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Tuesday, November 11, 2003

Minnesota Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke is coming under fire for comments she made denying Christopher Columbus was responsible for the genocide of Native peoples.

In an interview broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio, Yecke said Columbus may have indirectly caused the deaths of tens of millions of Native people but only through disease. "I don't characterize that as genocide," she said.

Yecke made the comments for a story about the state's social studies requirements. She said it was inappropriate to teach young children about Native views on Columbus. A spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Education says her remarks were misinterpreted and that she plans no apology.

Get the Story:
Yecke takes a drubbing over Columbus comments (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 11/11)

Relevant Links:
Minnesota Public Radio, education - http://news.mpr.org/collections/education
Minnesota Department of Education - http://education.state.mn.us/html/mde_home.htm

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