From ICT:
On Nov. 18, in a scene replete with blanket give-a-ways and reminiscent of a treaty signing, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians entered into a mutual agreement to develop educational and cultural preservation programs on the Indianapolis campus of Indiana University, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.
Historic in many ways, IUPUI became one of the few universities that supports a better understanding and appreciation of American Indian ingenuity, philosophy and contributions-at-large. Most important is the university’s willingness to work closely with the Pokagons and IUPUI American Indian Programs in the development and implementation of these initiatives.
The Pokagons are the only federally recognized tribe in Indiana with a two-state designation of Indian country status in northern Indiana and southern Michigan. Indiana University, with eight campuses in Indiana including the South Bend campus, lies within Pokagon Band access for educational programs.
The full day of events was created to heighten the awareness and understanding on the campus and in the community of the nature of this government-to-government relationship. While many see IUPUI as a state university, the official signing ceremony brought special recognition to the sovereignty of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.
At the event, it was noted by Dr. Johnny P. Flynn, director of American Indian Programs at IUPUI, that the Pokagon agreement is another attempt by Indians to develop opportunities for Indians in higher education dating back more than 200 years. Flynn cited the territorial charter from 1806 for the first university in the region, Vincennes University, where it promised free tuition, room and board, to all students from the Indian nations in Indiana.
This is merely the first step in creating a reciprocal partnership which will be beneficial to IUPUI administration and students, the Pokagons, and the Indianapolis community. Included in the discussions for the future of the agreement were an American Indian studies minor at IUPUI, museum studies for Indian students, teacher training, hotel and restaurant management, and assistance with language revitalization. Plans also include exploring distance education branded by IUPUI specifically for Pokagon students and creating degree programs for those students already expert in traditional Pokagon art forms.
The Pokagon agreed to fund a full-time position at IUPUI within the American Indian Studies Program while the university would provide fringe benefits and other support services for the position, reflecting the passion and commitment of this sovereign nation to higher education.
While the Pokagon IUPUI agreement is unique, it is also modeled after a highly successful partnership between Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and the Miami Nation of Oklahoma. The Myaamia Project at Miami University has turned out more than 30 Miami Nation graduates and maintains a 75 percent graduation rate of the
Miami students.
Charmayne ‘Charli’ Champion-Shaw, Cheyenne-Arapahoe Tribe of Oklahoma, is adjunct faculty in communication studies at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and a doctoral student in philanthropic studies studying social justice. She also serves as president of the American Indian Educational and Cultural Association of Indiana.
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