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This Message Is Reprinted Under The Fair Use
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_http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html_
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FROM: INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY NEWSPAPER
_http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411610_
(http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411610)
Campbell: A Crucial Time For Indian Country To Be Heard
(javascript:PrintWindow();) Posted: September 22, 2005 by: _Senator Ben
Nighthorse Campbell_ (http://www.indiancountry.com/author.cfm?id=237) / United
States Government / Northern Cheyenne Tribe
I go to a lot of Indian meetings, where tribal leaders and advisers
discuss their most important issues, value each others' cultures and present their
viewpoints. There is a lot of good Indian thinking going on, even in the
midst of very difficult problems and many challenges and attacks upon tribal
rights by well-organized and hostile groups.
One of the most stimulating gatherings I have attended recently was held at
Buffalo State College, in that famous western New York city that is the
eastern gateway between Indian country, the United States and our Canadian First
Nations relatives.
The founding meeting of the American Indian Policy and Media Initiative
focused on how to build and communicate an effective defense of historical
truths, and the legal and self-governance rights of tribal peoples in the United
States. Hosted by veterans of Native journalism, it brought together a
refreshing corps of very sharp minds. These included tribal leaders such as Viejas
Tribal Chairman Anthony Pico, who gave a powerful presentation, and critical
thinkers among well-established Native journalists such as Indian Country Today
editors Tim Johnson, Mohawk, and Jose Barreiro, Taino; columnist Suzan Shown
Harjo, Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee; Oregonian correspondent Kara Briggs,
Yakama; and others. The ensuing discussion - full of clear thinking and
creative energy - gave me reason for hope that our dignified and resilient Native
peoples in North America will succeed in their quest to survive and prosper.
Tribal nations in North America face serious dangers to their communities
and national interests. From where I sit, it clearly seems that the media arena
is a major area of contention where our cultures, peoples and representative
institutions must make a vigorous and principled stance. There are good
signs, not only at Buffalo but also at our media trade group, the Native American
Journalists Association, which is increasingly challenging stereotypes of
Indian people.
Various academic programs, including major ones at Harvard University and
the University of Arizona, among others, are also conducting research into
economics, politics, law and other areas. But the promise of AIPMI is its focus
on a nationally active, real-time engagement to better inform and educate the
American public. These are the same folks who elevated our national American
Indian newspaper, Indian Country Today, these past five years. (A book of
their opinion and perspective essays [2000 - '04], entitled ''America is Indian
Country,'' due out this fall from Fulcrum Publishers, gives a great
indication of their depth and range.) They now are in the process of coalescing some
of the very best and brightest researchers and writers to help the American
public come to a more informed and accurate understanding of American Indian
peoples and our issues.
The decency, resiliency and wise cultural cornerstones of our American
Indian governments are not visible to most Americans. Stereotypes abound and, even
more dangerous, a palpable shift in attitudes from positive to negative -
what Barreiro called ''a shift in public metaphors'' - is clearly media-driven,
often with media being an unwitting conduit for professional media
manipulators representing anti-Indian groups. Johnson emphasized the need for tribes
to get involved in supporting productive think-tanks, such as this one in
Buffalo, and to get busy with national media strategies that can turn the
negative tide.
The main point of the session was that the public perception created by
media almost always sets the pattern of public policy. Professor Ron Smith, chair
of the college's Communications Department, presented results from a recent
AIPMI research study that tracked the media influence upon public attitudes
in New York state. His study showed a remarkable residue of public sympathy
for Indian people - which can decline as tribes ignore the importance of
participation in the media discourse, or improve as the public gains increased
exposure to accurate information about Indian peoples and their histories.
There was a great scene about halfway through the epic film ''Gandhi,'' on
the life and struggles of the hero-philosopher who guided the independence of
India. In one of his many campaigns, Gandhi (I paraphrase from memory) found
himself surrounded by powerful enemies and flanked by the British army when
several young college students break through the battle lines to his camp.
The great leader asks them, ''And what are you young people studying?'' ''We
are becoming journalists,'' they reply. Gandhi clasps his hands together:
''Thanks God,'' he exclaims. ''Now we have won our struggle.''
After a quarter century of public service, I can vouch for the reality that
the squeaky wheel gets the attention and that the key to American Indian
survival lies in our ability to educate, to win hearts and minds on behalf of our
fundamental quest for freedom and justice. This certainly holds true in
Washington, D.C., and for legislators generally. The public arena is our major
battleground these days. All American Indian leaders and people of good will
should support our ethical journalists and brilliant communicators.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Northern Cheyenne, is a former member of the U.S.
Senate. He currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor to Holland and Knight.
This Message Is Reprinted Under The Fair Use
Doctrine Of International Copyright Law:
_http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html_
(http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html)
************************************************** ************
FROM: INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY NEWSPAPER
_http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411610_
(http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411610)
Campbell: A Crucial Time For Indian Country To Be Heard
(javascript:PrintWindow();) Posted: September 22, 2005 by: _Senator Ben
Nighthorse Campbell_ (http://www.indiancountry.com/author.cfm?id=237) / United
States Government / Northern Cheyenne Tribe
I go to a lot of Indian meetings, where tribal leaders and advisers
discuss their most important issues, value each others' cultures and present their
viewpoints. There is a lot of good Indian thinking going on, even in the
midst of very difficult problems and many challenges and attacks upon tribal
rights by well-organized and hostile groups.
One of the most stimulating gatherings I have attended recently was held at
Buffalo State College, in that famous western New York city that is the
eastern gateway between Indian country, the United States and our Canadian First
Nations relatives.
The founding meeting of the American Indian Policy and Media Initiative
focused on how to build and communicate an effective defense of historical
truths, and the legal and self-governance rights of tribal peoples in the United
States. Hosted by veterans of Native journalism, it brought together a
refreshing corps of very sharp minds. These included tribal leaders such as Viejas
Tribal Chairman Anthony Pico, who gave a powerful presentation, and critical
thinkers among well-established Native journalists such as Indian Country Today
editors Tim Johnson, Mohawk, and Jose Barreiro, Taino; columnist Suzan Shown
Harjo, Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee; Oregonian correspondent Kara Briggs,
Yakama; and others. The ensuing discussion - full of clear thinking and
creative energy - gave me reason for hope that our dignified and resilient Native
peoples in North America will succeed in their quest to survive and prosper.
Tribal nations in North America face serious dangers to their communities
and national interests. From where I sit, it clearly seems that the media arena
is a major area of contention where our cultures, peoples and representative
institutions must make a vigorous and principled stance. There are good
signs, not only at Buffalo but also at our media trade group, the Native American
Journalists Association, which is increasingly challenging stereotypes of
Indian people.
Various academic programs, including major ones at Harvard University and
the University of Arizona, among others, are also conducting research into
economics, politics, law and other areas. But the promise of AIPMI is its focus
on a nationally active, real-time engagement to better inform and educate the
American public. These are the same folks who elevated our national American
Indian newspaper, Indian Country Today, these past five years. (A book of
their opinion and perspective essays [2000 - '04], entitled ''America is Indian
Country,'' due out this fall from Fulcrum Publishers, gives a great
indication of their depth and range.) They now are in the process of coalescing some
of the very best and brightest researchers and writers to help the American
public come to a more informed and accurate understanding of American Indian
peoples and our issues.
The decency, resiliency and wise cultural cornerstones of our American
Indian governments are not visible to most Americans. Stereotypes abound and, even
more dangerous, a palpable shift in attitudes from positive to negative -
what Barreiro called ''a shift in public metaphors'' - is clearly media-driven,
often with media being an unwitting conduit for professional media
manipulators representing anti-Indian groups. Johnson emphasized the need for tribes
to get involved in supporting productive think-tanks, such as this one in
Buffalo, and to get busy with national media strategies that can turn the
negative tide.
The main point of the session was that the public perception created by
media almost always sets the pattern of public policy. Professor Ron Smith, chair
of the college's Communications Department, presented results from a recent
AIPMI research study that tracked the media influence upon public attitudes
in New York state. His study showed a remarkable residue of public sympathy
for Indian people - which can decline as tribes ignore the importance of
participation in the media discourse, or improve as the public gains increased
exposure to accurate information about Indian peoples and their histories.
There was a great scene about halfway through the epic film ''Gandhi,'' on
the life and struggles of the hero-philosopher who guided the independence of
India. In one of his many campaigns, Gandhi (I paraphrase from memory) found
himself surrounded by powerful enemies and flanked by the British army when
several young college students break through the battle lines to his camp.
The great leader asks them, ''And what are you young people studying?'' ''We
are becoming journalists,'' they reply. Gandhi clasps his hands together:
''Thanks God,'' he exclaims. ''Now we have won our struggle.''
After a quarter century of public service, I can vouch for the reality that
the squeaky wheel gets the attention and that the key to American Indian
survival lies in our ability to educate, to win hearts and minds on behalf of our
fundamental quest for freedom and justice. This certainly holds true in
Washington, D.C., and for legislators generally. The public arena is our major
battleground these days. All American Indian leaders and people of good will
should support our ethical journalists and brilliant communicators.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Northern Cheyenne, is a former member of the U.S.
Senate. He currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor to Holland and Knight.
