Speakers paid tribute to the late Vine Deloria Jr., a prominent Native rights advocate, at a forum at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas.
Michael Yellow Bird, the director at the Center for Indigenous Studies at Kansas University, said
Deloria's book "Custer Died for Your Sins" was instrumental in his upbringing. He said he started reading it at a boarding school church, where he had been sent for questioning a teacher.
�I kept looking over my shoulder because I was afraid I was going to get caught," he said, The Lawrence Journal-World reported.
Dan Wildcat, a Haskell professor, recalled Deloria's numerous visits to the campus. He said Deloria urged Natives to "[n]ever give up your native-ness or stand for being told your Indian-ness is of no values," the Journal-World reported.
Deloria, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, died on November. He was 72.
Get the Story:American Indian author honored (The Lawrence Journal-World 12/1) Indian Country Today Articles from January 10, 2005:
Wilma Mankiller: An original thinker with a warrior's spirit
Suzan Shown Harjo: Selective memories of Vine Deloria Jr.
Faith Spotted Eagle: Deksi (Uncle) Vine
Charlie Wilkins: Visionary thinker and wordsmith par excellence
Hank Adams: A Vine Deloria Jr. collaboration: The first decade
John Mohawk: Vine Deloria Jr.'s unfolding legacy
Philip Deloria: Tales of a remarkable father
Norbert Hill: A hero to many Related Stories:
Opinion: Deloria was passionate advocate (11/28)
Harjo: My photo album of Vine Deloria Jr. (11/24)
Billy Frank: Keeping Vine Deloria's fire alive (11/24)
Philip Deloria: Nasty pokes in column about father (11/23)
Tim Giago: Deloria gave Indian people a voice (11/22)
Mark Trahant: Few writers as powerful as Deloria (11/21)
Deloria celebration scheduled in Rapid City (11/18)
Opinion: Deloria was always ahead of the curve (11/18)
Column: Deloria advanced some wacky views (11/18)
Vine Deloria funeral set for Friday in Colorado (11/17)
Tribal leaders recall Deloria as powerful advocate (11/17)
Opinion: Deloria introduced us to Indian Country (11/17)
Rick Williams: On the passing of Vine Deloria Jr. (11/16)
Editorial: Deloria changed how America views Indians (11/16)
Art Coulson: Safe journey for Vine Deloria Jr. (11/16)
Appreciation: Deloria an influential American (11/16)
Indian Country: In memoriam Vine Deloria Jr. (11/16)
Editorial: Deloria contributed to all Americans (11/16)
Vine DeLoria: Spoke for a nation of Natives (11/15)
Deloria hailed as 'visionary' for role in Indian affairs (03/11)
Jodi Rave: Deloria unknown because he's Indian (01/24)
Vine Deloria is ICT's American Indian Visionary (01/10)
Column: Vine Deloria refuses honorary degree (05/25)