A panel of Indian leaders will discuss culture and education issues in a discussion at Central Michigan University tonight.

The" Indigenous Survival: Education for the 21st Century" panel includes Henrietta Mann (Cheyenne-Arapaho), Gordon Henry (White Earth), Charlene Teters (Spokane) and Donna Budnick (Little Traverse Odawa).

One of the issues the panelists will discuss is stereotypes of Native people in education. Mann and Henry work at universities while Teters is a founding member of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media and an outspoken opponent of Indian mascots. Budnick is the Indian affairs specialist for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.

CMU has been dealing with the issue in relation to its "Chippewas" nickname. The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe supports the name, prompting the NCAA to remove the school from its list of hostile and abusive mascots.

Get the Story:
Distinguished panel to discuss current American Indian issues (Central Michigan Life 10/26)
Psychologists: Ban American Indian mascots (Central Michigan Life 10/26)

NCAA Policy:
NCAA Executive Committee Issues Guidelines for Use of Native American Mascots at Championship Events (August 5, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe - http://www.sagchip.org
Central Michigan University - http://www.cmich.edu
NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee - http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/
membership/governance/assoc-wide/moic/index.html
National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media - http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm

Related Stories:
Not everyone at CMU likes decision on 'Chippewas' (09/09)
Two more schools exempted from NCAA mascot policy (9/6)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe hopeful on NCAA appeal (9/2)
CMU cites tribe's support in appeal for 'Chippewas' (8/31)
CMU preparing to appeal decision on 'Chippewas' (08/25)
CMU to cite support of tribe for 'Chippewas' nickname (8/23)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe calls policy 'unacceptable' (08/11)
NCAA announces revised Indian mascot policy (8/8)
Mixed reaction to change in use of mascots (8/8)
NCAA committee to take up Indian mascots (8/3)
Company removes 'Chippewa' image from video game (07/28)
NCAA committee won't call for ban on Indian mascots (6/28)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe supports CMU nickname (04/13)
Michigan tribe donates to college's PBS station (02/25)
University corrects Indian tuition waiver policy (10/29)
Video game features fans in 'Chippewa' dress (10/25)
Michigan tribe working on school tuition waiver (04/26)
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Mich. school ignoring treaty on Indian education (03/22)
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