University Daily Kansan
Thursday, October 19. 1972
9
Indians Fight Federal Control, BIA
By PAT BREITENSTEIN Kansan Staff Writer
A petition pledging the support of academicians, political leaders and prominent community leaders to the Prairie Band Potawatomi University federal government was circulated by a Faculty Forum Wednesday.
The petition is part of a program of the American Indian Movement and the American Indian Movement (AIM) to publicize and gain support for their position against the policies of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the federal government, according to Lester Jessepe, chairman of the Pawatotami Association.
THE PROGRAM, which includes a series of meetings and rallies in the Lawrence area, will publicize a dispute between the university and St. Mary's government over possession of St. Mary's College, formerly a Jesuit seminary, Jessepe said. AIM also sponsors automobile caravans to Washington D.C. The national elections Nov. 7.
The Pototwatom want self determination Jessepe said Tuesday at a meeting in the room of the Kansas Union.
"The Prairie Baird Pot-watatiwon is a tribe of some 2,300 people, most of whom live in eastern Kansas," he said. "Our 'Prairie Baird' is Mayetta, Kan. We are a poor people. Our average annual family income is $2,028, our unemployment rate averages 50 percent. The high school drop out rate of our young people is per cent."
HE SAID that on July 8, 1970,
President Nixon promised, "We must assure the Indian that he can assume control of his own life
... and we must make it clear
... Indians can become independent without being cut off from federal concern and federal support."
"in spite of this pronouncement," Commissioner of Indian Affairs unilaterally cancelled the constitution and by-laws of the country, dismissing dianis and withdraw recognition of its duly elected leaders,"
"The federal government claims to be doing this because we are unable to govern our resources. We think there are other reasons."
"ALMOST ALL of the reservation land owned individually by Indians is leased through the BIA for far below fair market value for these leases, and even then, these small amounts do not go directly to the Indian land owner. Instead, lease money goes to the BIA."
Jessepe said that his tribe was represented through a business committee that was elected
annually. Until 1970 this committee was in the hands of a few assimilated Indians who apportioned them to members manipulated by the BIA, he said.
"in 1870" Jessepe said, "we own our lives. We organized an un dependent group called the CYC which aimed around the principles of self-determination and the development of self-help."
JESSEPE said that when the TAC ran a slate of candidates from the group" they had the overwhelming support of the people.
"Seeing this," he said, "the BIA arbitrarily cancelled the elections."
"Because all of our reservation and is controlled by white people, we have to expand our programs. We need a land base and buildings to expand our programs."
He said the opportunity presented itself in the form of St. Mary's College, which was abandoned and up for sale. After that, a church for the Jesuits agreed to transfer the land to the Pottawatomis.
"THE BIA attempted to disrupt these negotiations by threatening and our splitting our leadership and our plouring," he said. "It was apparent to us that we had no independent dependent Indian community with a full range of programs was intolerable to the government,
"Knowing this, we were determined to keep the government in line with St. Mary's away from us. We and the Jesuits therefore decided to insert a reverential clause in the bill, which the clauses stated that if the land and the buildings were not used for church work, it would revert to the church."
"THE GOVERNMENT tried to clave," said Justice Clause, "jseep and 'Since we held firm, the government last July attacked our leadership and took control.'"
He said the tribal funds were frozen, their books were taken by the FBI and they were threatened with jail.
"The planning grant was not funded despite earlier promises from federal agencies and our excess equipment program was denied." "Our triumphant chairman was denied the right to all meetings."
Jespee said, "In early August, our people were so nervous at office meetings to present our grievances. BIA officials not only refused to speak with us but they also refused to give them permission."
Jessepe said that BIA officials used tear gas and then physically injured him. The response the tribe occupied the BIA offices and would not leave until Washington phoned and sent a representative to talk with them.
WHEN THE dispute reached this point, Jessepe said, other
Indian groups took interest in the Potowatamati problems and pledged their support.
"Stevens promised to unfreeze our funds, lift all the other restrictions against us, send us a staff of lawyers, and fund our programs for St. Mary's, investigate all our charges concerning local officials interference in our affairs, and to advise the mayor and representative." Jessepe said.
After this promise of support, Isaac said the BIA summoned the Garrison and asked where they met with Ernest Stevens, a BIA official and also
"A WEEK later," he said, "a resolution drawn up in Washington was hand delivered to us requesting the government to Mary. Mary is in trust for our people without the reversionary clause.
"We then received a call from a different official of the BIA in Washington who told us that the BIA would not honor Stevens's pledge to help them again the government had broken its pledge to the Indian people."
"We signed."
"Despite President Nixon's pledge of self-determination to have been changed, he has to have changed," he says. "The BIA still lies, manipulates, keeps Indians in poverty and seeks to deprive us of control of our
Jessepe said that on Oct. 4, he and his men attended Affaura suspended the tribes constitution and by-laws, exploited their leadership and took over their positions.
Jessepe said the Jesuits were disturbed by the BIA's actions and refused to sign St. Mary's over to the government.
JESSEE AND THE Potlowatomis were supported in their education and policies by Chester Armajo, former student body president at Haskell Junior College and leaders of the AIM.
z "When conditions become unbearable a man must speak," said Armaio.
of AIM, said that AIM and other national Indian groups were promoting a "trail of broken treaties," a caravan of Indians and supporting groups from around the country who were there to protest their demands to the government and to candidates for office.
"It is hard to be an Indian, to grow up with a culture," he said. "Sometimes I feel that it is hopeless."
3) that the candidates for the presidency meet with the native peoples and expound their opinions affecting the native people.
1) that the United States government fulfill its treaty obligations to the native American peoples.
2) that the BIA be reorganized into a new federal Indian commission that would be directly responsible to the president.
Bellcourt said that a rally was planned for noon Thursday in front of the building. People from the Lawrence area who wish to participate are the rally will be behind the Union at 11:10 a.m. he said.
Problems Cited in Quest For Nontraditional Study
IN A PRESS release handed out by Boulecourt at the meeting the demands of AIM were listed. They were:
By ANN McFERREN Kanyan Staff Writer
The Conference on Non-traditional Study last week at the University of Kansas failed to provide adequate solutions to the problem of the acceptance of the report according to six student evaluators.
Although it was a conference for faculty and administrators, six KU students were chosen to present their findings from the student standpoint.
Serving on the evaluation committee were: Nancy Harper. Principal; Dr. Elizabeth director of Curriculum and Instruction Survey; Bev. Harris, Armengo junior; Curtin member of the Free University member of the Free University Hoskington senior; Steve Bulew, Lawrence senior and a member of the Free University staff; Gus Farris, an assistant student and teacher in Western Civilization, the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Free University.
Vernon Bellecourt, co-director
THE STUDENTS said they thought formal education would never catch up with the needs of students and hopeful about the conference goal of developing nontraditional education, they said that they thought it would be hard to fit into the current structure.
Mrs. McCauley said she met her husband after she left religious life. He decided to leave the priesthood after 21 years
Harper said she thought some excellent suggestions for types of nontraditional studies that should be offered were made at the conference. Her main concern, however, was the ideas could be carried out.
"In a religious community you have many relationships but they are together alone. I saw that a person deprived of close relationships with others suffered to become selfish, and he can become selfish."
Shirley McCauley married her husband, Bob, two years ago. He was a nun for seven years before he emigrated in 1968. He was a priest.
"I was very happy in religious life," says Mrs. McAuley, 33, now a teacher in Phoenix. "But came to feel I could develop new skills." She says to be with the complement in marriage, with its closeness.
when he realized he was in love with her.
"He had no quarrel with the pasthood, he just wanted to marry his mother and regulation about priests marrying changes, he'd be glad
Mr. McCauley, 42, now works as religious education director at a Catholic church in Scotland, and he considers himself ultimately considers himself a priest.
"Being married to a priest is a unique experience," she says. "Bob is such a developed human being, and our marriage is so complicated that we often other way now. The spirituality is still there, it's just less formal."
in other areas, former clergymen also are joining together for mutual assistance and support in their talents back into the church.
Juanta and Don Cordero, who are expecting their first baby in January. Juanta was a nun who already was taking steps to leave. He was
Former Priests Band Together
In Phoenix about 85 former Catholic priests, nuns and monks have joined together in an effort called The New Ministry.
Mr. Cordero, 35, left the priesthood in 1970 and waited seven months for permission papers from Rome before word passed that he had been refused excitation, or a return to the lay state.
"He would like to be a priest, still," she said. "He is celebrating mass regularly with his priest and about 12 other couples."
The two decided not to reapply for laicization and were married a year ago in August.
personal life". Wildenge said. "Students need a social community, not merely an academic away from tradition"
Students need communication on a one-to-one basis in the University, Wilden said.
One aspect of the non-
traditional study is a program of
training for the student to
plan and develop on his own.
The programs would have to be
updated to accommodate the need
of the student designing his own
Nichols Terms...
In conclusion, Nichols pointed out the long-standing cooperation between the University and the community. He said neither the community nor the community could achieve full growth on its own.
"As long as there is no extra money in it for the professor, he will have to find a way for the student to effectively design a program," dZerega writes.
PHOENIX. Ariz. (AP)—Some ministers who left positions where they left positions are hoping to rejoin the ministry, but also are speaking out for their rights.
ADVISING FOR nontraditional study is a problem because of the advisory programs most schools now have, dilezera said.
After the address, Odocoileus chambers, presented Nichols with a silver Jayhawk tray for 40 years of "dedicated singleton ofensis."
Two suggestions for an advisor program were suggested by the committee. diZerega suggested having students take visee students. The advisors would be evaluated by students to assure satisfactory work. Any advisor who didn't do satisfactory work was considered to advise another semester.
State's job for funding," Nichols said.
After a two-year holiday on loan for academic buildings, Nicholas Hall received a degree of progress in additions to the campus. He cited Wescoe Hall, the new health center and library, as well as three of the improvements.
"If divided each probably will survive, but survival is not enough," Nichols said.
(Continued from page 1) action requirement," Nichols said
It was also suggested that a program might be effective. Students who would like to act as teachers could receive a course for credit. Then they would be paid to advise other students who were studying in the same school.
Nichols praised students for their concern for improvements on the curriculum, and students impose higher fees on themselves to add $4.4 million to their budget.
they were taken only for the grade. Nontraditional school should offer courses only on a credit-no credit basis, she said.
EASTON SAID some of the best courses a person could take at KU were offered by the Free University and most are absorbed into formal education, she said, they can be offered to many more students but then they are not as good. Other courses that courses lost importance when
Bulow attended a conference session on the role of the government in encouraging and encouraging government is trying to be responsive and is encouraging a new definition of excellence on the ground.
A limited budget was another problem in nontraditional education. Buelow waid.
A university without walls would give persons like herself an appearance of respect and still receive the same amount of credit as under the current system.
"The university today doesn't fit in well with the student's
HARRIS was impressed with the concept of a university without walls. She had her education interrupted because of a lack of funds. She is not back at school two years and a part-time job.
(Continued from page 1)
"I HOPE THAT students will never again be asked to do the
"The conference brought up some fantastic ideas, I only hope two or three weeks and then flooded by the wayside," Harper said.
Jessepe said that other rallies and meetings had been held at Kansas State University, Topeka, Kansas; Junior College, Kansas City.
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He said that the purpose of these meetings was to gain widespread support for a comprehensive community development program at St. Mary while circumventing BIA control.
Ticket sales for the Ray Charles-Della Reese Homecoming concert Oct. 28 are steady, according to Chuck Sack. Lawrence graduate student and member of Student Union Activities.
Tickets will be on sale Saturday from 10 a.m. until game time and also after the game they are. $48. The SUA ticket chased at the SUA ticket office.
Do you have a low lottery number or military obligation? Check out the KANSAS NATIONAL GUARD
RED DOG INN 642 Mass. St.
Doors Open at 8:00 a.m., Continuous Music from 8:30
Friday, Oct. 20th—1972
Saturday, Oct. 21 9a.m.-1 p.m.
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