not I have the ability to accomplish more. I have already proven myself to this point. The real question is how far do I want to take it?

More and more, I find familiar sentiment to be true: you can do anything you put your mind to. With organizations like GMS and the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars (AIGCS), the ability to “do anything” becomes a reality. It is organizations like these that catalyze progress in society where it would otherwise not be possible, due a simple lack of resources. I cannot thank

The positive influences of American Indian role models are crucial to the hope that young Natives put into their future.

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The American Indian Graduate

Gates Scholars GMS and AIGCS enough for their direct contribution to my education, as well as the education of Indian Country. These organizations prescribe to a powerful vision of hope. The objective now is to transfer this vision into the hearts and minds of those who experience despair where hope should abound.

Fostering the vision can come in a variety of forms, including serving the local community as an AIGCS ambassador of hope. During our time at OBU, community service was always an integral part of our college career. Michael and I devoted much of our extra-curricular time to the Kickapoo Friends Center, a mission to the Kickapoo Indians north of McLoud. These service opportunities have allowed me to operate in leadership roles, conducting organizational services, as well using my musical talents to lead worship services and camp music programs.

I also spent many semesters with the McLoud High School English Language Learner (ELL) program, geared especially for Kickapoo and Hispanic students in need of specialized tutoring. As an undergraduate mathematics student, I tutored McLoud ELL students in all areas of mathematics, from remedial levels to advanced placement calculus. The most rewarding aspect was, not only was I the only available math tutor for the class of 10-15 students, but as an American Indian I could tutor other American Indians. While I tutored at the high school, Michael contributed as a math tutor at the Kickapoo Tribal After-School Program for Kickapoo students of all ages. To me, having an impact on lives of fellow Natives gives so much meaning to my charge.

The positive influences of American Indian role models are crucial to the hope that young Natives put into their future. The impact of our tutoring service is verified by the comments of gratitude made by the students whom we have had the privilege to help along the way. It is the act of getting involved in young peoples’ lives that gives them the push they need to reach further than they thought they could. An inspirational note here is that I have come to realize in my experience that, no matter what level of education you have attained, whether it be high school or college, we all have the ability to impact the surrounding community for the betterment of Indian Country and beyond. Young Natives are looking for positive role models to look up to for guidance and encouragement. The “Gates Scholar” is a prime candidate for such a role. It has become my goal to be that example.

To shift gears for a moment, I would like touch on one dynamic every American Indian college student must overcome. The dynamics of university demographics does not favor American Indians in any instance. Allow

me to explain. Considering the fact that American Indians make up less than one percent of the U.S. population, American Indian students will face this same demographic in student bodies as well (Census 2000). Native students have a difficult time finding fellow American Indian peers throughout their undergraduate and graduate experiences. This dynamic held true at OBU, where Natives numbered in the 20’s out of a student body of just under 2,000. Among the 20 to 30 Natives, there were about five other GMS students besides Michael and me. But, in many cases, the populations of Natives in higher education appear to be extremely under par with the national demographic. There is sometimes a feeling of isolation accompanied by such environments. While many students can find strength in numbers, American Indians students are often left fending for themselves, as minorities among minorities. I have found that simply knowing there is another American Indian on campus to be encouraging.

It was not until I participated in the Washington Internship for Native Students (WINS) at American University in Washington, D.C. that I experienced a summer with over 80 fellow Native college students.

Never have I been in the presence of so many Native students. The WINS program places American Indian students into various federal agencies throughout D.C. Along with the full-time internship, WINS students complete a 3 credit-hour American Indian policy class, as well as a 3 credit-hour general internship course. The dual requirement of the program makes for an intense but rewarding semester. It was in D.C. with the WINS program where I bumped elbows with a number of other GMS scholars. It was also in D.C. with the WINS program that I began to develop a vision for Indian Country across the nation. The dialogue within the program among the WINS students cultivated fertile ground for the exchanging of ideas, the sharing of stories and an overall presence of contagious motivation for the future of Native America.

I spent the summer of 2005 in D.C., with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, as a WINS intern in the Office of the Chief Actuary. I completed an extensive summer project, independently researching Native American Veteran statistics with the Census Bureau.

At the end of summer, I put together a comprehensive research paper based on my findings. The paper was added to a publication that was later submitted as a White House report to the Bush Administration, in the fall of 2005. I was later honored as one of the outstanding WINS interns for that year. The honor was given to Continued on page 40

The American Indian Graduate

27

Accenture American Indian Scholarship Fund Continued from page 17

into these elements for future success; and Suzanne Randall, a senior manager and national lead of the Accenture National American Indian Interest Group, who facilitated an interactive discussion on relationship building.

After a guided tour through the NMAI, each scholarship recipient was honored with a traditional Chief Joseph style Pendleton blanket in recognition of their achievement as an Accenture American Indian Scholar for 2006 and future potential as American Indian leaders.

The Accenture American Indian Scholarship Fund is one part of Accenture’s commitment to the American Indian community in the United States and part of its global corporate citizenship program. Accenture’s American Indian Scholarship Fund was created in September 2004, at the same time that Accenture supported the opening of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. Accenture acts as a management consultant and information technology services advisor to the Museum. ✦

AIGC 2006 Annual Conference

AIGC Scholars Program Staff with Gates Scholars, Dustin Hayes and Bron Deal.

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The American Indian Graduate

Opportunities

Bureau of Indian Education

L

earning is not only attaining the basic mathematical skills or using the proper English for effective communication but also enhances the life skills, personal growth, and leadership skills for our communities. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is a place where success and leadership are promoted through our K-12 educational program.

The BIE operates 60 elementary and secondary schools while it provides funding to 124 schools which operate under grant or contracts and are tribally controlled. Our schools are located on or near 63 Indian reservations in 24 states. If you’re an educator or a college

student who is looking to return home, we invite you to explore the teaching opportunities with us. BIE is a place where you can apply your expertise and share your knowledge with other Native American educators. The BIE-operated schools offer a base salary of $36,285 with excellent retirement benefits and insurance. ✦ For an information packet, please contact: BIE Human Resources ∙ Attn: Recruitment PO Box 769 ∙ Albuquerque, NM 87103 myrecruiter@bia.edu ∙ www.biaeducationjobs.com

Bureau of Indian Education Learning

is not only attaining the basic mathematical skills or using the proper English for effective communication but also enhances the life skills, personal growth, and leadership skills for our communities. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is a place where success and leadership are promoted through our K-12 educational program.

The BIE operates 60 elementary and secondary schools while it provides funding to 124 schools which operate under grant or contracts and are tribally controlled. Our schools are located on or near 63 Indian reservations in 24 states. If you’re an educator or a college student who is looking to return home, we invite you to explore the teaching opportunities with us. BIE is a place where you can apply your expertise and share your knowledge with other Native American educators. The BIE-operated schools offer a base salary of $36,285 with excellent retirement benefits and insurance.

For an information packet, please contact:

BIE Human Resources ∙ Attn: Recruitment PO Box 769 ∙ Albuquerque, NM 87103 myrecruiter@bia.edu ∙ www.biaeducationjobs.com

The American Indian Graduate

29

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Advertising Contact: Susan Duran Phone: 505.881.4584 Fax: 505.884.0427 susan@aigcs.org

The American Indian Graduate

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4HE

Graduate School /REGON 3TATE 5NIVERSITY

An Act of Remembrance

Honoring Vine Deloria, Jr.

By John Belindo

M

y name is John Belindo. I am a full-blood Indian’s desire to preserve his ‘Indian-ness’”. Vine added, Kiowa/Navajo and a member of the Kiowa “Reservation Indians dwell in a society where life is not a Black Legs and the Kiowa Gourd clans. My series of compartments, each of which claims a certain area Navajo clan is Todichii nii, Bitter Water. and produces certain tensions. The Indian puts a premium I am also a former Marine and Vine was also in the on just being alive.”

Marine Corps. We talked often about how Camp Pend One day, in 1966, Vine called me and told me that leton, in San Diego, had changed. “Camp Matthews, the the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Indian old firing range, is no longer there”, Vine stated, “and the Affairs were in Santa Fe, New Mexico, writing Indian old tent camps no longer exist.” policy, behind closed doors. Vine I met Vine Deloria, Jr. in the called an emergency meeting of autumn of 1965, when I wrote a the NCAI Executive Council and weekly column for an Oklahoma asked me to provide coverage of City newspaper called “Changing the NCAI protest for the OklahoProfile”. Vine was visiting Oklama City newspaper. This was my homa City in preparation for the first exposure to American Indian 1966 Annual convention of the activism.

This would be the first time National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). Vine was the I met Alvin Josephy. With pipe new Executive Director. in hand, Josephy appeared to be I was impressed by the NCAI a constant voice for meaningful Director’s attack on a national change in Indian affairs. Alvin was distillery advertisement, which a competent, charismatic writer and appeared in a national magazine a member of the Council of Indian that fictionalized an Indian in Affairs. Josephy reiterated, “The full regalia, holding a jigger of 86 Indian was making a new stand for proof ‘firewater’. The distillery ad dignity, independence, self-determistated, “If the Sioux had soft whisnation and we want to help.”

Stan Steiner, the author, was on key, they would never have called it ‘firewater’. Soft whiskey swalthe verge of releasing “The New lows easy, but don’t fool yourself, Council of 100 member, John Belindo, greets a Indians”, interviewing tribal leaders guest following the tribute to Vine Deloria, Jr. soft whiskey isn’t for old squaws, who were protesting the closed-door it’s 86 proof.” The distillery manager was called, followed sessions. Stan wrote eloquently about the new, emerging

by Vine’s angry letter. The ad was cancelled, at the cost of leadership. I carefully kept notes of the confrontation and $300,000, largely because of Vine’s intervention. reported the stories back to the newspaper.

In January, 1966, I interviewed Vine Deloria, Jr. in In May 1966, Vine Deloria offered me the job as NCAI Oklahoma city and ran Vine’s comments in the “ChangDirector of the Washington Office and we hired Juanita ing Profile” column: Echohawk Neconie, as Secretary for the Washington office.

“Tribal society lives because the Indians believe in Together, we facilitated issues with the Denver office, headthemselves and their survival.” Vince continued, “Wars, ed by Vine Deloria, Jr. My life would change forever. migration and pestilence have not eroded or changed the Continued on page 41

“Tribal society lives because the Indians believe in themselves and their survival.”

The American Indian Graduate

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Giving Back—Completing the Circle

2005-2006 American Indian Graduate Center John Rainer Fellowship

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y name is Karletta Chief and I am honored to receive the 2005-2006 American Indian Graduate Center John Rainer Fellowship. John Rainer was a phenomenal individual who reached above his circumstances to attain success, become a leader, and give back to the Native American community. Because of community leaders such as John Rainer, Native communities have progressed in the past 50 years in increasing its number of college graduates. In honor of John Rainer and his commitment to the Native American community, I had the opportunity to participate in several volunteer projects, including presenting motivational speeches to K-12 Native youth, and tutoring and mentoring Native American undergraduate students.

One particular project I became involved with is the Canyon Country Guitar Project (CCGP) and documentary, a multi-faceted guitar program at Page (Ariz.)

High School where 80 percent of the student population is Native American. By utilizing a grant awarded by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, CCGP focuses on students who are high risk for dropping out of school. The guitar program not only expands their musical talents but helps them stay in school and build self-confidence. The majority of the participants are Navajo and these students are faced with substance abuse, crime and/or family issues on a daily basis. One of the key developers of CCGP is classical guitarist and musician Brad Richter, who travels from Tucson, Ariz., to teach guitar and music theory.

Richter has taken great interest in the lives of these young students who amazingly taught themselves complex classical pieces by ear. As an incentive, CCGP sponsors a four day end-of-the-school-year retreat on Lake Powell, where the most improved students undergo an intense one-onone musical training while enjoying the beauty of the natural surroundings through recreational activities. The students’ journey in their personal and musical development is documented on video and will be aired on PBS.

The video will provide cultural awareness to the general viewing public as well as provide cultural and community pride for the Navajo and Page communities.

I became interested in this project because it uniquely combines goal setting, cultural pride, musical development, Karletta Chief and educational success.

In addition, the project focuses on a student population which I am familiar with because I graduated from Page High School. I believe in the potential of our Native youth despite the obstacles and circumstances they face.

I was once a young teenager who aspired to be a successful person, and through the mentorship and guidance of my high school counselor, I was able to pursue and succeed in my educational endeavors. Likewise, these students can achieve their goals through encouragement and positive role models.

I had the opportunity to visit my old high school and meet the teachers and students involved with CCGP. I provided a motivational presentation relating my own experiences as a high school student and emphasized the importance of cultural pride, pursuing higher education, setting goals, and working hard. In particular, I shared the Navajo philosophy of “áhóh áíjtéego,” which emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and citizenship. I believe the generation of Navajo youth is in a turning point because not only are the influenced by the modern culture but the generation of our elders is passing by, taking our stories and language with them when they go. For this reason, I believe it is important that Native youth be proud of who they are, learn all they can about

The generation of today has the opportunity to take hold of the educational opportunities and technological advances, so they can be successful.

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The American Indian Graduate

Giving Back—Completing the Circle their culture, and use their native language so it can be passed on to future generations. At the same time, the generation of today has the opportunity to take hold of the educational opportunities and technological advances, so they can be successful. With both worlds at their fingertips, and the sound foundation of their heritage, they can bring their expertise back to the tribal nations so the Native America of tomorrow will be strong and successful. In Navajo, we say, “nihi diné’é éí bidáá níjídáá,” which means “one who returns back to the people with obtained

knowledge.” In a sense, life has turned a full circle and balance is attained. I believe John Rainer was an excellent example of an individual who took pride in his culture and language and used his education to progress Native America. I truly hope that more and more Native Americans will follow in the footsteps of John Rainer, who was a role model for many. ✦ Karletta Chief can be reached at kchief@hwr.arizona.edu. For more information about CCGP, please contact CCGP Producer and Director, Cherylee Francis at cfran75@yahoo.com.

A Lifetime of Greatness Continued from page 24

‘The lands of the planet call to humankind for redemption….each river valley, the rugged mountains, the placid lakes – all call for relief from the constant burden of exploitation.

Who will find peace with the lands? The future of humankind lies waiting for those who will come to understand their lives and take up their responsibilities to all living things. Who will listen to the trees, the animals and birds, the voices of the places of the land? As the long-forgotten peoples of the respective continents rise and begin to reclaim their ancient heritage, they will discover the meaning of the lands of their ancestors. That is when the invaders of the North American continent will finally discover that, for this land, God is red. (God is Red, p.292).

Indeed, God is red. Vine wants those who understand our ancestral relationship to the land and all life to, once again, become responsible stewards of Earth and to be at peace with the lands. Just as he was committed to protecting the Earth, he had a lasting belief in the power of our stories. He convened several gatherings focusing on: Star Knowledge; Relationship to Animals; Giants and Little People and, finally, Volcanoes.

Participants sometimes strayed from the topic, but they willingly participated in discussion, sharing their knowledge over coffee and food. Commenting upon “Indian knowledge” in Power and Place, Vine says: “There are many instances in the oral traditions of the tribe in which, after reviewing everything that is known about a certain thing, the storyteller simply states that what he or she has said was passed down by elders or that he or she marveled at the phenomenon and was unable to explain it further. It is permissible, within the Indian context, to admit that something mysterious remains, after all is said and done.” (Power and Place, p. 127).

Yes, life is a mysterious journey. I call Vine’s gatherings a “Traditional Indian Think Tank”, but they were more. It was like going into ceremony to sit in sacred space, among traditional knowledge keepers, and being taken back to the source. The expected result was renewal and a greater understanding of the Indian world.

Or, maybe it was briefly touching The World We Used to Live In, the title of the last book that Vine wrote. In it, he is Remembering the Powers of the Medicine Men and catalogs their ‘amazing spiritual powers’. It is a documentary of eyewitness accounts of the ancient and powerful ways of the people, which can be a source of strength and direction for tomorrow. Huston Smith proclaims it to be the best book Vine has ever written, a fitting tribute to the historian and scholar.

Vine was a man among men. His ‘uniform’ was simple. It was a white shirt, levis and tweed jacket. If he suddenly turned up missing at a meeting, one could go outside to find him taking a tobacco break, usually making a joke about some politician or another. He was a shrewd observer of life.

He touched the lives and spirits of many, as he walked this world. I truly believe he was a ‘contrary’, who filled our spirits, but who sometimes danced out of step, to make us laugh, and to show us there was another way of seeing the world. For this, I thank him. I also thank his wife and family for sharing their husband, father and grandfather with us. Vine was our blessing and he showed us, in the way he lived, that we can walk in balance in two worlds. ✦

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Honoring Vine Deloria, Jr.

The Life and Work of Vine Deloria, Jr.

By W. Richard West, Jr. Director, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution

I

confess to being completely intimidated, a concept that does not readily cross my mind normally, by the request to celebrate, in these brief remarks, the life and place of the late Vine Deloria, Jr. For me, the task is akin to trying to define God and God’s accomplishments in a few minutes at a podium – although I suspect Vine would find my comparisons to the Divine to be, ab initio, ludicrous, if not a sacrilege. But, in one way or another, this remarkable lawyer, historian, intellectual and, most importantly, human being, touched and shaped the life and work of every person he met, Native or non-Native.

And, for the next few minutes, I wish, with humility, to describe my own personal views of why.

I would like to do so in the following two ways – First, I want to focus on those characteristics of mind and spirit that made Vine Deloria, Jr. such a compelling and commanding personality. Second, I would like to discuss, as I have seen so clearly from my seat as the Director of the National Museum of the American Indian, what Vine believed that had such seminal, abiding and enduring impact on the very assumptions and constructs of American history regarding Native people and cultures.

So, let me turn to Vine the personality first, if I may – and, oh, how much personality this man did have, and I want to mention two aspects specifically. I remember almost 40 years ago now, seeing Vine for the first time at a meeting convened at Princeton University and called “The Convocation of American Indian Scholars”.

I was surprised at even being there. Notwithstanding my own firm contrary views on the subject, I had never previously witnessed the attachment of that noun, “scholars”, to any gathering of American Indians. And, frankly, as a second-year law student at Stanford, all of age 25, I could not figure out why and how I had been invited, even if the rest of the group was entirely legitimate.

But the times were heady and I loved the intellectual surround, which was powerful. Scott Momaday had just won his Pulitzer Prize and all of us Native intellectual novitiates sat, rapt at his feet, as he gave a reading of House Made of Dawn. Another of the convocation organizers, Alfonso Ortiz, a then young and promising anthropologist trained at the University of Chicago,

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The American Indian Graduate

actually was a professor at Princeton University. And then, during the meeting, I finally heard Vine, the then younger lion, speak and I received a dose of inspiration that has never left me.

I probably listened to him for no more than five minutes before I concluded to myself, Vine Deloria, Jr. “This man is not only the smartest damned Indian I have ever heard; he is the smartest person I have ever listened to” – a viewpoint to which I have happily adhered without interruption for some 40 years.

Vine also surrounded that intellectual magnetism, inspiration and charisma with a transformational sense of humor that could be both immensely charming and thoroughly skewering to good ends at once. I believe a resounding sense of humor was truly a “cultural thing” for him, because he saw it as central to the Native experience and to our survival instincts and capacities. As he explained in Custer Died for Your Sins: ‘Humor, all Indians will agree, is the cement by which the coming Indian movement is held together. When a people can laugh at themselves and laugh at others and hold all aspects of life together without letting anybody drive them to extremes, then it seems to me that the people can survive.’

But do not misunderstand me. Vine Deloria, Jr. was not some jolly Indian telling jokes and humoring folks.

The humor may have been the scabbard, but it contained an intellectual blade of tempered steel that could cut to truth with startling and telling efficiency and – as many, including me, discovered through the years, you had best better never be on the receiving end of it.

I now want to turn, however, to the second part of my remarks, if I may – namely, what Vine said and argued, over the years, which had such power and authority, in changing forever the place of Native peoples

Honoring Vine Deloria, Jr. in American history. During his all too brief lifetime, Vine said so much that is important, it is hard to know where to begin – but three critical points stand out for me, in knowing Vine Deloria, Jr. and his work.

First, he had a powerful commitment to the idea of an American Indian present and he rang the death knell of contemporary Native invisibility. As he wrote in Custer Died for Your Sins: ‘The deep impression made upon American minds by the Indian struggle against the white man in the last century has made the contemporary Indian somewhat invisible compared with his ancestors. Today Indians are not conspicuous by their absence from view. Yet they should be.’

For Vine, Native peoples were not some ethnographic remnant, some lingering, tragic cultural residuum, waiting to fall inevitably off the stage of history.

To the contrary, Vine issued to contemporary Native communities a loud and clear call to cultural arms. It was time to assert diligently, consistently and always explicable the continuing presence in history and American heritage of Native peoples and communities. And we should touch and, more importantly, move those centers of political and cultural power, whether they were the Congress of the United States or the halls of academia, to alter their views and take action accordingly – as Vine argued so eloquently and elegantly from his position as Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians, as well as from his own immense scholarly output over almost half a century.

Second, as anyone involved in the field knows, Vine believed that one of the specific winners in the room was the academic discipline of anthropology. As he mused in Custer Died for Your Sins, again with withering humor: ‘Into each life, it is said, some rain must fall. Some people have bad horoscopes, others take tips on the stock market.

McNamara created the TFX and the Edsel. Churches possess the real world. But, Indians have been cursed above all other people in history. Indians have anthropologists.’

In the same book, he also declared the magnitude of this threat in starkly comparative terms: ‘Anthropologists came into Indian country only after the tribes had agreed to live on reservations and had given up their warlike ways. Had the tribes been given a choice of fighting the cavalry or the anthropologists, there is little doubt as to who they would have chosen. In a crisis situation, men always attack the biggest threat to their existence. A warrior killed in battle could always go to the Happy Hunting Grounds. But where does an Indian laid low by an anthro go? To the library?

Vine called it as he saw it and it is important to understand why he said what he did about anthropol-

Rick West and John Belindo

ogy. Whatever anthropology has done to deconstruct itself in the past generation, and let me be clear it has done much, the cold and undeniable reality is that this system of knowledge was, for almost a century, a further instrument of colonialism in Indian country. Its dehumanization of Native peoples was profound in its cultural destruction – they became no different from the beautiful ceramics and baskets they made, all of them objects to be studied, categorized and classified. And Vine rejected all of it, in sometimes incendiary terms, but always powerfully, incisively – and correctly.

My third point, regarding Vine’s thinking and positioning about Native peoples and experience, is actually the converse of my second. He had a deep and abiding confidence and belief in the value and authenticity of Native knowledge and tradition. Even more specifically, Vine, bless him, remained, in the best sense of the term, a “PK”, a “preacher’s kid”, devoted his entire life to importance and centrality of Native spiritual and religious practice.

In Custer Died for Your Sins, he explained himself this way: ‘That is why I believe that Indian religion will be the salvation of the Indian people. In Indian religions, regardless of the tribe, death is a Natural occurrence and not a special punishment from an arbitrary God. Indian people do not try to reason themselves out of their grief. Nor do they try to make a natural, but sad, event an occasion for probing the rationale of whatever reality exists beyond themselves.’

In a statement of moving poignancy, now that Vine has crossed over from this mortal coil to another place – and which I pray brought him comfort at that time, he also added these reflections in God is Red: Continued on page 41

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37

A Personal Perspective Continued from page 7

and how things were going for me. Another Board member, Vice President Elizabeth Rodke Washburn, joined our conversation, as she knew my sister as well. All the while, there were people trying to pull them both on to some urgent engagement but Shenan and Elizabeth demonstrated that, despite how busy we might be, we must always take time to honor the value of family and friendships. I was fortunate to sit next to Kate Shanley, another AIGC Board member, during dinner one night, and came to fully realize that Native American literary figures are truly the spoken and written passion of our past, present and future. Shenan, Elizabeth and Kate, as well as all the AIGC staff and members of the Board, are the type of people we look up to in our leadership.

The conference agenda was filled with session after session of knowledge and wisdom, and it was difficult to choose which one to attend. One session I attended was presented by Michael Vendiola, from Western Washington University, and excellently entitled, “Dancing in Two Worlds.” We didn’t do too much dancing, but we all had the greatest time laughing and being profoundly influenced by Michael’s deep insights into how we, as Native people, can negotiate the complexities of living in contemporary society while retaining our ancestral heritage. I had a chance to steal…. uh…. I mean ‘borrow’ a couple of Michael’s outstanding presentation techniques to use in my own work.

The session tracks offered a beautiful range of topics covering professional development, Native issues, graduate education and undergraduate education. However, the most appreciated sessions were those offered by our graduate students. Gary Padgett, Michelle Covington, A. Noelle Phillips, Desirae Bear Eagle, Michelle Johnson-Jennings, Derek Jennings, Theresa Milk, and Sandy Lucas showed all of us that we, as Native people, have much to offer right now and long into tomorrow. I heard a lot of compliments about the quality of presentations, the professionalism of the presenters and insights offered from these exceptional graduate students.

One evening was dedicated to honoring the past Council of 100 Co-Chairs, Vine Deloria and Wilma Mankiller. It was so meaningful on so many levels when time was spent to remember Vine: intellectually, spiritually and emotionally—to name a few. Notable speaker after notable speaker rose to give honor to a man that continues to live with us in spirit. It was touching when Floyd ‘Red Crow’ Westerman shared his songs and stories, then unexpectedly gave the microphone to a youngNative woman, Coral Bernal, who is attending

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The American Indian Graduate

the Institute of American Indian Arts, to share several of her poems expressing her views of our life and times.

She did an incredible job. Her poems were like sunshine glistening atop clear water, the music of wind sweeping through old growth forest and the laughter of Native children playing while elders watched. It was wonderful as we all know that Vine so loved the fact that his work was to inspire the Native youth as much as transform our academies and society. Later, we all celebrated the incoming Council of 100 Co-Chairs, Henrietta Man and D.J. Vanas. Henri and D.J. gave moving acceptance speeches that exuded a thoughtful sense of appreciation for being entrusted with the high honor of being CoChairs of a Council of 100 that will be the spiritual and intellectual voice for the coming generations.

There was so much stuff going on: the viewing of ‘Artic Son’, a moving documentary of a young man growing into his destiny; an extremely large number of booths, with row after row of representatives from various programs, colleges and universities, businesses, and governments and vendors offering affordable art and crafts.

There just wasn’t enough time to do it all and meet all the Native people you have read or heard about. Whether it was Ed Edmo’s hilarious storytelling, Shelley Morningsong’s riveting music performance or the always beaming Hawaiian Pride performance. During all the activity, however, I took time to sit for several quiet moments during the conference to spiritually say thank you to Norbert Hill, especially after the luncheon that honored the AIGC All American Indian High School Academic Team supported by the Tommy Hilfiger Foundation. Norbert (if you already don’t know), is the past Executive Director of AIGC and is transitioning to another phase in his life to take care of his love, Mary, and was unable to attend this year’s conference. He was a vision and voice for the annual conference and I counted at least 75 times that his name was brought up by other people, always with a deep appreciation that honors Norbert as being a positive force of social justice for Native people.

There is always the next AIGC conference – keep checking the AIGC web site (www.aigcs.org) and look forward to one of Indian country’s premier gathering of Native leaders, scholars, elders and students! ✦ Dr. D. Michael Pavel (CHiXapKaid-Skokomish) is an Associate Professor at Washington State University’s College of Education and a member of the American Indian Graduate Center’s Council of 100.

One Participant’s Story Continued from page 25

of this year’s conference program was designed around five concurrent tracks: Professional Development, Native Issues, Graduate Education, Undergraduate Education and Graduate Student Presentations. I sat at a banquet of ideas and methods fit for a king, listening to seasoned veteran educators and scholars. My favorite track was the graduate student presentations. It was in this program track that I grew into a deeper understanding of that old 19th century gospel song I once heard Maya Angelou sing. It goes something like: “when it looked like the sun wasn’t gonna shine no more, God put a rainbow in the clouds, in the worst of times, there’s a possibility of seeing hope.” I heard students incarnate this sense of hope with their eloquent doctoral dissertation and master thesis research presentations. The term ‘practical visionary’ comes to mind. These presentations were a perfect balance of “flying kites” (the idealism of youth) and “driving nails” (the realism or praxis of adults).

Moreover, I was fortunate to hear Dr. George Blue Spruce, the first American Indian dentist in the United States, tell his sacred story of excellence and achievement with humility, humor and grace. Former U.S. House of Representative and Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell’s presentation brought new meaning and significance to the notion of an American Indian “renaissance man”, who redefines servant leadership in a cross-cultural context. However, the authentic alchemy of people, program and participation at this conference was profoundly apparent during the Friday evening Council of 100 Celebration. In essence, this quickly became a sacred honoring of Vine Deloria’s gift to all of us, his life of service for a greater good within Indian country. As we all know, Vine Deloria was “mess you up smart.” All of the presenters spoke about how he touched them personally and professionally. At times I felt I was in a ceremonial, as I experienced the emotional roller coaster ride of divine presence. Laughing and crying at the realization of what it means to be human i.e., learning to live with the intimacy of having more questions than answers. Saul Alinsky was right when he wrote in Rules for Radicals: “it is no coincidence that a question mark resembles an inverted plow, like a plow questions are designed to break up

the hard soil of old beliefs and assumptions in hopes of preparing the soil for new growth and development.”

In Letters to a Young Poet, Rainer Maria Rilke, advises us to “be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves….Do not seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”

For me, during this time of equal day and night, I experienced holding the tension of opposites, loving the questions and enjoying the rapture of realizing Native America has a bright future. I was affirmed in the promise and practice that learning to be a good relative is the purpose of Indian education. Like Deloria said, “Everything is connected to everything else and everything is alive and responsible to its relationships in every way.”

Yes, there is a utilitarian purpose to education in terms of vocation and avocation. However, “Walking in Two Worlds” at the 2006 Annual AIGC Conference brought together the Light of Traditional Knowledge and the Darkness of a colonizing western education into a creative wholeness that was highly informative, healing and restorative. I want to thank the AIGC Board of Directors, the American Indian Professional Association and the American Indian Graduate Center staff for gifting me with such an experience. I am also eagerly awaiting the 2007 Autumnal equinox and the next AIGC Conference. See you there! In the Spirit of Our Ancestors, May the Blessings Be! ✦ Raymond F. Reyes, Ph.D. is the Associate Mission Vice President for Intercultural Relations at Gonzaga University.

“Everything is connected to everything else and everything is alive and responsible to its relationships in every way.”

—Vine Deloria

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Gates Scholars Continued from page 27

those whose performance as interns ranked in the top ten percent.

This past summer, I participated with the WINS program for a second time, meeting up with a number of former WINS interns from the summer before. I was able to intern with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Honors Intern Program. My big accomplishments with WINS this time around included a 20-page, graduate-level paper on the FBI’s involvement within Indian Country. I was also selected by my peers to deliver a speech at the FBI Farewell Ceremony.

I have been able to gain great insight into federal policy of Indian Country through the WINS program.

My experience with the program, in D.C., allowed me to create numerous relationships with other WINS/GMS students from across the United States during these past two summers. Most importantly, WINS has equipped me with an ambitious vision for Indian Country that will remain with me wherever my influence reaches. I would recommend WINS to all American Indian students, as a place were they can meet and share their successes with one another.

So, back to the original question: what brought me into the west? It is because of GMS and AIGCS that I have the chance to take time to review career options as an American Indian college graduate. I am currently spending time with my relatives in Kingman, Arizona.

My uncle is the general manager for Ft. Mojave Telecommunication Inc. (FMTI) located in the Mojave Valley.

The company provides all telecommunications services to the Ft. Mojave Indian Reservation. I have been working at FMTI since August, learning all I can about the telecommunications industry, as well as receiving handson experience in information technology and network engineering. Recently, I was asked to be an after-school math tutor for the Ft. Mojave Education Department

and I will probably start in the coming weeks in conjunction with work. As with my previous tutoring stints in Oklahoma, I have been identified as the only individual suitable for the task in the given area. I take pride in another opportunity to help educate Native America.

One great honor came last week, when I visited The American Indian Graduate Center office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was there attending the Arizona-New Mexico Telecommunications Conference with FMTI. I was able to drop by the AIGC main office, where I met the staff. After some discussion, I was asked by AIGCS’s very own Christa Moya to do some recruiting on behalf of GMS in the state of Arizona. I couldn’t be more excited at the chance to contribute to AIGCS and GMS in this capacity. I happily agreed and now wait to take part in various high school recruiting events around the state, where I will give speeches about GMS to Native students. Without these recruiting events, many eligible Native students may never get the chance to hear about GMS. I can’t be grateful enough for all those who made GMS and AIGCS possible. Of course, there are many thanks to be given to the founder of GMS, Bill Gates himself. And what better way to give back to GMS than to be a spokesman and representative for GMS, the very organization that changed my life?

In closing, I would like to share what I have planned for the near future. I have taken a year of deferment from the GMS program in order to develop some skills in the workplace. I have the choice to go to graduate school, through AIGC, in the fall of next year or I could go straight into the workforce. Whatever I choose to do, I plan to do great things for Indian Country. I’ve heard it said, “It doesn’t matter how much you are awarded if you don’t plan to do great things with it.” May we all succeed and do great things together for the sake of our people. ✦

Most importantly, WINS has equipped me with an ambitious vision for Indian Country that will remain with me wherever my influence reaches. I would recommend WINS to all American Indian students, as a place were they can meet and share their successes with one another.

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An Act of Remembrance Continued from page 33

During the 1960s, the National Council of Churches, Indian Rights Association and the Council on Indian Affairs were strong allies of NCAI. Vine told me to meet these guys “because the churches working with Indian people to support change in Indian affairs. It was a challenging time for us because confrontation politics were beginning to emerge among Indian people.

As I said, Vine administered the Denver office and, since I was the liaison for NCAI, I testified on behalf of HIS and met regularly with HIS liaison personnel. We met with Indian offices at the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Department of Commerce, Department of Labor and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. We met with Robert Bennett, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and the Secretary of Indian Affairs. We provided information to the Senators and Congressmen at the United States Congress on important, pending Indian legislation. We fought with

the Senate to repeal Public Law 280 and won. It was a victory for Indians everywhere. Vine was my preceptor for one year, before I became Executive Director.

Vine’s father, Vine Deloria, Sr., gave me a Lakota name. In a letter dated October 3, 1969, he wrote, “I just finished reading the NCAI Sentinel and find myself heading for the typewriter to congratulate you again on another thrilling edition. You have moved me so much I am going to give you a Lakota name. It is Mahto Waiyasiaia. It means ‘Bear That Catches Them in the Act’– Senators, Congressmen, Secretaries, etc., no matter how subtle they try to be. But, do not let a single Wasicu or many Wasicus ever know the translation. When you are asked, say it means something about a ‘Smiling Bear’.”

On November 11, 2005, we heard Vine’s death song. Crazy Horse and our best braves rode with him to a Greater Destiny. We lament his force among Indian people. We will never forget him. ✦

Honoring Vine Deloria, Jr. Continued from page 37

The Indian ability to deal with death was a result of the much larger context in which Indians understood life.

Human beings were an integral part of the natural world and in death they contributed their bodies to become the dust that nourished the plants and animals that fed people during their lifetime. Because people saw the tribal community and the family as a continuing unity, regardless of circumstance, death became simply another transitional event in a much longer scheme of life.’

So how, in conclusion, does one even begin to sum up the life and work of Vine Deloria, Jr.? I confess to having a method to my madness in selecting these specific three previous areas of Vine’s thinking and writing.

They speak to the point that I wish to make most this afternoon about why he made such a difference and had such broad and lasting impact.

If you think of the three areas I discussed as examples of the scope of Vine’s thinking and lifelong inquiry – Native peoples and cultures as contemporary cultural phenomena, Native peoples not as anthropological objects of study, but as complete and multi-dimensional human beings, not the “other”, but part of the “we” of humankind and, finally, Native peoples with a spiritual center and practice that is vital and enduring – I think

you understand the transcending and unique place of Vine Deloria, Jr. He had immense intellectual range. His writing and thinking encompassed all of Native experience, past and present. He defended that cultural territory of Native existence with intellectual integrity and, indeed, ferocity against all comers. And, in doing so, he created and preserved cultural space for all of us to be Native and challenged us to occupy it – a legacy that puts all who call themselves Native forever in his debt.

But, in the end, notwithstanding my lasting gratitude for all of these vast intellectual tangibles, it is the intangibles of Vine Deloria, Jr. that create a permanent place for him in my memory and that endear him to me. In attempting to summarize those intangibles, I cannot help recalling the words of Adlai Stevenson, twice a candidate for the American Presidency, in his eloquent eulogy for Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and a memorable social activist in her own right: “She would rather have lit one candle than curse the darkness.” In his lifetime, Vine’s incandescent candlelight illuminated cultural paths that many would not have found otherwise, and those of us who remain now, after him, must have the courage to follow them – for the sake of all of those who follow us. ✦

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In Memorium

A Loss For Indian Country

In Memory of Sotsisowah (John Mohawk, Ph.D.)

By Susan Duran

O

n December 12, 2006, Indian Country and, indeed, the world in general, lost a wise and valuable asset, as well as a humorous and compassionate individual known to most of society as John Mohawk, Ph.D. When 61-year-old John did not appear for Monday morning meetings at the University, friends discovered him dead at his home in Buffalo. Although his health had been declining for the past few years, he had no indications of acute illness. John was preceded in death, approximately eighteen months ago, by his beloved wife and life-partner, Yvonne Dion-Buffalo.

From its founding in 1967 to 1983, Mohawk served as editor for Akwesasne Notes, a journal published at the Mohawk reservation of that name straddling the St. Lawrence River, a groundbreaking effort in the emergence of an independent Native American press. In 1978 he was contributing editor to A Basic Call to Consciousness, a germinal document prepared by the Iroquois Confederacy for a conference at Geneva, Switzerland, demanding establishment of international law standards for the rights of indigenous peoples.

John Mohawk served as a spokesperson and negotiator in several land conflicts concerning the Iroquois nations, including Ganienkeh (1975) and Racquette Point (1981) in upstate New York, and Oka, Quebec (1990). He represented Akwesasne Notes on a fact-finding trip to Iran during the U.S embassy hostage crisis in 1980. He was also founding board member of the Seventh Generation Fund and the Indian Law Resource Center.

In addition to being one of the original members of the American Indian Graduate Center’s Honorary

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“There is no death, only a change of worlds.”

—Chief Seattle

Council of 100, John was a longtime professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo, author, speaker, singer, historian, storyteller, activist scholar, revered Seneca elder, peacemaker, mentor to hundreds, philosopher and strong defender of international human rights. As an author and orator, John covered a broad range of indigenous, social, political and global issues with intellect and humor. He was a humble and wise man of great honor and integrity, who treated everyone with great patience and even greater love. He was also the recipient of the Native American Journalism Association’s Best Historical Perspective of Indigenous People Award, in 2000 and 2001.

Chief Seattle, of the Suquamish nation, once said, “There is no death, only a change of worlds.” While this world is a little less bright without John, his words, his works and his example live on in the memory and hearts of many. ✦

Thank You! The American Indian Graduate Center would like to take this opportunity to thank all the participants of the 2006 Annual Conference, “Walking in Two Worlds”.

We are very grateful to our exhibitors, presenters, speakers, the Honorary Council of 100, members of the AIGC American Indian Professional Association, students – both undergraduate and graduate, school officials, entertainers and general guests. We are particularly thankful for our generous sponsors: AIGCS and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Walton Family Foundation, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, CG Printers, Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO), Exhibit Solutions, Indian Country Today, Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation, Peterson’s and the AIGC American Indian Professional Association Charter Member sponsors: Accenture, American Indian Development Associates, Holland & Knight, REDW and Wells Fargo Bank.

It takes all of you to make the AIGC conference successful and we just wanted to let you know we sincerely appreciate the time and effort you committed in sharing our mission: “To build, promote and honor self-sustaining American Indian and Alaska Native communities through education and leadership”.

As a non-profit organization, we cannot host the conference without a great deal of help. Your participation and support are crucial. If you or your organization would like to help sponsor the next AIGC Annual Conference, please contact our office at (505) 881-4584.

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Application

Complete one application to be considered for all Fellowships administered by the American Indian Graduate Center

T

he American Indian Graduate Center has streamlined the financial aid process for all fellowships and financial assistance programs administered by AIGC. The goal of the new process is to make it easier and seamless to apply for consideration of one or more of the financial aid programs offered by the American Indian Graduate Center.

Each year, the AIGC fellowship program provides $1,200,000 in fellowships to over 350 Native American graduate students. Graduate fellowships are monetary awards made to American Indian and Alaska Native graduate or professional degree-seeking students, who meet all eligible criteria. The United States Bureau of Indian Affairs federally funds most fellowships. The fellowship amount is typically between $1,000 and $5,000 per academic year, and varies from year to year, depending on the availability of funds and unmet financial need.

Master’s, Professional and Doctoral Degree Programs BIA SHEP Fellowships are awarded to eligible applicants that apply by the June 1 deadline. Fellowships are available for any field of study, at any nationally accredited institution of higher education.

AIGC Loan for Service Program: AIGC is administers a grant from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to provide financial assistance in the form of loans to eligible American Indian and Alaska Natives seeking graduate and professional degrees. The goal is to promote opportunities for careers with tribal governments, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded organizations on and off reservations. Loans are paid back at the rate of one year of service for one year of funding.

AIGC Administered Private and Corporate Fellowships: Accenture American Indian Scholarship Fund: AIGC administers a grant from Accenture LLP. The scholarship fund selects the very brightest American Indian and Alaska Native students seeking graduate or professional

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degrees and careers in the high technology and business fields. The goal of this program is to provide scholarships to graduate students and provide summer internships with Accenture. This award has the potential to be renewed throughout the course of the degree program.

Elizabeth Furber Fellowship: Graduate fellowship for women studying the creative fine arts, visual works, crafts, music, performing, dance, literary arts, creative writing and poetry.

Dr. George Blue Spruce Fellowship: Dr. Blue Spruce created the fellowship as a step toward increasing the very low number of American Indian dentists.

Gerald Peet Fellowship: Priority to medical students or health- related fields. 2 year work/service pledge Grace Wall Barreda Memorial Fellowship: Graduate fellowship for student seeking advanced degrees in environmental studies or public health.

Jeanette Elmer Scholarship - Graduate Fellowship: AIGC was granted authority to accept administration of the trust fund monies of the Jeanette Elmer estate.

This fund is designated to provide scholarships to

students that have completed their bachelor’s degree and are enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program at an accredited institution and who are members of Wisconsin, New Mexico or Arizona tribes.

John Rainer Fellowship: The Rainer family created the fellowship to honor AIGC founder John Rainer and designated AIGC to administer the fellowship program.

One male and one female student receive a one-time $1000 award each year.

Katrin Lamon Fund: For Native American graduate students majoring in literature, journalism and communications or a related field.

Wells Fargo American Indian Scholarship Fund: The Wells Fargo fellowship builds personal and lasting relationships with the students who will become the future business leaders in Indian Country and Wells Fargo leaders in banking and financial service industry. Wells Fargo may provide paid summer intern opportunities Two personal recommendations are required: one from an education professional who is familiar with the student’s academic work, and the second from an individual having knowledge of the applicant’s leadership and community service activities must accompany the application. This award has the potential to be renewed.

Ruth Muskrat Bronson Fellowship: Priority to nursing or health-related fields if the nursing pool is non-existent.

One or two graduate students per year.

How to Apply Applications are available in mid-January, prior to the academic year, and can be requested by calling AIGC, toll free, at 1-800-628-1920 or by visiting our website at www.aigcs.org.

Eligibility Criteria 1. Be an enrolled member of a United States federally-recognized, American Indian tribe or Alaska Native group, or possess one-fourth degree Indian blood from a federally-recognized tribe.

2. Be enrolled full-time in a Masters, doctoral or professional degree program, at an accredited college or university, within the United States.

3. Demonstrate financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA), from the United States Department of Education and the office of the university you plan to attend.

Required Documentation 1. A completed “AIGC Fellowship Application”, submitted by 5:00 p.m., June 1st or the first business day in June.

2. A 250-word, typed essay, as described in the application packet.

3. A Financial Need Form (FNF), completed by the college or university financial aid office.

4. A Tribal Eligibility Certification (TEC).

Application Deadline June 1

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Council of 100 The American Indian Graduate Center — Council of 100 Leaders

Traditionals

Herman Agoyo

Al Qoyawayma

Horace Axtell

Joe Abeyta

Alan J. Allery

Ann R. Roberts

Ed Edmo

Sherman Alexie

Marge Anderson

Helen Sanders

Jerry Honawa

Lori Arviso-Alvord

John Belindo

Helen Scheirbeck

Russell Jim

Robin Butterfield

W. Roger Buffalohead

Benny Shendo, Jr.

Franklin Kahn

George Blue Spruce

Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell

Buffy Sainte-Marie

Oren R. Lyons

James L. Davis

Joann Chase

Ray Tracy

Henrietta Mann

De La Torre, Joely

Floyd Correa

Webster Two Hawk

A. Paul Ortega

Lloyd M. Elm

Nedra Darling

Mark Van Norman

James W. Ransom (Chief)

Billy Frank

John E. Echohawk

D.J. Vanas

Caleen Sisk-Franco

Iris Heavy Runner – Pretty Paint

Lucille A. Echohawk

Rick West

Art Skenandore

John Herrington

Sam English

Floyd Westerman

Albert White Hat, Sr.

Charlotte Heth

Dwight A. Gourneau

Jeanne Whiteing

Kathleen Shaye Hill

Kevin Gover

Randall L. Willis

Jim Larimore

Trudy Griffin-Pierce

Martha B. Yallup

Maxine Lewis-Raymond

Carol Hampton

Peterson Zah

Lehua Lopez-Mau

E. Kelly Haney (Chief)

Leslie Marmon Silko

Suzan Shown Harjo

Joe Martin

La Donna Harris

Joe McDonald

Charlie Hill

N. Scott Momaday

Rick Hill

Gerald “Carty” Monette

Tom Holm

Michael Pavel

Donna E. House

Howard Ranier

Brenda Itta-Lee

Mary Ross

Valorie Johnson

Rick St. Germaine

Julie Kidd

Jim Shanley

Clara Sue Kidwell

Gloria E. Sly

A. David Lester

Clayton Small

Ronnie Lupe

Lois Steele

Wilma Mankiller

Charles E. Trimble

Phillip Martin

Della C. Warrior

Billy Mills

Robert Warrior

Carlos Nakai

Daniel R. Wildcat

Barney Old Coyote

Robert K. Whitman

Sandra Osawa Ed Parisian Jamie Pinkham

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Scholars

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Board of Directors

Meet the American Indian Graduate Center Board of Directors henan Atcitty (Diné) S President of the Board Shenan is serving her eighth (8th) and final year on the Board of AIGC. Shenan is an attorney, practicing Corporate Law at Holland & Knight, LLP.

Elizabeth Rodke Washburn (Chickasaw) Vice President Formerly Legislative Counsel to a U.S. Senate Committee Chairman, Libby is currently raising two young sons at her home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

She has served on the AIGC Board since 2002.

Joann Sebastian Morris (Cayuga/Sault Ste. Marie Ojibwe) • Secretary Joann has been on the AIGC Board since 2001 and is currently working for the U.S. Department of the Interior. Joann makes her home in Hawaii.

David Mahooty (Pueblo of Zuni) Board Treasurer

AIGC Board of Directors (Front, l. to r.: Melanie Fritzsche, Shenan Atcitty, Joann Sebastian Morris Center, l. to r.: Dee Ann DeRoin, David Mahooty, Kate Shanley Back, l. to r.: Grayson Noley, Libby Washburn, David Powless)

David, who is not only an asset to the Commercial Lending component of Wells Fargo Bank, but to AIGC as well, joined the Board of the American Indian Graduate Center in 2003. David and his wife make their home in Albuquerque.

Dee Ann DeRoin (Ioway Tribe of Kansas) Dr. DeRoin joined the AIGC Board in 2005 for the second time. Originally recruited by John Rainer, Dee Ann served as a graduate student Board representative from 1974 – 1978. Dee Ann lives in Lawrence, Kansas and, after practicing family medicine for twenty years, is currently a community health consultant.

David Powless (Oneida) David Powless is another Board member who will be leaving us this year, after completing eight (8) years on the Board. David, however, will remain active as an AIGC committee member. David and his family make their home in Corrales, New Mexico.

Kathryn Shanley (Nakota/Assiniboine) Kate is the Chair and Associate Professor of the Native American Studies Department at the University of Montana and has served on the AIGC Board since 2001.

Kate and her family reside in Missoula, Montana.

Melanie P. Fritzsche (Pueblo of Laguna) Melanie is one of two new members, who joined the Board in the fall of 2006. Melanie recently transitioned from a career in law to becoming a business owner. She and her family live in Albuquerque.

Grayson B. Noley (Choctaw) Dr. Noley is Chair and Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in the College of Education, University of Oklahoma. Grayson joined the Board in the fall of 2006 and resides in Norman, OK.

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