The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing this afternoon on racist stereotypes and their impact on indigenous people.

The hearing lasted about 1.5 hours. Nearly every witness addressed the U.S. military's use of Geronimo as a codename for the mission against Osama bin Laden.

"For him to be compared to a terrorist," activist Suzan Shown Harjo said of the famed Apache warrior, "is shocking."

Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), who chaired the hearing, added his voice to the objections. He asked the Department of Defense to clarify the use of the codename but was told that no information could be released due to military protocol.

"I find the association of Geronimo with Osama bin Laden to be highly inappropriate and culturally insensitive," Udall said at the onset of the hearing.

Audio of the hearing can be downloaded below:

• Opening Statement (6:07)

Panel # 1
• Testimony (21:59) | Q&A (28:00)
The Honorable Tex Hall
Chairman, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, and Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association

Ms. Suzan Shown Harjo
President, The Morning Star Institute

Ms. Charlene Teters
Professor, Institute of American Indian Arts

Panel # 2
• Testimony (25:42) | Q&A (5:09)
Ms. Stephanie Fryberg
Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Arizona

Mr. Chaske Spencer
Actor/ Producer and Partner, Urban Dream Productions

Mr. Jim Warne
President, Warrior Society Development

Committee Notice:
OVERSIGHT HEARING on "Stolen Identities: The Impact of Racist Stereotypes on Indigenous People" (May 5, 2011)

Related Stories:
SCIA to address use of 'Geronimo' as codename at hearing (5/4)
Witness list for Senate Indian Affairs hearing on stereotypes (5/3)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee to hold hearing on racism (5/2)